St Thomas

It was founded in 1900.

Church of St Thomas

The Parish of St Thomas was formed in 1893 when its first Mission Church, a wood and corrugated iron building, was erected in Orchard Road, where the Synagogue now stands. A larger, permanent Church was soon needed, so a subscription list was opened. Brewer Mr. Robert Slater Boddington, who lived on North Promenade, generously donated £500, and Squire John Talbot Clifton gave the land. In those days the site was covered by sand dunes, and levelling began in 1898.

The present church was designed by the well known Lancaster architects Paley and Austin, and construction, which is in the perpendicular style, began in 1899. Built in Accrington brick it has red tiles on the roof, which were to become very popular in the twentieth century. The window stonework is in cream Yorkshire stone, and the major arches, arcades and pillars are in red sandstone. The use of different materials on the exterior stonework creates a distinctive banded effect.

The church was dedicated by the Bishop of Manchester on 24th June 1900. Extensions were planned and completed in 1905. The extensions included the tall square tower with diagonal buttresses, with a fine arched west doorway. The placing of the tower is unusual, being joined to the main building by a covered arcade. The tower has recently experienced structural problems which we hope will be resolved.

from "The listed buildings of Lytham St. Annes" - Lytham St. Annes Civic Society 2003