History Of St.Thomas' Church
Prior to 1770, the old chapel stood on the site now occupied by the Town Hall and in 1769 was described as "in a decayed condition". In 1769 inhabitants resolved to build a new chapel by subscription, each subscriber of £20 or more to have a double seat in the front part of the chapel and a bench for servants. A committee chose a site in the corner of a field called Rivington Croft and in the Spring of 1770 the foundation stone was laid by William Lucas, agent to Sir Edward Walpole owner of the town and manor. A ground plan of the building in 1770 shows the present nave and porch with the addition of a small chancel. Against the north wall stood a three decker pulpit. The small alcove at the west end housed the front and close by was the christening pew - where the staircase now ascends to the gallery. Catle grazed upto the walls on three sides, the entrance from the street being much as it is now. The tower was lower than it is now and surmounted by a cupola, the ornamental top stone or finial, is preserved on the gable over the chancel arch. The stone pedestal near the chuch gate has usually been described as the base of a sundial but could equally well be part of an ancient cross. In order to maintain the building , pew rents were charged for 6/- per year.When a new peal of bells was installed at Churchtown in 1828 the Vicar and Wardens presented to the chapel the largest of two bells now in use dated 1807. This was probably the time when the eight top courses of the tower and pinnacles were added. By 1831 there was a concern about the lack of places for those who couldn't rent pews and it was decided that a gallery should be placed on the south west side to furnish a number of free sittings. Two years later the work was carried out along with the building of a vestry, also the singing gallery appears to have been enlarged and further accomodation provided by a gallery on the north side. At this time the original pulpit must have been removed or modified. An organ is first mentioned in 1845 and a new instrument installed in 1861. In 1848 the chapel was consecrated in the name of St. Thomas'and a burial ground added to the north east side of the building. In 1871 the seats are described as "closed and of all sizes and have variegated appearance, some plain, some lined with green, some with blue and others with crimson cloth". The appearance of the church was much altered in 1874 by the addition of a chancel and organ chamber and by the removal of the old pews and introduction of the present open benches. The brass name plates were carefully replaced in their correct postions, some being the originals e.g., those of the Corporation of Garstang. In 1876, the East Window was given and a reredos of polished pine presented. The former is of three lights depicting The Walk to Emmaus. The Ascension of Our Lord and The Risen Christ Appearing to St. Thomas. In 1881 new lighting and heating was introduced, alterations made to windows, the churchyard was extended and the present vestry built. In 1895 a fine new organ was built and an opening recital given by the organist of Blackburn Parish Church, now our Cathedral. The side galleries erected in the 19th century were removed in the 20th century, restoring to the nave it's original light and spaciousness. On Christmas Day 1912, the carved oak chair on the north side of the sanctuary was dedicated by Vicar Boyes Stones in memory of his mother. The chair and credance shelf had been made out of carved wood of the 17th century removed from St. Helen's Church, Churchtown at the restoration of 1868. The panel was from the door of the pulpit and the pillars formed part of the organ case. There is another carved chair in the chancel which may come from the old chapel. The altar is dated 1917. In the chancel hangs the bronze sculpture of The Risen Christ and is the work of Josephina da Vasconcellos who found her inspiration in words from the book of Relevation: "I Am the Morning Star". Other examples of her work are to be found in Cartmell Priory, The Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh, Gloucester Cathedra, Blackburn Cathedral, St. Martin-in-the-Fields and St. Pauls Cathedral. In 1987 the pews were stripped back to their original pine finish, having been painted black just after the Second World War. The cost was estimated at ten thousand pounds, but done by voluntary labour in a period of the six weeks of Lent. It cost just £511 in materials. Underneath the statue by the pulpit you will find the Book of Remebrance and facilities too for lighting a candle. In 1770 a clock was designed to be in the original building. A lack of funds meant that this did not happen until 1995. In 1945 a recorded bell system had been installed as a War Memorial. It was very fitting that 50 years later this was replaced by a computerised system using the latest state-of-the-art-technology. A three faced clock was also installed in 1995 made by Potts of Leeds, who would have installed the original clock in 1770 had funds permitted.
Perpetual Curates
Vicars
