Situated across the river in the old parish of Cliffe, this church was thought to be founded by the Canons of Malling who came under Christchurch Canterbury. Like the church of St Michael's in South Malling, St Thomas's in the Cliffe came under the Rape of Pevensey, the river Ouse being the boundary between the Rapes of Pevensey and Lewes.

The church was built in honour of the martyred Archbishop in the late 12th century. According to legend, after the murder of Becket by the knights of Henry II, the guilty knights fled from Canterbury to the Benedictine.

Inside the church there is a copy of a charter granted to the Archbishop in 1409 by Henry IV enabling the parish to hold a weekly market in the market house on the High Street, east of the chancel; and two annul fairs in the fairplace to the north where stand the church hall and the Fire Engine Shed.

The 1851 Religious Census of St Thomas a Becket

Free sittings 40 on benches attached to wall and pews; others 460 - Total 500

Attendence Morning 213 + 65 = 278; Afternoon 169 + 67 = 236

John C Russell, Rector, Albion Street, Lewes