St Thomas' Church, Stourbridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Thomas' Church, Stourbridge |
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St Thomas' Church, Stourbridge
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| 52°27′20.37″N 2°8′52.80″W / 52.4556583°N 2.1480000°W | |
| Location | Stourbridge |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Liberal Catholic |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Thomas |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1726 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Stourbridge |
| Deanery | Stourbridge |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Dudley |
| Diocese | Diocese of Worcester |
St Thomas' Church in Stourbridge is a special building. It is a parish church for the local community. It belongs to the Church of England, which is the main Christian church in England. This church is also a Grade I listed building. This means it is considered very important and protected because of its history and architecture.
Church History
The church building was finished in 1726. This makes it almost 300 years old! Later, in 1890, a part of the church called the chancel was added. The chancel is the area around the altar, where the clergy and choir usually sit. This addition was designed by an architect named William Bidlake.
Church Leaders
Over the years, many different leaders have served St Thomas' Church. These leaders are called vicars. They help guide the church community and lead services. The current leader of the church is The Revd Andrew Sillis. He has been serving the church since 2012.
The Church Organ
St Thomas' Church has a beautiful pipe organ. Records show that the first organ was put in the church in 1809. It was built by a person named George Pike England.
Over the years, the organ has been rebuilt and updated many times. Today, it is a large instrument with three "manuals" (keyboards) and pedals. This type of organ can make a wide range of sounds. You can find more details about the organ from 2017 on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Organ Players
The church has also had many talented organists. An organist is the person who plays the organ during church services.
- Samuel Simms was the organist from 1809 to 1868.
- His son, also named Samuel Simms, took over from him in 1868. He later became the organist at St John's Church, Ladywood in Birmingham.
