St. Thomas Cantauriense Church, Salamanca

The Saint Thomas of Canterbury Church stands out as the first church established outside England in honor of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was martyred in 1170 and canonized just two years later. Founded in 1175 by the English brothers Ricardo and Randulfo, it symbolized the spread of Becket’s cult into Spain and illustrates early ecclesiastical and cultural exchange between England and Salamanca.

Built in the late 12th century, this small yet harmonious church features a Latin-cross floor plan with a single nave, wooden roof, and three semicircular, stepped apses adorned by pilasters and molded windows. Its exterior shows restrained Romanesque elegance, while inside the decoration is similarly modest-highlighting sculpted capitals and a simple triumphal arch.

Though primarily Romanesque, the church bears traces of Gothic and Baroque transformations. Notable alterations include a Baroque dome added to the crossing and a restored wooden roof that replaced a later false plaster vault. Recent restorations have aimed to return the building’s appearance closer to its original form, with careful attention to its apse windows and masonry.

Inside, visitors encounter a 15th-century Hispanoflemish stone tabernacle features expressive angels holding instruments of the Passion, while the transept capitals depict historical scenes and ethnic figures. The church also houses the tomb of Don Diego de Velasco, Bishop of Caliopoli.