St Thomas' Church, Blackpool facts for kids

St Thomas' Church is located on Caunce Street in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. It is a busy Anglican church, which means it belongs to the Church of England. It serves as a local parish church and is part of the Deanery of Blackpool, the Archdeaconry of Lancaster, and the Diocese of Blackburn.

History of St Thomas' Church

This church was built between 1930 and 1932. It was designed by Henry Paley, an architect from Lancaster. He worked for a famous architectural firm called Austin and Paley. The building cost about £10,326 at the time. This amount would be much higher today, around £800,000.

Building Design and Materials

St Thomas' Church is made of brick with special stone decorations. Its windows feature designs from two old English Gothic styles: Decorated and Perpendicular. These styles are known for their beautiful stone patterns in the windows.

Unfinished Construction

When the church was first built, only part of it was finished. This included the east end and about three and a half sections of the main hall (called the nave) and the side aisles. Because it was never fully completed, some experts describe it as "a stump of a church." However, they also say that the inside of the church looks very grand and has many creative touches.

St Thomas' Church Today

St Thomas' Church is still a very active place of worship. It follows the Evangelical tradition, which focuses on the Bible and sharing faith. The current vicar, who is the main priest, is the Reverend David O’Brien.

More Information

• List of ecclesiastical works by Austin and Paley (1916–44)

External Websites

• St Thomas' Church website
• St Thomas's, Blackpool at genuki.org