There were probably a number of reasons for the shrine of Thomas Becket becoming important.
One was that people of that time liked going on pilgrimages. And since not everyone could go to the Holy Land, and later practically no one could go there, people went to other places. Going to a shrine closer to home was far more convenient, especially since travel was so slow.
People liked having a saint of their own nation.
Clearly some people, and this applied especially to anyone who was neither a king nor likely to become one (in other words, practically everyone) liked the idea of having a saint to stood up to the king.
For historical reasons, it would be important if only to be the destination of the pilgrims in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
People like to take off work, and having a pilgrim destination gave them a way to do it. Since Canterbury was close to London, it was a good place to go. Pilgrims from the North and much of the West, could use the pilgrimage as an excuse to go there.
Some of the people who went there wanted to venerate the saint for not other reason than that he was a saint.
Henry VIII wanted to permanently end the Catholic religion throughout England and confiscate all church property, land and wealth for himself. He wanted all centres of Catholicism such as monasteries "put beyond use" (meaning destroyed) and all ordinary centres of worship brought under his personal control.
One of the results of this policy is that almost every Holy shrine in England was destroyed, since (1) these were the shrines of Saints created by the Catholic Church and they were the centres of pilgrimage for huge numbers of people; and (2) they included enormous quantities of treasure, both set into the shrines themselves and in the form of money and goods donated to the shrine by pilgrims.
St Thomas Becket's shrine was the most important, largest and most valuable shrine in England, so it became the focus of a policy of royal destruction, vandalism and theft which extended across the whole country.
when he was crowned Archbishop of Canterbury by Henry II
They are planning to visit the shrine of St. Thomas.
Henry II chose Thomas Becket to be Chancellor (1155-1162) and then ABp of Canterbury (1162-1170)
Pilgrims have gone to visit Thomas Becket shrine in Canterbury because he was a credit to them and he died for them so they prayed for him. Also because they thought he was a good person, so they worship God, at his shrine. That is so that they can become like Thomas Becket was, in order for them so that one day somebody can have the position that Becket had before he died.
Canterbury always had religious significance as a place of pilgrimage. However, after the death of Thomas Becket, his canonization by Pope Alexander and his elevation to sainthood, its popularity was assured. At Beckets death, locals collected cloth soaked with his blood. To touch or be touched by the blood reputedly cured blindness, epilepsy and all other ills. As this became known throughout the kingdom, Canterbury became THE place of pilgrimage.
Geoffery Chaucer wrote a book called Canterbury tales about people travvelling to thomas beckets shrine. Geoffery Chaucer wrote a book called Canterbury tales about people travvelling to thomas beckets shrine.
Thomas Becket. A martyr and canonised in 1173, and his shrine in Canterbury Cathedral
Thomas A. Becket(:
when he was crowned Archbishop of Canterbury by Henry II
Well in the Canterbury Tales, the characters were all on a pilgrimage to Canterbury, to the shrine of St. Thomas.
They are planning to visit the shrine of St. Thomas.
Pilgrims visited Becket's shrine at Canterbury Cathedral to seek healing, forgiveness, and spiritual renewal. Becket was considered a martyr and saint, and his shrine was believed to have miraculous powers. Pilgrims also went to earn indulgences and blessings for themselves and their loved ones.
The pilgrims in "The Canterbury Tales" were traveling to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral as a form of religious pilgrimage. They were seeking spiritual renewal and seeking forgiveness for their sins.
Richard brito was the knight who killed thomas becket(archbishop of Canterbury) in 1170 he sliced the top of beckets head then with the tip of his sword took out beckets brains.
Henry II chose Thomas Becket to be Chancellor (1155-1162) and then ABp of Canterbury (1162-1170)
St. Thomas Becket
Pilgrims visited Becket's shrine at Canterbury to seek blessings, forgiveness, and healing, as it was believed to be a sacred and miraculous place associated with the martyrdom of Thomas Becket. They also sought spiritual fulfillment and to demonstrate their piety by making a pilgrimage to a site of religious significance. Additionally, pilgrimage to Canterbury was believed to offer protection, both physical and spiritual, to travelers.