Bell 1 of 2
Dove Bell ID: 58175 Tower ID: 22434 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
North Keyham: St Thomas
Overview
Grid reference: SX 454 566
Built in 1907 by Hine, Odgers and May, designed in the Perpendicular style. The planned chancel was never completed, giving the church an unusual floor plan and external aspect. Built as a daughter church of St Mark’s, Ford, some half a mile away to replace a corrugated iron mission church on the same site. St Thomas' church is located directly on the corner of Royal Navy Avenue and Renown Street, Plymouth, with virtually no curtilage and no churchyard.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Aisled and clerestoried nave, internal north porch, Lady chapel at east end of south aisle, sacristy, vestry etc at east end of north aisle.
Dimensions:
Nave 32m (100ft) x 9m (28ft), Lady chapel 13m (40ft) x 3.5m (11ft).
Description of Archaeology and History
Built in 1907 by Hine, Odgers and May. The planned chancel was never completed. Built as a daughter church of St Mark’s, Ford, some half a mile away to replace a corrugated iron mission church on the same site, dedicated to the Good Shepherd (there is still a Good Shepherd room in the crypt).
Exterior Description
Designed in the Perpendicular style. The fact that the planned chancel was never built gives this church an unusual floor plan and external aspect, with the side chapels projecting, their inner walls boarded up, as these were meant to be temporary. The vista from the east in particularly shows this, with roof scars and unfinished walls visible, and a chimney almost dominating the view. Structurally this has led to marked deterioration and water ingress, with the crypt (the Room of the Good Shepherd) underneath the east end of the church often flooded and damp affecting all of the exposed external walls.
The low aisles differ in appearance, the southern having a crenellated parapet with miniature gables, the northern a blank parapet. The buttresses scarcely protrude from the walls, and have one weathering. The four aisle windows are pointed with Perpendicular tracery, while the clearstorey windows are smaller and square-headed; all of 3-lights. There is a large 5-light window in the west facade rising above the main entrance doorway. The windows all have hood moulds with plain stops, as do the doorways. The east wall of the nave is blank.
There are symmetrical side chapels flanking the never-built chancel. The vestry/sacristy and toilets are situated in the northern side chapel, while the southern is used as a Lady chapel. These chapels have two 3-light windows in their north and south walls and one 3-light in the east walls, as well as two low rectangular windows almost at ground level, now protected by metal grilles.
A low flat-roofed room across the east end of these houses the crypt, which would have been under the chancel. This has an east doorway with depressed arched head and label with plain stops, and three small square windows, now protected with metal grilles. Projecting wings housing the stairs down to the crypt flanking this room beyond the chapels have 5-light rectangular windows in their east walls and square-headed single windows in their outer walls.
Interior
Interior Description
The sanctuary and High Altar are set within the first two bays of the nave. There is a large wooden Crucifix on the blank wall behind the altar within what would have been the pointed chancel arch.
The nave arcades have chamfered pointed arches springing from octagonal piers with clustered colonettes; late Perpendicular moulded capitals. There is a good hammer-beam roof.
The west end of the nave projects beyond the aisles, forming a narthex with a gallery above, where the organ is located. There is a stairwell to the loft which can be seen from outside as a rounded turret at the south west corner, which does not extend above the eaves. There is a Crucifixion scene carved on a stone plaque set into this low down, which is quite eroded and protected from vandals behind a metal grille. There are two lancet windows in the tower turret to light the steps.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
Unknown
Plain, modern concrete plinth. Oak altar in Lady chapel with carved front, blind tracery.
Reredos
Unknown
Large wooden Crucifixion in the blank chancel arch behind the High Altar.
Pulpit
1915
Five sided oak pulpit with vine scroll cornice with a brattished rail above inset panels with intricate carved blind tracery. Coved stone base. Dedicated by Francis and Emma Jane Lamb, 27th June 1915.
Font (object)
Early 20th Century
Concrete column with fluted shaft and scalloped bowl. Plain wooden lid.
Organ (object)
Unknown
Two-manual and pedal instrument. Dark stained wood casing.
Bells
Diameter: 25" Bell 2 of 2
Founded by Charles & George Mears 1851
Dove Bell ID: 58176 Tower ID: 22434 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: SX 454 566
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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