St. Thomas Becket Church in Widcombe

There are large and pompous temples where the architecture itself declares the strength and power of the church. And there are small churches with an extraordinary spiritual aura, where human hearts beat in unison during prayer, and where the importance of faith in people’s lives is especially felt. This is the case with St. Thomas Becket Church in Widcombe.

The Church of St. Thomas Becket is located in one of the most picturesque places in Bath. Christians have long chosen it – once there was a Norman church, and even earlier – a Saxon chapel. In 1490-1498, the abbot of Bath, John Cantlow, built a temple in honor of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is also called St. Thomas Becket. From that moment on, the church became the main one in the parish. Her bell ringing was heard throughout the county. After the opening in 1847 of the Church of St. Matthew, much larger in size, the bells were removed and installed on the bell tower of the new temple. It is said that their withdrawal was accompanied by a serious conflict between the elders of both churches.

Today, St. Thomas Becket Church can accommodate no more than 90 people at a time. Christmas and special ceremonial events such as weddings and christenings are a real challenge for a small church hall. However, this does not scare parishioners, and recently the church has become increasingly popular among the local population.