Hospital of St Thomas of Acre
Encyclopedia
The Hospital of St Thomas of Acre was the medieval London
headquarters of the Knights of Saint Thomas. It was founded as a church in 1227 in the parish of St Mary Colechurch
, birthplace of the order's patron saint, Saint Thomas Becket
. In the 14th century and after it was the main headquarters of the military order.
In 1512, the Worshipful Company of Mercers
bought from the order a site by the church on which to build their hall, and in 1514 they formally became the patron to the order.
In 1538, during the Protestant Reformation
, the order was dissolved and the properties were forfeit to the crown, but were subsequently acquired by the Mercers in exchange for various payments, rents, and undertakings.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
headquarters of the Knights of Saint Thomas. It was founded as a church in 1227 in the parish of St Mary Colechurch
St Mary Colechurch
St Mary Colechurch was a parish church in the City of London destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and not rebuilt.-History:The Great Fire of London of 1666 destroyed 86 of the 97 parish churches in the City of London.. By 1670 a Rebuilding Act had been passed and a committee set up...
, birthplace of the order's patron saint, Saint Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
. In the 14th century and after it was the main headquarters of the military order.
In 1512, the Worshipful Company of Mercers
Worshipful Company of Mercers
The Worshipful Company of Mercers is the premier Livery Company of the City of London and ranks first in order of precedence. It is the first of the so-called "Great Twelve City Livery Companies". It was incorporated under a Royal Charter in 1394...
bought from the order a site by the church on which to build their hall, and in 1514 they formally became the patron to the order.
In 1538, during the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, the order was dissolved and the properties were forfeit to the crown, but were subsequently acquired by the Mercers in exchange for various payments, rents, and undertakings.