St Thomas' Church, Garstang facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Thomas', Garstang |
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| OS grid reference | SD 49093 45049 |
| Location | Garstang, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 17 April 1967 |
| Architect(s) | Richard Gillow Paley and Austin |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Garstang |
| Archdeaconry | Lancaster |
| Diocese | Blackburn |
| Province | York |
St Thomas' Church is a Church of England church located in Garstang, a market town in Lancashire, England. It is an active church that serves the local community. The church was built in 1770. It was first a smaller church that helped a bigger one nearby, but later it became a main church for its own area. St Thomas' Church is recognized as a special building and is listed as Grade II on the National Heritage List for England.
Contents
History of St Thomas' Church
Long ago, the area of Garstang was part of a larger church district. The main church for this district was St Helen's Church, which was about 2 kilometers away in a place called Kirkland.
In the 1400s, a smaller church was built in Garstang. This church was called a "chapel of ease." It was built to make it easier for people in Garstang to attend church without traveling far. This first chapel was dedicated to the Holy Trinity. However, by the 1700s, this old chapel was no longer used.
In 1770, a brand new church was built in a different spot in Garstang. This new church was named after Saint Thomas. The person who designed it was an architect named Richard Gillow. Later, in 1879, a special part of the church called the chancel was added. This work was likely done by a famous architecture company called Paley and Austin. Just two years later, in 1881, St Thomas' Church became a main parish church, serving its own community. Around this time, the churchyard, which is the area around the church, was made bigger.
Church Design and Features
St Thomas' Church is built from sandstone rocks, and its roofs are made of slate. The church has a main hall called a nave and a tall tower at the west end. It also has a chancel and a side section called a transept on the north side. The tower is square and has round openings where the bells are.
Inside the church, there is a beautiful stained glass window at the east end. It shows an image of Saint Thomas and was made by Carl Almquist from the company Shrigley & Hunt. There is also another stained glass window by the same company that shows the Ascension of Jesus. In the chancel, you can see a bronze sculpture of Christ. This artwork was created in 1974 by an artist named Josefina de Vasconcellos.
Outside the Church
In the churchyard, there are some old stone remains from the Middle Ages. These are the base and part of the shaft of a sandstone cross. This old cross is also recognized as a special historical item. The churchyard is also a resting place for two soldiers who died in World War I. One was from Britain and the other from Australia.
Importance of St Thomas' Church
St Thomas' Church was officially recognized as a Grade II listed building on April 17, 1967. This means it is considered important to the history and heritage of England. The old stone cross in the churchyard is also listed as Grade II. Buildings with this listing are seen as "nationally important and of special interest."
Today, St Thomas' Church is an active Church of England parish church. It is part of the larger Anglican Diocese of Blackburn. This diocese is part of the Province of York. The church is also part of the local area called the Deanery of Garstang.
See also
- Listed buildings in Garstang
- List of ecclesiastical works by Paley and Austin
