Pilgrims of Hope
St Thomas of Canterbury Church here in Canterbury has been designated by John Wilson, Archbishop of Southwark, as a Jubilee Church.
Such churches are to be seen as ‘sacred places of welcome and privileged spaces for the rebirth of hope’ (Spes non confundit, 24).
All faithful pilgrims of hope, will be able to obtain the Jubilee Indulgence granted by the Holy Father if they undertake a pious pilgrimage to any sacred Jubilee site. Our Archbishop has designated 16 Jubilee Churches and Shrines in Southwark (see below).
You can find more information about the Plenary Indulgences below and more about Jubilee 2025 here.
Welcome Pilgrims!
Our parish, St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Church— is a sacred place of prayer, reflection, and historical significance at the heart of England’s holiest city.
As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of our Parish, during this Jubilee Year, and your journey in faith to honour the legacy of St Thomas Becket, we hope this special day will help deepen your spiritual life, and unite you in celebration with fellow Catholics from near and far.
Whether you have travelled a great distance or come from just around the corner, we are delighted to receive you in this holy place of pilgrimage. May your time here be a source of grace, peace, and renewal.
You can find more information here about our historic church, our shrine of St Thomas of Canterbury and the Relics of St Oscar Romero.
Join us for the Pilgrimage Mass
Join us for a very special Catholic Mass in Canterbury Cathedral. The Pilgrimage Mass is celebrated by the Papal Nuncio for the Translation of St Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr.
The 7th of July commemorates the moving (translation) of St Thomas Becket’s relics from the Crypt to the Shrine, behind the main altar, in Trinity chapel. This tradition has occurred for over 800 years.
This annual celebration takes on special significance in our 150th anniversary year, and we are planning an entire day of activities culminating with the Pilgrimage Mass in Canterbury Cathedral. You can read more about the event here.
As numbers for the Pilgrimage Mass are limited, please register your interest by clicking on the button below.
Activities
Support the Pilgrimage and Celebration
We’re grateful to have secured partial sponsorship for the upcoming pilgrimage and reception, but we still need your help to cover the remaining costs. Your generous donation will contribute to:
- The celebration of Mass for the Translation of St Thomas (please note: At the end of Mass, there is a collection for the Anglican Cathedral)
- The reception with champagne and chocolates.
- A special gift to St Thomas Catholic Church as it marks its 150th anniversary.
To make an online donation, please click the button below to visit our JustGiving page.
Thank you — your support truly makes a difference.
Other Jubilee Churches
South-West London Area
- Cathedral of St George
- Sacred Heart, Wimbledon
- St Ann, Kingston Hill
- St Mary’s (Our Lady of Reparation), West Croydon
- St Boniface, Tooting
- St Elizabeth, Richmond
South-East London Area
- St Saviour’s, Lewisham
- Our Lady of Sorrows, Peckham
- St Edmund of Canterbury, Beckenham
- St Thomas More, Dulwich
- St Stephen, Welling
Kent Area
- St Thomas of Canterbury, Canterbury
- Our Lady of Hartley, Hartley
- The Friars, Aylesford
- St Augustine’s Shrine, Ramsgate
- St Jude’s Shrine, Faversham
