Weight: 782 lbs Diameter: 32.75" Bell 1 of 6
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1967
Dove Bell ID: 7636 Tower ID: 14934 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Woolton Hill: St Thomas
Overview
Grid reference: SU 429 616
The Church of St Thomas the Apostle (known as ‘St Thomas’ Church’) is a Grade II Listed Building (List Entry No. 1308259). The church is part of the North West Hampshire Benefice, which serves the parishes of Ashmansworth, Crux Easton, East Woodhay, Highclere and Woolton Hill. The Church was constructed by Wyatt and Brandon, a London based architectural practice that operated between 1838 and 1851.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 332 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The creation of the ecclesiastical parish of Woolton Hill, carved out of the former ecclesiastical parish of East Woodhay, and the construction of St Thomas’ Church was instigated by Thomas Douglas Hodgson, Rector of East Woodhay (1825-1884) who was also the treasurer of a fund set up to finance the construction of the new church. The need for a separate church and parish was justified by population growth and the relative inaccessibility of the church in East Woodhay, located at the edge of the historic parish. The parcel of land for the church was supplied by J.F. Winterbottom of Tile Barn, who also supplied further land for the construction of the adjacent school.
St Thomas’ Church was consecrated on the 10th October 1849 and the parish of Woolton Hill created in 1850. The total cost of construction of the church was supplied by public donation.
Exterior Description
The church represents an example of Gothic 19th century architecture, having been built in 1849 in style resembling English Early Decorated Gothic architecture although the inspirations for the architectural elements are quite eclectic and do not reflect the local traditions, like many churches of Victorian origin. The church, built on a roughly north-east/south-west axis, parallel to Church Road, has a chancel to the north-east, a nave with a north-west aisle, a tower at the north-east end of the aisle and porch, with later additions including the south-west porch and vestry. It is built of flint rubble, with Bath stone dressings and tiled roof.
The exterior of the church is characterised by stepped buttresses and pointed arch windows, which include Kentish plate tracery. The windows of the nave and chancel are mostly coupled lights with cusps beneath quatrefoils. There are two lancets beneath a circular window at the south-western end with a traceried three-light window in the north-eastern wall of the chancel.
The thin north-eastern tower, built on a square plan with buttresses and a circular stairwell to the north, is topped with a stone broach spire with blank lucarnes. The small vestry to the south-east of the chancel appears to have been raised in height, likely in the early 20th century to accommodate the relocated organ. The later additions to the structure include a well-designed south-west porch by George Herbert Kitchin, constructed in 1919. The porch was funded by the mother of John William Egerton-Green and Charles Scroop Egerton-Green who died at Ypres and Somme respectively. The vestry, designed by Sir Charles Nicholson, was built in 1927.
Building Materials
Flint
19th Century
Flint
Interior
Interior Description
The interior of St Thomas’ Church comprises a two-bay chancel, and a nave of five bays with northern aisle, all under wooden roofs. Contemporary and early 20th century fittings survive within the church. A number of memorials within the church commemorate the lives of previous congregation members and their relatives. An internal feature of some interest within the chancel is the decoration of the eastern wall. In 1902, James Powell and Sons were commissioned to decorate the wall in memory of Frances Robinson, the wife of the Rector. The decoration, which was originally quite elaborate, included a scene of two angels, believed to represent the Angel of the Annunciation with lily (left) and the Angel of Resurrection with palm (right). In the mid-20th century, the original decorations on the wall were painted over. Following the uncovering of the decorations in 1999, the parishioners agreed to restore the images of the angels, although the renovations carried out in 2007 placed the paintings in rather simple pointed arch surrounds, not reflecting the elaborate earlier decorations of the wall.
The stained glass in the three-light traceried north-eastern window was designed by Charles Eamer Kempe, a Victorian stained glass designer whose works decorate many churches across England, including the cathedrals in Winchester, Wells and Gloucester. The window depicts the Crucifixion and the window bears the designer’s trademark of a sheaf of corn. It was built in memory of Theodore Byron Hope, a churchwarden.
The 1905 reredos (sculptured screen behind the altar) by W. and C.A. Bassett Smith comprises an elaborate Last Supper scene in high relief set within an arcaded frame, built in remembrance of Lt. Col. F. W. Reader who died in South Africa. It is accompanied by a contemporaneous dado of alabaster on both sides of the reredos (screened behind curtains). Other items of note within the chancel comprise the elaborately decorated Gothic priest’s seat, built into the sill of the south-eastern window and wooden stalls.
The organ was funded by Colonel Ridley in 1902 as a replacement for the original instrument located towards the south-western end of the church. The relocation required the enlargement of the south-east vestry. The aisle is separated from the nave by an arcade formed of alternate round and octagonal piers. The arches, depressed on vertical pieces with hoodmoulds rising to form two-centred blank arches, repeat the odd style used by Joseph Hansom in the design of St Mary’s Church in Ryde, Isle of Wight (1844-46). There are carved headstops, fronting the nave only. Other elements built of stone include the pointed arch door openings. The pews (two lines in the nave and a single line in the aisle) are thought to represent the original furnishings of the church, with the pew numbers (likely painted in order to aid the charging system) preserved along the nave. However, the reinstatement of the pews following works to the flooring did not follow the numerical order, with the numbers mixed-up. A wooden pulpit is located in the north-eastern corner, accessed via stone steps.
The lavishly decorated font, located at the back of the aisle, represents a later design in Early English Gothic style. It has been suggested that this may have been designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, who worked locally (i.e. at Tile Barn and St Michael’s Church in Highclere). A recently added cover of the font is inscribed with the following: ‘In grateful memory of all those who lived and worked on the Hollington Estate from 1928 – 1968’. The windows are decorated with stained glass. Of the original scheme designed by Charles Edmund Clutterbuck Snr, an early Victorian stained glass artist from East London, only the south-west gable window remains. It comprises a rare Early Victorian royal coat of arms dating to the early 19th century. This window is thought to commemorate the gift by Queen Adelaide to the building of the church. Most of the windows within the church of the late 19th or early 20th century were designed by James Powell and Sons although later stained glass windows are also present. In the nave these include the depiction of Annunciation with St Bridget in trefoil light, in the memory of Harriet Robinson; Via Dolorosa (Christ addressing the daughters of Jerusalem), in the memory of parents of C. R. de la Salle; Agony in the Garden, commemorating the first vicar Nicholas Ridley; the image of the Ascended Lord, dedicated to a cavalry officer George King. The notable stained glass windows in the aisle include an image of Madonna with Child and Archangel Gabriel in the memory of Malcolm Aird; St Michael (in the memory of Ian Basil Aird); a memorial to Julia Mullens comprising Roman Saints: St Perpetua and St Monica; and the figures of Fortitude and Justice, dedicated to the memory of N. B. Ridley of the King’s Own Regiment. Other memorials include an inscription in the memory of J.H. Lock.
Bells
Weight: 375 lbs Diameter: 24" Bell 2 of 6
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1925
Dove Bell ID: 46957 Tower ID: 14934 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 408 lbs Bell 3 of 6
Founded by Charles & George Mears 1849
Dove Bell ID: 46958 Tower ID: 14934 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 416 lbs Bell 4 of 6
Founded by Charles & George Mears 1849
Dove Bell ID: 46959 Tower ID: 14934 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 485 lbs Bell 5 of 6
Founded by Charles & George Mears 1849
Dove Bell ID: 46960 Tower ID: 14934 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 527 lbs Bell 6 of 6
Founded by Charles & George Mears 1849
Dove Bell ID: 46961 Tower ID: 14934 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: SU 429 616
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.
The churchyard has war graves.
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
Submit a change
If you notice something incorrect or missing, please explain it in the form below and submit it to our team for review.