Welcome – read by Caroline Haycock

A very warm welcome to St Thomas’, the parish church of Stourbridge, built with money given by the people and for the people of Stourbridge.

As you enter you see a Georgian church, built between 1728 and 1736 by public subscription. The architect is unknown, but the church has strong similarities to St Peter’s, Vere Street in London – the work of James Gibbs.

The church interior you see now has had many additions and alterations over the centuries – a semi=circular apse at the east end, a tower (with bells) at the west end, the beautiful and unusual stained-glass windows, the organ and the galleries, to seat the rising population of Stourbridge in its heyday.

The church has a very colourful past, as the first ministers were elected by the people of Stourbridge which was more like a political election at that time. St Thomas’ became part of the diocese of Worcester in 1866, and the last minister (and first vicar) Hugh Sherrard stayed for 50 years. He has two stained-glass windows commemorated to him.

As you go around using the QR codes, we hope you will enjoy the features and some of the history we have picked out for you. We hope you will return and bring friends and family, to relax and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of this beautiful town church – a quiet haven amongst the bustle of a busy town centre.