Visiting Saint Thomas More's Cell in the Tower of London
One of the most inspiring days of our pilgrimage throughout Europe was the opportunity to visit the cell where Saint Thomas More was held prisoner. It was a special day, in a special place, for a special man.
It started with the classic tourist thing to do in London, a visit to the Tower of London. As we entered the Tower, the ticket taker said that we were just in time to get a guided tour from a Yeoman Warder. These remarkable men (and one woman) are retired British military with more than 22 years of good conduct, and in addition to giving tours, are responsible for guarding His Majesty’s Royal Palace and the Tower, including the Crown Jewels. The Tower Beefeaters have booming voices and are extremely knowledgeable, having memorized “The Story” covering the 900-year history of the Tower.
At the base of Bell Tower, we heard the story of the imprisonment and execution of Saint Thomas More. Our guide said that the cell is still intact but only is visited with advanced permission. He told of other famous prisoners and executions, including Saint John Fisher and other Catholic martyrs.
Of course, after the tour, Laura inquired as to how we could go about getting that privilege to visit More’s cell.
Historical Context: The English Reformation
The English Reformation began as Henry VIII’s crisis over succession when Pope Clement VII refused to grant an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Desperate for a male heir, and desiring to marry Anne Boleyn, Henry broke with Rome in 1534, declaring himself Supreme Head of the Church of England through the Act of Supremacy. This political and religious revolution allowed Henry to dissolve wealthy monasteries, eliminate opposition, and permanently alter England’s relationship with religious authority, establishing a distinctly English church that evolved through subsequent Tudor reigns.
A Friendship Destroyed
Saint Thomas More and Henry VIII’s friendship was once so close that the king would walk arm-in-arm with More through palace gardens, cherishing his wit, intellect, and moral counsel, leading Henry to elevate More to Lord Chancellor in 1529. This deep bond was shattered with More’s principled refusal to compromise his Catholic faith. Henry wanted More to swear to the Act of Supremacy.
Imprisonment, Trial, and Execution
After that refusal, More was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London. For fifteen months, he occupied a relatively comfortable cell in the Bell Tower, at least initially. The king thought More would come around eventually with confinement.
More wrote “A Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation” and corresponded with his beloved daughter Margaret Roper while incarcerated. Over time, the king removed his comforts, his beloved books and writing materials. More’s last letter to Margaret was written in charcoal.
His trial on July 1, 1535, lasting barely 15 minutes, was a foregone conclusion, with perjured testimony from Richard Rich securing his conviction for high treason. Throughout, More maintained he had never denied the king’s supremacy but simply remained silent — a defense the court rejected.
From his cell, More watched the workmen build the platform for his execution. On July 6, 1535, dressed in simple clothes and carrying a red cross, More ascended Tower Hill for execution, famously telling the assembled crowd, “I die the King’s good servant, and God’s first.” (This is the actual quote and differs slightly from the one in the Academy Award-winning film about More called “A Man For All Seasons.”)
More's Legacy and Canonization
Saint Thomas More’s unwavering stand for conscience transformed him from Catholic martyr to universal symbol of moral integrity. Initially venerated by Catholics resisting the English Reformation, his reputation grew beyond religious boundaries as his principled resistance to tyranny resonated across centuries. Pope Pius XI canonized More in 1935, but his appeal extended to secular audiences through works like “A Man For All Seasons” (first performed as a play) which celebrated his defense of individual conscience against state power. Today, as patron saint of statesmen and politicians, More’s legacy challenges leaders to uphold ethical principles even when faced with devastating personal consequences — a reminder that integrity sometimes demands the ultimate sacrifice.
Our Visit to More's Cell
Our first blessing for this day was pre-purchasing the tickets. We initially thought we would have no problem getting in during a Tuesday morning, but that turned out to be during the “Half Term” holiday, where all the kids had the week off school. The queue wound around and around, but we were able to go right on in.
We met our knowledgeable and friendly Yeoman Warder, Barney. He took us to the King’s House, where the Constable of the Tower lives. This Tudor-style house was one of the few that survived the Great Fire of London of 1666, in part because it was inside the moat. The saint’s cell is in the basement of this personal residence, which explains why we needed to book the tour ahead of time. Michael took us into the regal reception room and explained the Beefeater ceremonies that happen there as well as the battles depicted in the lavish paintings on the walls.
Next, we entered the cell, behind an ancient wood door, like you see all over England, and were hit with the simplicity of the space. Dirt floor, stone walls, and narrow vertical slits for windows. The many-arched ceiling lent the place an unexpected grace. A painting of the saint on the wall and a simple wooden table were the only adornments.
Yeoman Barney gave a brief history of the room and the saint’s time spent here; the entirety of his 15 months’ imprisonment. This included the window where he would have watched the platform being built. Yeoman Barney then left us alone for several minutes to pray. We asked Saint Thomas More to intercede on behalf of everyone on our prayer list.
Kneeling with his serene portraited face above us, it didn’t take much to imagine the statesman-turned-saint first being accommodated in every way such as a plush bed, an ample library, normal hygiene and clothes, fancy food, servants and regular visitors. Then, as mentioned earlier, being slowly deprived of all this, even of ink and paper, in the hopes of coercing him to change his mind. After the sorrow of separation from family, the loss of expression must have been devasting as More was the author of the famous Utopia (as well as dozens of poems, treatises, histories, essays, books and of course personal letters). Imagine a slow death of a thousand cuts. Yet he courageously suffered, prayed, and persevered in integrity until that final blow from the executioner.
Spending time here was a gift and an inspiration. St. Thomas More, pray for us!
