As with all of the houses, symbolism and ceremony are everyday aspects of Becket house life. Throughout the new house room, which was recently unveiled after a summer-long renovation, notes of Thomas Becket’s God-serving life can be found: in the elegant glass plaque, the painted archways that hint at the cathedral in which Becket served, and of course the vast assortment of vibrant banners painted with Becket’s various tokens.

But one addition catches every eye immediately; a large and imposing black metal cross is mounted on one wall, red-tipped swords jutting out from its arms. This majestic replica of the wooden cross that hangs at Canterbury has a very intriguing history, with a production time of ten months and a working crew of about twelve.
The idea, first conceived in December of 2018, was brought to life by architect and former Becket member John Halford, who went above and beyond to help bring the new emblem to life. According to Becket Housemaster Mr. Kinney, the most gratifying part of the process was getting to see the metalsmiths’ lifesize cardboard model of the cross, when the complexity of the project struck him fully for the first time. Mr. Kinney recalls the room falling silent at the sight of the elaborate model and just examining it in awe.

The cross is “intended to be a memorial to the sacrifice made by Thomas Becket on our behalf and his fidelity to the church.” – Mr. Greg Kinney

When we see the cross and the blood on the blade-tips, we are to be reminded of what Thomas Becket did out of love for the Lord. Mr. Kinney goes on to say, “It’s neat to make something that will outlast you for generations, it’s pretty awesome.”
This cross will hang proudly in the Becket room long after the current Upper School classes graduate, and with it the memory of Becket’s incredible servitude and sacrifice.