Church of St Thomas the Martyr

In the centre of Winchelsea is a church dedicated to ‘St Thomas the Martyr’ – Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury.
The church was built at the same time as the town itself, in 1281 when King Edward I ordered a planned town, based on a grid, to be built. We cannot be sure whether the whole of the church was ever built. Today only the chancel and chapels remain in use. The transepts are in ruins and there is no evidence to be seen of a nave.
It is renowned for these 20th century stained glass windows by Douglas Strachan and the medieval Alard tombs.