High above the River Thames, imagine a chapel clinging to the side of London Bridge. This is the story of the Chapel of St Thomas a Becket. It stood for centuries as a testament to faith and a bustling city.
The Chapel of St Thomas a Becket wasn’t just any chapel. It was built right into the very structure of Old London Bridge. Picture a time when London Bridge wasn’t just a way to cross the river. It was a community with houses shops and even a chapel.
Construction of the stone London Bridge and Chapel of St Thomas a Becket began in 1176. Peter de Colechurch was the priest and architect. Building a bridge was seen as an act of religious devotion in those days. So, it was common to include a chapel. The eleventh pier held the Chapel of St Thomas a Becket. It was dedicated to Thomas Becket. He was a popular saint and martyr. King Henry II likely initiated the construction. He imposed a tax to fund the bridge.
Most of what we know about the Chapel of St Thomas a Becket comes from architect Nicholas Hawksmoor’s survey. He made it while the chapel was still standing. George Vertue made engravings based on Hawksmoor’s data.
The Chapel of St Thomas a Becket had two levels. The Lower Chapel was part of the pier. The Upper Chapel was entered from the street. The Chapel of St Thomas a Becket’s plain facade stood 40 feet above street level. Fourteen clustered columns supported the interior. Eight large arched windows lit it. A spiral staircase connected the two chapels. Fishermen and watermen could enter the Lower Chapel directly from the river.
The Chapel of St Thomas a Becket seems to have been founded before 1205. It had two priests or chaplains and four clerks. A fire damaged the chapel in 1212. It was rebuilt quickly. The clergy lived in the Bridge House. They were called the “Brethren of the Bridge”. Relics included a fragment of the True Cross. The chapel was enlarged between 1384 and 1397.
Disputes arose. The brethren the bridge masters and the parish rector argued over donations. In 1466 the Pope granted an indulgence. It was for those who visited the chapel on St Thomas’ feast day. The Reformation caused problems for the Chapel of St Thomas a Becket. By 1541 there was only one priest and one clerk. King Henry VIII wanted to end the veneration of saints. He ordered images of Becket covered.
In 1548 the last chaplain was ordered to hand over the chapel’s goods. The chapel was defaced. It was turned into a dwelling house. Later, it became a warehouse.
A watchman was a caretaker. In 1553 the chapel was leased to a grocer. The Upper Chapel became his house and shop. The Lower Chapel became his warehouse. An extra floor was added.
During repairs in 1737 an unmarked tomb was discovered. People thought it was Peter de Colechurch’s tomb. Bones from this tomb were analyzed. Only one fragment was human. The others were from a cow and a goose.
The London Bridge Act of 1756 allowed the City Corporation to buy the leases. Dismantling began in 1757. The Lower Chapel continued as a store. A new London Bridge opened in 1831. The old bridge was demolished. In 1832 the vaults and columns of the Lower Chapel were exposed.
Today nothing remains of the Chapel of St Thomas a Becket. But its story lives on. It reminds us of a time when faith was central to London life. It stood on a bridge that was more than just a crossing. The Chapel of St Thomas a Becket was a spiritual anchor in the heart of a bustling city.