St Thomas' Church, Preston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Thomas Centre |
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St Thomas' Church, Preston, from the northwest
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| OS grid reference | SD 537 302 |
| Location | Lancaster Road, Preston, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Pentecostal |
| Website | www.citychurchpreston.com |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | St Thomas' Church, Preston |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 27 September 1979 |
| Architect(s) | John Latham |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Romanesque Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1837 |
| Completed | 1839 |
| Construction cost | £4,500 |
St Thomas' Church is a special building located on Lancaster Road in Preston, Lancashire, England. It used to be a church for the Anglican faith, which is a type of Christian church. Today, it is used by City Church Preston, a Pentecostal church that is part of the AOG GB.
This church is very important! It is officially recognized as a Grade II listed building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it's a building with special historical or architectural value that needs to be protected.
Contents
What is the History of St Thomas' Church?
St Thomas' Church was designed by an architect named John Latham. It was built a long time ago, between 1837 and 1839. The building cost about £4,500 back then, which was a lot of money!
When it was first built, the church was big enough for about 1,100 people to sit inside. In 1869, a special curtained seat near the entrance was used by Edward Hermon, who was a local Member of Parliament (a person elected to make laws).
The church stopped being an Anglican church on November 1, 1983. After that, it was used for different things, like community events. Since February 6, 2001, it has been used by other Christian groups for worship. From 2014, it was known as the Preston Elim Pentecostal Church. Then, in 2018, City Church Preston bought it and started using it, changing its name to St Thomas Centre.
What Does St Thomas' Church Look Like?
St Thomas' Church is built from sandstone and has slate roofs. Its design is mostly in the Romanesque Revival style, which looks a bit like Norman buildings. This means many of its openings, like windows and doorways, are rounded at the top.
The church has a main area called a nave with six sections, and a high row of windows called a clerestory. On each side of the nave are aisles. At the front, there's a chancel with a five-sided apse, which is a rounded or polygonal end. On either side of the apse are small rooms called vestries.
The Tower and Spire
Above the chancel, there is a three-part tower. Each side of the middle part has a window. The top part has two-light bell openings, which are places for bells. On top of the tower is a broach spire, which is a tall, pointed roof.
Windows and Doorways
At the front of the church, there is a window in a Norman-style frame. On either side of this window are two rows of smaller windows. Above these, there is a three-light window, and in the triangular part of the roof (the gable), there is a round wheel window.
There are doorways on both sides of the church in the western part of the aisles. The doorway on the north side has a small pointed roof over it. The other sections along the sides of the aisles and the clerestory are separated by flat columns called pilasters, and each section has a window. There is also a window on each side of the apse.
Inside the Church
Inside the church, the rows of arches (called arcades) are supported by round columns called piers. The inside of the church has been changed by adding an upper floor, which divides the space.
Why is St Thomas' Church Important?
St Thomas' Church was officially recognized as a Grade II listed building on September 27, 1979. This is the lowest of three levels of protection for buildings. It means the church is considered a "building of national importance and special interest."
Experts like Hartwell and Pevsner, who wrote about England's buildings, said the church is "indeed an odd creature." They noted that even though it looks mostly Norman, the broach spire and the location of the tower are not typical Norman features. A. Hewitson, who wrote in 1869, described the church as a "small, strong, hard-looking building."
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Santo Tomás (Preston) para niños
- Listed buildings in Preston, Lancashire
