The son of a musician employed at the Welsh Cathedral of St. Davids, Thomas Tomkins became master of the choristers and organist at Worcester Cathedral and later served as organist to the Chapel Royal.

His career as a church musician was ended by the Civil War and the surrender of Worcester to the parliamentary army in 1646.

Thomas Tomkins was primarily a composer of church music, with five service settings and a number of anthems that remain in many cases in English cathedral repertoire; these last include the moving lament for Absalom, When David heard.

He added to the repertoire of the English madrigal with works for three, four, five and six parts.

The madrigals were published in London in 1622 and include a number of sacred songs with settings of pastoral verses.

He wrote also music for instrumental consort, including fantasias and dances, in particular pavanes and galliards.