St Thomas's Church, Southborough , Kent

St Thomas's Church, Southborough Church

Image Source: Rob Baker

St. Thomas' church in Southborough, just north of Tunbridge Wells, was built in 1860. The benefactor was the elderly Mrs Sarah Pugh, who preferred the liturgy favoured by the Oxford Movement as opposed to the Evangelical Awakening that was very popular in the Tunbridge Wells area at the time. Mrs Pugh was not necessarily an Anglo-Catholic, but she certainly appreciated a choir! The architect was Frederick Hyde Pownall, while Jackson and Shaw of Westminster were the builders. The total cost of the building was £2,400. Southborough's Parish Church of St. Peter's was frequently full to capacity. The area needed a second Anglican church, although Mrs Pugh, now well into her 90s, firmly fought against the idea of St. Thomas' being merely a chapel-of-ease to St. Peter's. In 1971 it became a separate Parish in its own right. In 1888 a south transept was added, designed by architect R.H. Garling. It was known as the Colebrook Chapel, named after popular local doctor, Henry Colebrook, who had died in 1885. A local recreation ground has also been named after this eminent GP! In 1924-25 the Lady Chapel and organ loft were added. This basically consists of a small, cosy, prayer space underneath the organ. Architect Percy Maguire was responsible for this addition. In 1939 a polygonal baptistry was added to the west end of the south aisle. This reflected the practice at the time, when infant baptisms (christenings) were private family affairs, so were conducted in small private chapels. Recent practices have made the practice of christening a cause for celebration, and not long afterwards the font was moved back into the nave. The baptistry has since become a small chapel or vestry. In 1999 a Parish Room was built against the north aisle of the church, designed by Hawes Richards. This contains all the facilities one would expect in the 21st century. It should be added that this church is also fully accessible to disabled parishioners. Ramped access through R.H. Garling's south transept ensure that people in wheelchairs or mobility scooters can progress from the nave to the High Altar beyond the choir stalls. Therefore they can receive Holy Communion with a degree of independence. Text by Rob Baker

1851 Census Details

Seating Capacity: Not built

Morning Attendance: Not built

Afternoon Attendance: Not built

Evening Attendance: Not built

Architecture Details

Original Build Date/Architect: Pownall 1860

Restoration:

Second Restoration:

Notes

Website

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