Southborough: St Thomas
Diocese of Rochester
Church, 631263
https://www.stthomassouthborough.org.uk/Overview
Grid reference: TQ 579 427
St. Thomas' Church is listed grade II and is typical of smaller Victorian churches built in phases. St. Thomas’ Church stands on the north side of the Pennington Road, close to the cricket ground at the north end of Southborough.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 567 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The church was completed in 1860 and consecrated the same year. The construction cost of £2,400 was funded by Mrs Sarah Pugh, as a memorial to her late grandfather and to accommodate the rapidly growing population of Southborough which was filling the nearby churches of St Peters and Christ Church to capacity. It also favoured the liturgical style promoted by the Oxford Movement over the previous 20 years, and thus provided an alternative to the more evangelical churches in Southborough. Mrs Pugh resisted the suggestion that the church should be a Chapel of Ease of St Peter’s and St Thomas was eventually given its own parish in 1871.
The church continued to develop with the widening of the north aisle to provide an additional 72 seats in 1879.
In 1888 the south transept or Colebrooke Chapel was added to a design by R.H. Garling, and the roof of the south aisle was raised to provide an additional 20 seats. The windows were also enlarged to provide more light. The chapel was erected in memory of Dr Henry Colebrook, a local GP held in great regard by the community who had died in 1885.
The organ loft and lady chapel on the north side of the chancel opposite the south transept was built between 1924 and 1925.
In 1939 a baptistry was added to the west end of the south aisle.
n 2006 the church was re-ordered to provide a nave altar. The pulpit, which dated from 1880’s and the first two rows of pews were removed and a raised dais with removable rails was created west of the choir stalls.
Exterior Description
The majority of the building is constructed of a brick core faced external with Kentish Ragstone blocks. Dressings to openings and architectural details are in Bathstone.
The roofs of the church are steeply pitched and covered in natural Welsh slate, Only the north aisle roof slopes remain from the 19th Century and this slate work includes a simple decorative pattern.
The church originally had nave clerestory windows, however at the end of the 20th century, the deep narrow lead gutters were raised for maintenance reasons and the windows are now redundant.
Interior
Interior Description
St. Thomas’ has a number of interesting 19th and 20th century memorials. The chancel has five choir stalls. The organ is the 1925 Hele & Co organ rebuilt in 1984 to a specification drawn up in consultation with Paul Hale, then assistant organist at Rochester Cathedral. The church contains a number of generally competent 19" century stained-glass windows, most notably in the south aisle, Colebrooke chapel and chancel.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 579 427
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Quinquennial Inspections
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