Ramsey St Thomas a Becket

The church of St Thomas á Becket stands in a prominent position in the market town of Ramsey. It was built in 1180 and investigators of the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments suggest that the original plan was for a hospital, infirmary or guest house of the Abbey.

The late 12th Century building consisted of a chancel, north and south chapels, a nave and aisles. In 1310 the south chapel was destroyed and it is thought that the 14th century window was put in the south wall around this time. There was formerly a south porch but this was destroyed around 1843. The church was restored in 1844 with a new vestry added in 1910 at the site at the north chapel.

The parishioners of Ramsey would have had rights to the Monastic church which was usual in all Monasteries of the Pre-Conquest foundation. The services held at the church in the 12th century would have been much more elaborate due to stricter rules and would probably have interfered with the lives of the monks. Because of this, it is probable that a chapel to serve the people of the town was built at Bury.
It is known that Pope Innocent II refers to Bury church as "just being built and as being situated near to the monastery where the Abbot's servants could hear Divine service".