Light, Canterbury and the Cult of St Thomas

Artificial light, particularly candlelight, played a pivotal role in the cult of St. Thomas of Canterbury, with its most spectacular displays reserved for his December Passion feast. A 1428 document, the Customary of the Shrine of St. Thomas, reveals that natural and artificial light were meticulously managed to enhance the symbolic significance of Thomas’s tomb and shrine within Canterbury Cathedral's east end. This study sheds light on how light was strategically used in liturgical practices and the cult's imagery, providing insights into medieval religious symbolism and architectural design.

Nickson, T. (2020). Light, Canterbury and the Cult of St Thomas. Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 173(1), 78–99. https://doi.org/10.1080/00681288.2020.1792060