Many are needed to plant and water what has been planted now that the faith has spread so far and there are so many people... No matter who plants or waters, God gives no harvest unless what is planted is the faith of Peter and unless he agrees to his teachings.

While the three clergymen fled to the king in Normandy Becket continued to excommunicate his opponents in the church the news of which also reached Henry. This was a breach of Canterbury's privilege of coronation and in November 1170 Becket excommunicated all three. Theobald in 1154 named Becket Archdeacon of Canterbury and other ecclesiastical offices included a number of benefices prebends at Lincoln Cathedral and St Paul's Cathedral and the office of Provost of Beverley.

Soon after his death he was canonised by Pope Alexander III. Thomas Becket (also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury Thomas of London and later Thomas à Becket;circa 1118 – 29 December 1170) was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170.