Church of St Thomas, Thurstonland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Thomas, Thurstonland |
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St Thomas in 2008
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 Church of St Thomas, Thurstonland
Location in West Yorkshire
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| 53°35′35″N 1°45′02″W / 53.59316°N 1.75056°W | |
| OS grid reference | SE 166108 |
| Location | Marsh Hall Lane, Thurstonland, West Yorkshire, HD4 6XD |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Consecrated | 3 October 1870 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed, #1135375 |
| Architect(s) | Mallinson and Barber |
| Architectural type | Parish church |
| Style | Gothic Revival, Arts and Crafts |
| Groundbreaking | 1869 |
| Completed | 1870 |
| Construction cost | £3,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | designed for 385 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Thomas Thurstonland |
| Deanery | Kirkburton 40107 |
| Archdeaconry | Halifax 401 |
| Diocese | Anglican Diocese of Leeds |
The Church of St Thomas in Thurstonland, West Yorkshire, England, is a beautiful Anglican church. It was built in the Arts and Crafts style, mixed with Gothic Revival design. The church was finished in 1870. It was designed by James Mallinson and William Swinden Barber. The money for the building came from William Legge, 5th Earl of Dartmouth. Robert Bickersteth, who was the Bishop of Ripon, officially opened the church. The tower and spire together reach about 33 meters high. Inside, the main part of the church has a special wooden roof called an arch-braced hammerbeam roof.
The first leader of the church in this building was Rev. Robert Boyle Thompson. He was a missionary who had done important work helping people in the poor areas of London.
Contents
- Who Designed and Built the Church?
- A Look Back: The Church's History
- The Church Building: Inside and Out
- The Churchyard
- Church Leaders (Vicars)
- George Lloyd (1861–1865)
- Robert Boyle Thompson (1868–1877)
- David Harrison (1877–1882)
- John Leech (1882–1906)
- Arnold Escombe Jerram (1906–1910)
- Philip Sydney Brown (1910–1923)
- Maurice Gerber (1923–1939)
- Arthur Dilworth (1939–1943)
- Norman Gearey Hounsfield (1943–1949)
- Ernest Parry (1950–1953)
- Philip Frederick Wainwright Frost (1953–1969)
- Edward Harold Forshaw (1969–1973)
- Raymond Laycock Wainwright (1974–1989)
- John Sean Robertshaw (from 1996)
- Church Activities and Community Life
Who Designed and Built the Church?
Architects and Their Plans
The church was designed between 1867 and 1870 by a team called Mallinson & Barber. However, William Swinden Barber was the one who watched over the building work very closely. This means he was mostly in charge of the plans. Old drawings from 1867 and a sketch are kept at the West Yorkshire Archive Service. It's thought that another church, St John the Evangelist in Birkby, might have given them some ideas for this design.
Meet the Builders and Artists
Many skilled people helped build the church. Leonard North and Thomas Elliott were the clerks who managed the building site. George Pollard from Huddersfield was the stone worker. Joah Swallow from Hepworth was the woodworker. Lockwood from Honley was the plumber. Goodwin & Sons from Huddersfield put on the roof slates. Alfred Jessop from Shepley did the plastering. Brighouse from Huddersfield was the painter. Finally, Thornton from Huddersfield put in the heating system.
A Look Back: The Church's History
Why a New Church Was Needed
Before this church was built, Thurstonland only had a small chapel. This chapel was originally built in 1810. It was too small for the growing village. People tried to raise money for a new church around 1850, but it didn't work. A second try in 1867–1868 was successful.
Thurstonland was a village with about 1,200 people. Most of them worked in farming or factories and didn't have much money. So, they couldn't pay for a new church themselves. The Church of England asked richer members for help. Mr. J.F. Winterbottom gave the land for the church. Money came from William Legge, the Earl of Dartmouth, and others. Local people raised £100 and even helped by leveling the ground by hand.
Laying the Foundation Stone
The first stone of the church was laid on Monday, July 26, 1869, at 1:30 PM. A large crowd gathered to watch. The Countess of Dartmouth and Rev. Richard Collins led a procession. They were followed by the Earl of Dartmouth and Rev. R.B. Thompson, who would be the first leader of the new church. Many other important people, including the architect W.S. Barber, were there. A choir, a band, and Sunday School children also joined.
Everyone sang a hymn. The Earl of Dartmouth was given a special silver trowel. He used it to spread mortar for the stone. Inside the stone, there was a bottle with important papers about the event. A brass plate covered the hole. It said the church was dedicated to St Thomas. It also listed the date, the Earl, and the architects.
The stone was lowered, and the Countess tapped it with a mallet. Thompson ended the service, and the choir sang God Save the Queen. The Earl then gave a long speech. After the ceremony, about 300 people had lunch in a big tent nearby.
The Church is Officially Opened
The church and its burial ground were officially opened on October 3, 1870, at 11 AM. This was done by Robert Bickersteth, the Bishop of Ripon. The church was full of people. The bishop and over thirty local church leaders walked into the church, saying a psalm. The bishop read a special prayer to open the church.
The choir sang, and the organ was played for the first time. The bishop gave a sermon, talking about the new building. He also mentioned that they still needed £400 to pay for the building costs. People gave £313 7s 1d during the collection. After the service, the bishop went outside to bless the burial ground.
Another lunch was held in a tent for about 100 people. The Bishop of Ripon and the Earl and Countess of Dartmouth were there. The Vicar of Kirkburton said that the architect, W.S. Barber, couldn't come because he was sick. But he praised Barber for working very hard on the church. Rev. Thompson spoke about how the new church would have free seating. This meant rich and poor people could worship together. The evening service raised another £50, helping to pay off the remaining costs.
Historical Information
You can find historical leaflets at the church. Records for St Thomas' and old church magazines are kept at the West Yorkshire Archive Services.
The Church Building: Inside and Out
The Church of St Thomas is a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historical building. It's located on Marsh Hall Lane in Thurstonland, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. The area around it is also protected as a Conservation Area.
Original Design Details
When it was first designed, the church was meant to hold 385 adults and children. The main part of the church, called the nave, was about 21 meters long and 8.5 meters wide. Its roof reached about 14 meters high. The tower was about 5.3 meters square and 17.4 meters tall. The stone spire was planned to be 12 meters, but it ended up being 15.8 meters tall.
The ground floor of the tower was used as the church's entrance. The first floor of the tower had a gallery for children. This was right under the church's single bronze bell. The nave had an open timber roof. The pews and choir stalls were made of stained wood. These seats were free to use, unlike some churches where people had to pay for their own "box pews." The oak pulpit stood on a stone base. A carved stone font was placed near the south-west door.
Outside the Church
The church is built from rough-cut stone with smooth stone details. The roof is made of slate. The tower is at the east end of the church. It has a small staircase on its west side. The stone spire has four small windows called lucarnes. Above the south door, there's a special carved area with a figure of St Thomas.
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The church tower
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Organ chamber and vestry
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Spire viewed from the north
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The spire in the countryside
Inside the Church
The Tower Rooms
The tower has four levels. The ground floor is the church's entrance. The first floor was the children's gallery. It had stepped seating and was bright with large windows. This gallery looked out over the main church area. Around 1984, a screen and door were added to close off this opening. Children from Sunday School could use a separate staircase to get to the gallery without disturbing the service. This gallery is no longer used and is unsafe.
The second floor is the clock room. It holds an 1889 clock mechanism made by Potts of Leeds. This company still takes care of the clock today. The clock room is dark and has no windows. The third floor is the bell room. It holds the single bronze bell and the clock's clapper. Above the bell, you can see inside the spire. It's a hollow stone cone, lit by many openings.
Inside the nave, you can see the impressive arch-braced hammerbeam roof. The dark wood against the pale ceiling and the bright windows make it stand out. Until the 1980s, there was a carved marble font from 1870. It was designed by Mallinson and Barber. This font was replaced when a new church room was built at the back of the nave. Its original location is now unknown.
The entrance and aisle floors are covered with colorful tiles. These patterns were also designed by Mallinson and Barber. The floor under the pews still has its original wooden boards. The organ was made in 1870 and fully fixed in 1990. It fits perfectly into the arch designed for it. The original carved oak pulpit from 1870 is still in its place. Many of the original pews are still there, but some at the back were removed when the church room was added.
The Chancel (Altar Area)
The large window at the east end was made by William Wailes. It shows the Parable of the Good Samaritan. This window cost £100 and was paid for by local people in 1870. It was a memorial to Thomas Brooke. The reredos (a decorated screen behind the altar) was put in during the 1920s. It has a wooden plaque remembering its gift.
The floor in the sanctuary (the area around the altar) has decorative tiles. These were also designed by Mallinson and Barber. The tiles were paid for by D. Sharman, who was the head of the Thurstonland Endowed School. The choir stalls and the altar rail are beautifully carved. They were designed by Mallinson and Barber.
Inside Views of the Church
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Children's gallery
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Clock mechanism by Potts of Leeds
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Painted organ pipes
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East window by William Wailes
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Carved choir stall
The Churchyard
The churchyard, or graveyard, was partly ready for burials by 1862, even though the church itself wasn't finished until 1870. There are no detailed records of where each person is buried. However, there is a list of all burials. It's an Anglican graveyard, but people from other Christian groups have also been buried here.
Storthes Hall Section
The churchyard has about 2,000 graves of patients who died at Storthes Hall Hospital (1904–1991). Most of these graves are unmarked. They are in a separate field behind the church. This section was added before 1910. In 1913, some villagers worried that the burials were causing health problems. This was because graves were sometimes left open for too long. However, authorities said the hospital's use of the graveyard helped Thurstonland by paying fees. They also said that only about fifty patients per year, who had no family, were buried there.
Church Leaders (Vicars)
Over the years, many dedicated people have served as vicars at St Thomas' Church. Here are some of them:
George Lloyd (1861–1865)
Reverend George Lloyd was in charge of Thurstonland from 1861 to 1865. He used the old chapel room before the new church was built. He was also a leading member of the Huddersfield Archaeological and Topographical Association. This group helped fund digs at Slack Roman Fort. The Earl of Dartmouth, who later funded St Thomas' Church, also supported these digs.
Robert Boyle Thompson (1868–1877)
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Robert Boyle Thompson was from Ireland. He became a deacon in 1865 and a priest in 1867. In 1868, he was appointed to lead the chapel in Thurstonland. He was the first leader to use the new church building when it was finished in 1870. He officially became the vicar of St Thomas in 1871 and served until 1877.
After Thurstonland, he worked in London. He did "great work" helping people in the poor areas of Seven Dials. He was known as a very serious and good preacher. He died in 1906.
David Harrison (1877–1882)
David Harrison became a deacon in 1873 and a priest in 1875. He was a curate at Christ Church, Linthwaite, before coming to Thurstonland. People there loved him for his sermons and kindness. In August 1877, he became the vicar of St Thomas. The job paid £205 a year, and the village had 1001 people.
He died in June 1882 at only 37 years old. His funeral started at St Thomas' Church. Many church leaders and villagers came to show their respect. The procession then went to the train station. Many people traveled by train to Colne to see him buried at Christ Church, Colne.
John Leech (1882–1906)
John Leech was born in Cumberland. He married Emma Maude Preston in 1882. They had two sons and two daughters, all born in Thurstonland. He studied at London College of Divinity and Durham University. He became a deacon in 1880 and a priest in 1881.
He was the vicar of Thurstonland from 1882 until 1906. His job paid £180 a year and included a house. The village had 997 people. He was involved in many church events and discussions. In 1906, he became the vicar of St John the Evangelist in Golcar, where he stayed for 25 years. He retired in 1931 due to poor health and died in 1932.
Arnold Escombe Jerram (1906–1910)
Arnold Escombe Jerram was born in Surrey. He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge. He became a deacon in 1892 and a priest in 1893. He served in several churches before coming to Thurstonland.
He was the vicar of Thurstonland from 1906 to 1910. The job paid £250 a year and included a house. The village had 867 people. While in Thurstonland, he was active in local council and other groups. Later, he became a chaplain at St Oswald's Hospital in Worcester. He died in 1934.
Philip Sydney Brown (1910–1923)
Philip Sydney Brown was born in Birmingham. He became a deacon in 1888 and a priest in 1889. He was the vicar of Thurstonland from 1910 to 1923. During this time, he was also a chaplain at Storthes Hall Psychiatric Hospital. He served on the Thurstonland and Farnley Tyas Urban Council. He retired in 1935 and died in 1938.
Maurice Gerber (1923–1939)
Maurice Gerber may have been born abroad. He studied at Durham University and London College of Divinity. He became a deacon in 1911 and a priest in 1912. He became the vicar of Thurstonland in December 1923 and stayed until 1939. His income was £345 a year plus a house. The village population grew during his time. He was also a chaplain at Storthes Hall psychiatric hospital. He died in 1967.
Arthur Dilworth (1939–1943)
Arthur Dilworth was a scholar at Oxford University. He became a deacon in 1924 and a priest in 1925. He worked as a missionary in Burma (now Myanmar) from 1927 to 1939. He had to return to England suddenly when the Japanese army took over the area.
He became the vicar of Thurstonland and chaplain of Storthes Hall from 1939 to 1943. His income was £375 with a house. The village population was 3458. He continued to serve in various churches in England. He died in 1989 at age 90.
Norman Gearey Hounsfield (1943–1949)
Norman Gearey Hounsfield was born in Rotherham. He became a deacon in 1912 and a priest in 1913. He served in several churches before coming to Thurstonland.
He was the vicar of Thurstonland from 1943 to 1949. The job paid £375 (later £400) and included a house. The village population was 4132. His son was killed in action during World War II. He died in 1955 at age 71.
Ernest Parry (1950–1953)
Ernest Parry studied at Durham University and Leeds University. He became a deacon in 1914 and a priest in 1915. He worked as a missionary in Malaysia and Borneo from 1921 to 1930, helping Chinese people. He even built a divinity school there.
He returned to the UK for health reasons. He was the vicar of Thurstonland from 1950 to 1953. The job paid £450 and included a house. He was also a visiting preacher at other churches. He died in 1953. Ernest Parry also wrote several books about religion and missions.
Philip Frederick Wainwright Frost (1953–1969)
Philip Frederick Wainwright Frost was born in Leeds. He studied at Oxford University. He became a deacon in 1948 and a priest in 1949. He served as a curate in Ilkeston and Holmfirth.
He became the vicar of New Mill and Thurstonland at the same time in 1953. He lived at New Mill Vicarage and stayed until 1969. He then served in other churches in Cumbria and Lancashire. He retired in 1985 and died in 1993 at age 73.
Edward Harold Forshaw (1969–1973)
Edward Harold Forshaw was born in Birkenhead. He became a deacon in 1956 and a priest in 1957. He served as a curate in Redditch and Netherton.
He was the vicar of Stanley from 1963 to 1969. Then, he became the vicar of New Mill, which included Thurstonland, from 1969 to 1973. He died in 1980 at age 72.
Raymond Laycock Wainwright (1974–1989)
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Raymond Laycock Wainwright was born in Wakefield. He joined the Community of the Resurrection in Mirfield in 1955. He became a deacon in 1956 and a priest in 1957. He served as a curate in Bingley and Almondbury.
He became the joint vicar of Christ Church, New Mill, and Thurstonland in 1974. He stayed until 1989. He retired in 1991 and died in 2008 at age 83.
John Sean Robertshaw (from 1996)
Rev. Canon John Sean Robertshaw was born in Huddersfield in 1966. He studied at Cranmer Hall, St John's College, Durham. He became a deacon in 1993 and a priest in 1994.
He became the team vicar for Upper Holme Valley, including Thurstonland, in 1996. He was appointed a chaplain for the Territorial Army in 1998. He became the team rector for Upper Holme Valley from 2001 to 2013. In 2011, he was made an Honorary Canon of Wakefield Cathedral. He also gained a postgraduate degree in theology in 2012.
Church Activities and Community Life
St Thomas' Church serves the communities of Thurstonland and Stocksmoor. It works closely with the local school, village groups, and even the local pub and cricket club.
The church holds regular services like:
- All-age worship
- Holy Communion
- Family Communion
- A sung eucharist
- A children's church service twice a month
People from the community help with services, flowers, and refreshments. The church also hosts local events like music concerts and the Harvest Festival. These often take place in the church and in the Church Room at the back of the nave. The Parish News magazine, which lists services and events, is available from the church.
The church is involved in charity work and organizes fun family "Sunday Fundays." It also hosts groups like Rainbows, Mothers' Union, a knitting group, and a weekly coffee morning. There is also a Sunday school. The church has wheelchair access, toilets, and disabled parking.
