St Thomas' Church, St Anne's-on-the-Sea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Thomas', St Anne's-on-the-Sea |
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| OS grid reference | SD 32538 28381 |
| Location | St Anne's-on-the-Sea, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Architect(s) | Austin and Paley |
| Completed | 1905 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Kirkham |
| Archdeaconry | Lancaster |
| Diocese | Blackburn |
| Province | York |
St Thomas' Church is a special Anglican church located in St Anne's-on-the-Sea, a lovely town on the coast of Lancashire, England. It's a busy parish church that serves its community. This beautiful church was designed by famous architects named Austin and Paley. It's so important that it's officially recognized as a Grade II listed building in England.
Contents
Building the Church
St Anne's-on-the-Sea became a popular seaside town in the 1800s. The first church there, St Anne's, was finished in 1873. As the town grew, people realized they needed another church.
Early Days and Planning
The St Thomas' church community started in 1893. Back then, it was just a small church made of wood and corrugated iron. Soon, everyone agreed they needed a bigger, stronger building. People started collecting money to build it.
A local landowner, John Talbot Clifton, gave the land for the new church. A kind brewer, Robert Slater Boddington, also donated £500. Building work began in 1899. The church was designed by the well-known architectural firm Austin and Paley. They had won a competition to design the church way back in 1892.
Construction and Completion
When the church was first built, some parts were not finished, like the tall tower, the entrance porch, and two sections of the main hall (called the nave). Even so, the church could seat 600 people.
The church was officially opened in 1900 by James Moorhouse, who was the Bishop of Manchester. A few years later, in 1904–05, the tower, porch, and the extra parts of the nave were finally added. This made the church even bigger, allowing it to seat 670 people.
Special Recognition
On February 15, 1993, St Thomas' Church was given a Grade II listed building status. This means it's considered "nationally important and of special interest." It's a very active church within the Church of England. It belongs to the Diocese of Blackburn, which is part of the Province of York.
Church Design
St Thomas' Church has a unique and interesting design.
Outside the Church
The church is built with red Accrington brick. The areas around the windows are made of cream-colored Yorkshire stone. The arches and pillars inside are made of red sandstone. The roofs are covered with red tiles.
The church has a main hall, called a nave, with six sections and windows high up (called clerestoried windows). There are also side sections, called aisles, and a special area near the altar, called a chancel.
The church has a square tower on its north-west side. This tower has strong diagonal supports called buttresses. It also has fancy openings for bells, called belfry louvres, and a decorative top edge with pointed decorations called pinnacles.
Inside the Church
The church has beautiful Stained glass windows. These windows were made by different artists and companies, including Powells, G. P. Hutchinson, Carl Edwards, and Shrigley & Hunt.
Churchyard Features
The churchyard is the area around the church. It contains a special grave for a soldier from the Royal Artillery who fought in World War II. This grave is looked after by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
More to Explore
- Listed buildings in Saint Anne's on the Sea
- List of ecclesiastical works by Austin and Paley (1895–1914)
