Becket2020: Commemoration of the 850th anniversary of Thomas Becket's death

The year 2020 marks the 850th anniversary of Becket’s martyrdom and the 800th anniversary of the translation of his body into the Trinity Chapel of Canterbury Cathedral. To commemorate his extraordinary life and legacy at Canterbury, scholars at Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury Christ Church University, and the University of Kent will co-host an academic conference to be held online via the Zoom Video Conferencing website.

Join us for three days of exciting papers, from 28-30th April 2021, examining the history, visual and material culture, archaeology, architecture, literature, liturgy, musicology, and reception of Becket’s cult at Canterbury, across Europe and beyond, with keynote papers by Rachel Koopmans, Nicholas Vincent, Paul Webster, and Alec Ryrie. Be guided by experts on a series of virtual tours, taking you right into the heart of Canterbury Cathedral and the surrounding area, allowing you to get up close with some of the stunning architecture and artefacts from Becket’s long and storied history.