Eastville: St Thomas
Overview
Grid reference: ST 612 750
By William Bassett Smith (1830-1901); the church was started in 1889 at the east end, and completed as far as the crossing and one bay of the nave. The nave was finished, to a slightly modified design, which continued the original design of the bays but omitted Smith's proposed tower and spire, in 1903.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Six-and-a-half-bay aisled nave, with west porches and the two eastern bays opening into transepts; bell-cote on east gable. Chancel with north organ chamber and south vestry.
Description of Archaeology and History
By William Bassett Smith (1830-1901); the church was started in 1889 at the east end, and completed as far as the crossing and one bay of the nave. The nave was finished, to a slightly modified design, which continued the original design of the bays but omitted Smith's proposed tower and spire, in 1903. Other churches by Bassett Smith in Bristol include St. Bartholomew, Montpelier and the addition of aisles to Christ Church, Clifton Down. He designed several churches in and near London including Christ Church, Penge, of 1882-4.
Exterior Description
Liturgical directions are used throughout this record.
The west front of the church rises directly from the pavement, and is tripartite with a tall central gable to the nave within which is a three-light window with Decorated tracery, the central main light lower and narrower than the others. Above the window are three tiny blind niches in a row, and the angles of the gable are continued up as small projections with a niche in each face. The window is outlined in voussoirs of alternating brown and buff stone and the label is moulded, terminating in uncarved blocks. Below the window are two blind arches, flanked by buttresses and also divided by a central buttress.
The nave gable is flanked by two much lower gables over the porches through which the church is entered. These are symmetrical with big trefoiled arches sheltering the doors, and again labels with uncarved stops. Above a projecting stringcourse are parapets each broken by a gablet under which is a small empty niche.
The aisle bays each have three-light windows, and are divided from each other by small buttresses. The clerestory windows are of an extraordinary pattern, with three lights of which the centre is (as in the west window) smaller and narrower than the outer pair, surmounted by a large circular light, with a hood-mould emphasising the strange outline.
The transepts are of two bays (but under one gable), with two windows set high in the north and south walls, each of two lights. The east walls of the transepts are hidden by eastward projections containing the organ chamber on the north and the lady chapel, with a small apse, on the south. The east window of the chancel has six lights with Y tracery dividing them into two sets of three.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
c.1950
The east window has two figures set in clear glass. There are also shields of arms of the Diocese of Bristol and others.
Stained Glass
c.1920
Lady Chapel east window: two saints and musician angels, c.1920. The lower parts of the central lights have been damaged and replaced with plain glass.
Stained Glass
c.1900
North aisle I: three-light window of c.1900, showing Isaiah and David flanking Christ greeting a soldier: memorial to one killed in the Boer War.
Interior
Interior Description
The arcades are carried on cylindrical piers of stone with heavily moulded square bases and moulded capitals; the arches are of two orders, the inner with a sunken roll-mould along the edge and the outer chanfered but further elaboratedby being constructed of alternating voussoirs of buff and brown stone. A heavy, continuous hood-mould outlines each arch. The clerestory is not connected vertically with the arcade, but stands above a prominent horizontal string course.
The course is broken by semi-circular projections which form corbels for the wall-posts upon which stand the principal rafters of the remarkably steeply pitched roof; there are short tie-beams set high in the structure, supported by big arch braces which give the effect of a hammerbeam construction. The arcading and clerestory are carried across the openings of the transepts without interruption, forming a pierced screen. The low aisles are spanned by stone flying arches at each bay, and the eastern responds of the arcade are short pairs of shafts carried on foliated corbels.
The tall chancel arch is of two orders, following a schemo similar to those of the nave arcades with an outer order of alternating coloured stones and an inner with a chamfered edge; the outer is continued to the floor and the inner is carried on small triple attached colonettes set high up on foliated and moulded corbels. Smaller arches open from each transept into the organ chamber and chapel. These also communicate with the chancel through wide sub-divided arches carried on quadruple shafts in the middle and pairs of shafts at the responds. All have lavishly carved capitals of naturalistic foliage. The arches themselves are depressed, and are virtually triangular with straight sides above vertical springings. In the spandrel between the arches is a single pierced circle.
The chancel is spacious, and almost as tall as the nave. It is lit entirely by the large east window, which is filled with clear glass against which are two small figures and six shields of arms. Beneath the window runs a band of carved foliage with angels bearing shields at regular intervals.
Fixtures and fittings
Font (object)
The font has a round bowl with small statues between colonettes upon a group of four colonettes.
Organ (object)
c.1900
The organ dates from c.1900 (builder unknown) and was rebuilt in 1953 by Johnson, and the action replaced by electric solid-state action in 1973 by Osmond's of Taunton. It has three manuals and pedals and thirty-five speaking stops.
Churchyard
Grid reference: ST 612 750
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 | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
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
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