St Thomas' Church, York Explained

St Thomas' Church
Coordinates:53.9678°N -1.0795°W
Osgraw:SE 60485 52804
Location:York, North Yorkshire
Country:England
Denomination:Church of England
Address:Lowther Street, York
Status:Active
Dedication:Saint Thomas
Consecrated Date:22 August 1854
Architect:George Fowler Jones
Style:Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking:1853
Construction Cost:£2,500
Materials:Sandstone
Deanery:York
Archdeaconry:York
Diocese:York
Province:York

St Thomas' Church is a parish church in the Groves area of York, a city in England. It is sometimes known as St Thomas' in the Groves.

The Groves area, in the parish of St Olave's Church, York, was built up in the mid 19th century. It was decided to construct a new church in the area. A building was designed by George Fowler Jones, and constructed between 1853 and 1854. The work cost £2,500, and the completed church, in the Gothic revival style, could seat 500 worshippers. The church was given its own parish in 1855, and was enlarged in 1899.[1] The church was grade II listed in 1997. In 2014, it was added to the Heritage at Risk Register due to severe erosion to some of its stonework.[2]

The church is built of sandstone with slate roofs. It consists of a three-bay nave, two-bay north and south transepts, and a two-bay chancel. The west end has a gable and its central bay projects slightly, supporting a bellcote and cross. There is an arched doorway, with windows either side, and a two-light window above. The nave has buttresses with windows in each bay, while the transepts have two-light windows and a circular window in the gable end. The east window has three lights.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Tillott . P. M. . A History of the County of York: the City of York . 1961 . Victoria County History . London . 19 November 2024.
  2. News: Stanford . Mark . Church of St Thomas in Historic England's 2021 'risk' list . 19 November 2024 . The Press . 30 December 2021.