The Diocese of Northampton will celebrate its connection with one of its patron saints when the Thomas Becket Festival returns to Northampton Cathedral on Saturday 3 July 2027.
The annual festival brings together Catholics from across the Diocese to celebrate the life, witness and legacy of St Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury and martyr, whose story is woven deeply into the history of Northampton.
In 1164, Thomas Becket was summoned by King Henry II to Northampton, where a great council was held at Northampton Castle. Facing charges brought against him by the King, Becket was ultimately condemned and fled into exile. During the proceedings, he is believed to have stayed at St Andrew’s Priory, on the site where Northampton Cathedral stands today.
The connection has particular significance for the Catholic community of Northampton. When the Diocese of Northampton was established in 1850, St Thomas Becket was declared its co-patron, in recognition of his historic association with the town. The Cathedral itself is dedicated to Our Lady Immaculate and St Thomas of Canterbury, making the festival a celebration of both the Diocese’s history and its continuing spiritual heritage.
The 2027 festival will begin with Mass at 12 noon, celebrated by Archbishop Richard Moth, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Northampton.
The day will continue with the annual Becket Lecture at 2.30pm, followed by Solemn Vespers at 4pm. Further elements of the festival programme will be announced in due course.
The festival is intended as a celebration for the whole Diocese of Northampton, reaching beyond the town itself and inviting parishioners, clergy, religious, families and communities from across Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire to gather at the Cathedral. The Cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese and is dedicated to St Thomas of Canterbury.
The Diocese’s annual celebration also provides an opportunity to reflect on what St Thomas Becket’s witness might mean for the Church today. His life moved from royal service to a profound commitment to his vocation as Archbishop, and his death in Canterbury in 1170 led to his veneration as a martyr. He was canonised by Pope Alexander III in 1173, only two years after his death.
The Diocese invites everyone to save the date: Saturday 3 July 2027.
Thomas Becket Festival 2027
Northampton Cathedral
Saturday 3 July 2027
12 noon – Opening Mass with Archbishop Richard Moth
2.30pm – Annual Becket Lecture
4pm – Solemn Vespers
Further details about the festival and additional events will be announced in the coming months.
