The four shields in the comers of the Panel represent
the Coat of Arms of the Diocese of St Albans (top left), the See of Canterbury
(top right),
the D'Albini family (bottom right), and of Thomas Becket (bottom left).
Wymondham Abbey is dedicated to God in honour of the Blessed
Virgin Mary and Saint Thomas Becket, Archbishop and Martyr. The 'Becket
Panel' depicts Saint Thomas Becket and eight scenes from his life. It was
painted by Father David Hunter, a former chaplain at Wymondham Abbey, and was given
by him to the parishioners of Wymondham Abbey in thanksgiving for 900 years of
Christian witness here in this place, and to commemorate the Millennium year
2000.
The assassination of Thomas of Canterbury on the 29 December 1170 is the
culmination of the medieval conflict between Church and State, between the
increasingly powerful monarchy of Henry II, and the immovable religious
principles of Thomas Becket. This tension between the secular and the sacred,
the timeless struggle between despotism and liberty, guarantees that Saint
Thomas will always be of significance to contemporary society.
The 'Becket Panel' has been painted in the style of a narrative Icon. It relates pertinent scenes
from Becket's archiepiscopal to his martyrdom; reading from bottom left upwards,
then across and down, the scenes portray the following:
Thomas reluctantly acceded to the insistent pressure from the
King to take up the See of Canterbury. As Chancellor, Becket had served his
sovereign with distinction, and had forged links of friendship and trust with
Henry. Thomas knew that his allegiance to the Church would lead to a conflict of
interest between the demands of his office and the ambitions of the King.
The inevitable antagonism between Henry and Thomas over the
rights and privileges of the Church led to the King summoning his Archbishop to
answer unjust charges of treachery. Thomas held his ground, but seeing that his
condemnation had already been decided upon, he slipped away in disguise and
escaped to France.
In retaliation, Henry sent into exile all Becket's relations
(Becket himself was unmarried) and confiscated all their property and
possessions.
Thomas fled to the continent, and with the protection of King
Louis VII of France, he hoped to continue by correspondence his controversy with
King Henry.
The exiled Prelate withdrew to the Cistercian Abbey of Pontigny.
Pope Alexander Ill exhorted him to stand firm in his struggle. While there, it
is said that he received a vision of Christ warning him of his impending
martyrdom.
An attempted reconciliation between Henry and Thomas was
engineered by King Louis. Negotiations broke down, and the two Kings take leave
of the Archbishop, riding with gestures of frustration and fury.
Thomas resolved to resume residence in Canterbury once again,
and in November 1170 landed at Sandwich in Kent. He was greeted with a
tumultuous welcome from the ordinary people who thronged his triumphal return
all the way to Canterbury.
News of Becket's return and the excommunication of his enemies
reached the ears of the King. He fell into a violent passion and gave vent to
the famous words that led four of his knights, who were standing by, to believe
that they would be doing him good service if they put the Archbishop to death.
Thomas met his fate without flinching and declared himself ready to die for his
Lord. His last recorded words are reproduced on the scroll at the foot of the
Saint 'For the sake of Jesus and for His Holy Church I am prepared to die'.