The Chapel of St Thomas a Becket

The Chapel of St Thomas a Becket in Brentwood is a ruined medieval chapel on the High Street in Brentwood, Essex. Only fragments of its walls remain, yet it is one of the oldest sites tied to the origins of the town and to the old pilgrim road towards Canterbury.

Why was a chapel built in Brentwood?

The chapel was founded around 1221. According to Historic England, it was established by the Augustinian Abbey of St Osyth, near Colchester. Brentwood was then a small hamlet, and the chapel was set in its middle, beside a road used by pilgrims heading for the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury. The dedication was no coincidence: Becket, murdered in 1170, had quickly become one of the most venerated saints in medieval England.

It served as a chapel of ease, meant for local inhabitants and for travellers. Parochial rights, however, stayed with the church at nearby South Weald, so townspeople had a place of worship close to home while still belonging formally to a more distant parish.

How did the building change over time?

The chapel was largely rebuilt in the 14th century and remained an important part of town life for centuries. In 1577 it became the scene of a famous protest: about thirty women led by Thomasine Tyler staged a sit-in when Wistan Browne, lord of the manor and Sheriff of Essex, tried to have it demolished. It is one of the best-known stories from Brentwood's past.

The chapel stayed in use until the 1830s, when a new parish church was built nearby for the growing town. After that the building lost its purpose. Local historical sources date its demolition to around 1869, and Historic England notes that its stone was probably reused for building in the late 19th century.

What can you see today?

Only part of the original structure survives: the lower part of the west end with the base of a tower in the north-west corner, plus a short section of the north wall. The remains are a Grade II listed monument and sit in the centre of town, which makes them an easy short stop on a walk around Brentwood.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the chapel? No. It is an open-air ruin rather than a working chapel, so the fragments are viewed from outside.

When was it built? Around 1221, founded by the Abbey of St Osyth. Some popular sources, such as photo captions, give other dates, but 1221 is the best documented.

Why is it dedicated to Thomas Becket? It stood on a pilgrim route to Canterbury, where his shrine was located and his cult was very strong at the time.

What happened in 1577? Women of the town staged a sit-in at the chapel to stop a local lord from demolishing it.

How long does a visit take? A few minutes to a quarter of an hour is enough to see the remains.