Church of St Thomas, Dudley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Thomas', Dudley |
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| Parish Church of Saint Thomas | |
St. Thomas' Church in Dudley, viewed from the North
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 St. Thomas', Dudley
Location in West Midlands county
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| 52°30′31″N 2°05′12″W / 52.5085°N 2.0866°W | |
| OS grid reference | SO942900 |
| Location | Dudley, West Midlands |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | c. 1182 |
| Dedication | St Thomas and St Luke |
| Earlier dedication | Thomas Becket |
| Events | Rebuilt in 1815 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* Listed |
| Designated | 14 September 1949 |
| Architect(s) | William Brooks |
| Style | Neo-Gothic |
| Years built | 1815–1818 |
| Construction cost | £12,650 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Bath Stone |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Dudley; St. Thomas & St. Luke |
| Archdeaconry | Dudley |
| Diocese | Worcester |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of Saint Thomas is an important church in Dudley, England. It is a Church of England church, which is part of the Christian faith. People in Dudley often call it 'Top Church'. This is because it sits higher up than another church nearby, St. Edmund's, which they call 'Bottom Church'.
This church is very old. It was first built in the 12th century, around the year 1182. It was first named after Thomas Becket, a famous saint who died a few years before the church was founded.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Beginnings
The Church of Saint Thomas is mentioned in an old church document from 1182. This document gave the church to a nearby religious house called the Priory of St. James. Over time, the church's name changed to honor the Apostle St Thomas.
Rebuilding the Church
The church building you see today is not the original one. It was rebuilt in the 19th century. In 1815, the old building was not safe anymore. So, a special law was passed by the government to allow it to be rebuilt. The new church cost about £12,650 to build. That was a lot of money back then!
World War II Damage
During World War II, on September 7, 1940, something surprising happened. A German plane, from the Luftwaffe (the German air force), dropped a bomb near the church. The bomb blew out most of the church's windows. You can still see marks from the bomb's shrapnel (small metal pieces) on the church today.
Church Status and Location
The Church of Saint Thomas is a parish church. This means it serves a local area or community. It is also a "Grade II* listed" building. This is a special status given to buildings that are very important and need to be protected. The church received this special status in 1949.
Even though the town of Dudley has moved between different counties over the years, the church has stayed part of the Anglican Diocese of Worcester. This is the church's main religious area.
