St Thomas Church, Winchester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Thomas Church, Winchester |
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| St Thomas & St Clement Church, Winchester | |
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| Country | England |
| Previous denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Consecrated | 16 April 1847 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | E.W. Elmslie |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1845–46, steeple 1857 |
| Construction cost | £8,152 (steeple £1,800) |
| Closed | 1969 |
St Thomas Church in Winchester, England, was once a busy Church of England parish church. Today, it is no longer used for church services. It was also known as St Thomas & St Clement Church.
Contents
A New Church for Winchester
The church building you see today was built to replace an older St Thomas Church. That first church was located on St Thomas Street. It was taken down in 1845. The new church was built about 100 meters away on Southgate Street.
The new church was designed by an architect named E.W. Elmslie. It was built in the Gothic Revival style. This means it looked like churches from the Middle Ages. Construction took place between 1845 and 1846. The tall steeple was added later, in 1857.
Joining Two Communities
When the new church was finished, it brought together two church areas, called parishes. These were the parishes of St Thomas and St Clement. The new church was big enough for about 2,500 people. It was officially opened on April 16, 1847, by the Bishop of Winchester.
What Happened to the Church?
St Thomas Church stopped being used for church services in 1969. For some time, it became home to the Hampshire Record Office. This office keeps important historical documents. The building is considered a Grade II Listed building. This means it is an important historic building.
Later, the Record Office moved to a new place. The church building was then called the St Thomas Centre. It was used by different charities as offices until around 2010. Now, the building is being changed into homes. Nine flats and properties are being created inside the old church.
The Church Organ
The first organ in St Thomas Church was made by Bishop and Son. Later, parts were added by J.W. Walker and Sons. In 1957, a different pipe organ was brought in. This organ was very old, made in 1756 by a famous organ builder named Father Smith. It had originally been in St Maurice's Church, Winchester.
When St Thomas Church closed, this old organ was moved again. It found a new home at St Deny's Church in Portswood, Southampton. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
