St Thomas' Church, Coventry facts for kids

St Thomas' Church was a special building located on Albany Road in Coventry, West Midlands, England. It was once a church, but by 1973, it was no longer used for church services. This building was so important that it was officially listed as a Grade II listed building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it was recognized for its historical or architectural value.

History of St Thomas' Church

When Was St Thomas' Church Built?

St Thomas' Church was designed by a team of architects from Lancaster named Sharpe and Paley. Construction began in 1848 and finished in 1849. The very first stone, called the foundation stone, was placed on March 2, 1848.

Opening the Church

The church was officially opened and blessed on August 7, 1849. This special ceremony, called a consecration, was performed by the Bishop of Coventry.

How Much Did It Cost?

Building the church cost £3,721 back then. To help pay for it, different groups donated money. The Coventry Archidiaconal Society gave £630, and two other groups, the Church Building Commissioners and the Incorporated Church Building Society, each gave £230. The stone used to build the church came from a quarry on the estate of Lord Leigh at Stoneleigh Abbey.

What Happened to the Church?

Sadly, St Thomas' Church was no longer needed as a church in 1974. It was then taken down, or demolished, in 1976.

What Did St Thomas' Church Look Like?

Church Style and Shape

The church was built in a style called Decorated Gothic. This style was popular in England a long time ago. The church had a main open area called a nave with five sections, and a higher row of windows called a clerestory. On each side of the nave were narrower parts called aisles. At the front, there was a three-section chancel where the altar would be, along with rooms for priests called vestries. There was also a porch at the north side and a bell tower on the northwest side.

The Bell Tower and Windows

The bell tower was shaped like an octagon (an eight-sided shape) and had a cross on top. It was decorated with round ornaments that looked a bit like crockets. The large window at the east end of the church had three main sections. The windows along the sides of the aisles had two sections each. The west window was even bigger, with four sections at the bottom and two smaller, four-leaf shapes (called quatrefoils) and one large six-leaf shape (called a sexfoil) above them. The clerestory, the high part of the nave, had five windows on each side.

Inside the Church

Inside, the roof of the nave was made of open timber. It was held up by special supports called corbels. These corbels were shaped like angels holding shields, adding a beautiful touch to the church's design.