St Thomas' Church, South Wigston Explained

St Thomas’ Church, South Wigston
Pushpin Map:Leicestershire
Map Caption:Location within Leicestershire
Location:South Wigston
Country:England
Denomination:Church of England
Website:wigstonbenefice.org.uk
Dedication:Thomas the Apostle
Consecrated Date:2 February 1893
Architect:Stockdale Harrison
Groundbreaking:26 July 1892
Length:128feet
Width:44feet
Parish:South Wigston
Deanery:Gartree (2nd deanery)[1]
Archdeaconry:Leicester
Diocese:Diocese of Leicester

St Thomas’ Church, South Wigston is a Grade II* listed parish church in the Church of England in South Wigston, Leicestershire.[2]

History

The foundation stone was laid on 26 July 1892 by Thomas Ingram[3] and it was consecrated on 2 February 1893 by Rt. Revd. Mandell Creighton the Bishop of Peterborough.[4]

It was built in brick with a Westmorland slate roof by Henry Bland to the designs of the architect Stockdale Harrison at a cost of £3,600 . It was 128feet long and 44feet wide.

The tower was added in 1901.

Parish status

The church is in a joint benefice with

Organ

The church contains a pipe organ dating from 1895 by Stephen Taylor of Leicester. It was paid for by Thomas Ingram at a cost of £500 and dedicated on 26 September 1875[5] by Bishop Mitchinson. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.

The Bells

A peal of eight bells was cast in 1901 by John Taylor & Co.[6] On 26 December 1904, seven ringers set a new world record when they rang a peal of 17,184 double Norwich Court Bob, breaking the record set in 1898 at Kidlington by the Oxford Guild. One of the ringers broke down after 10 hour 35 minutes.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: St Thomas the Apostle, South Wigston . . A Church Near You . The Church of England . 13 May 2017 . 23 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131123162530/http://www.achurchnearyou.com/south-wigston-st-thomas-the-apostle/ . live .
  2. Book: Pevsner, Nikolaus . 1960 . The Buildings of England. Leicestershire and Rutland . Penguin Books . 108 .
  3. News: . A new church for South Wigston . Leicester Chronicle . England . 30 July 1892 . 13 May 2017 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
  4. News: . Consecration of St Thomas’ Church, South Wigston . Leicester Chronicle . England . 4 February 1893 . 13 May 2017 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
  5. News: . Organ Dedication at South Wigston . Leicester Chronicle . England . 28 September 1895 . 13 May 2017 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
  6. Web site: South Wigston, Leics. S Thomas Ap . . 12 December 2006 . . Dovemaster . 13 May 2017 .
  7. News: . New World’s Bell Ringing Record . Western Times . England . 29 December 1904 . 13 May 2017 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .