Thomas More

Just in front of the Church in the garden is the sculpture of Sir Thamos More created by Leslie Cubitt Bevis.

Thomas More was born in London on February 7, 1478, the son of a successful lawyer. As a young boy, he spent time in the household of John Morton, the Archbishop of Canterbury, which gave him an early introduction to the world of politics and the Church. Later, More studied at Oxford, trained as a lawyer, and even considered becoming a monk. From 1510 to 1518, he served as one of the two under-sheriffs of London. In 1517, he entered the service of King Henry VIII, quickly rising to become one of the king’s most trusted advisors. He handled various responsibilities, acting as the king’s secretary, interpreter, speechwriter, chief diplomat, and general confidant. By 1521, More had been knighted, and a couple of years later, in 1523, he was elected Speaker of the House of Commons. In 1525, he became Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

At the same time, More was gaining recognition as a scholar. He was close to Erasmus, a radical Catholic theologian, but he stood firmly against Martin Luther and the growing Protestant Reformation. Around 1515, he wrote The History of Richard III, vital in cementing Richard’s reputation as a tyrant. The work is often considered the first masterpiece of English historiography. Then, in 1516, More published his most famous book, Utopia. This imagined a republic governed by reason and stood in sharp contrast to the tumultuous political realities of Europe at the time. Throughout his life, More remained a fierce defender of Catholicism, writing numerous pamphlets against heresy, banning unorthodox books, and even, as Chancellor, overseeing the questioning of heretics.

1529, More was appointed Lord Chancellor, just as Henry VIII grew increasingly desperate to secure a divorce from Catherine of Aragon. More’s predecessor, Cardinal Wolsey, had failed to achieve this goal for the king. The situation with Rome was reaching a breaking point, and the Reformation Parliament was about to begin.

When Henry finally declared himself the “Supreme Head of the Church in England,” effectively creating the Anglican Church and allowing him to end his marriage, More resigned as Chancellor. He continued to oppose Henry’s divorce and the break with Rome. In 1534, More was arrested after refusing to take the Oath of Succession, recognising Henry’s annulment and rejecting the pope’s authority. More was tried for treason at Westminster, and on July 6, 1535, he was executed at Tower Hill.