Church of St. Thomas Becket, Salisbury

The Church of St. Thomas Becket began as a modest wooden chapel in 1219, shortly before work started on Salisbury Cathedral. It served the growing community outside the Cathedral Close, including craftsmen and laborers connected with the great building projects of the period. The present stone church developed mainly in the 15th century, when prosperous merchants helped expand and enrich the building.

Its best-known feature is the large Doom Painting above the chancel arch, a late medieval image of the Last Judgement. The Doom Painting warns against corruption and dishonesty, showing a damned bishop, king, and cheating ale-wife. Whitewashed after the Reformation, it was rediscovered in 1819, covered again, and restored in the late 19th century.

The church also contains impressive architectural details, including a wooden Somerset-style roof decorated with 238 carved angels. Its west tower replaced an earlier detached bell tower, partly absorbed as the church expanded. Today, visitors can see medieval art, carved timberwork, stained glass, monuments, and a building that still serves worship, music, and community events.