Former Church Of St Thomas

SD53SW 941-1/1/175

PRESTON LANCASTER ROAD (West side) Former Church of St Thomas

27/09/79

GV II

Church, now recreation and day care centre. 1837-9, altered. By John Latham. Sandstone ashlar, slate roof. Nave with north and south aisles, east tower and small apsidal chancel beyond this. Romanesque style, with round-headed openings throughout. Six-bay nave and aisles, both with pilaster strips and the nave with a corbel-table to each bay, and both with one simple round-headed window in each bay except the ends of the aisles which have Norman-style doorways, that on the north side in a gabled porch and more elaborately decorated including set-in shafts with cushion capitals. The west front has a window in a large Norman-style arch with 2 orders of moulding including set-in shafts with carved cushion capitals, an inner multi-layered zig-zag band and an outer nail-head band; windows on 2 levels each side, a small 3-light window over the arch, a large wheel window above, nail-head enrichment to the eaves, and an apex cross. The 3-stage tower, embraced at the base by vestries continued from the aisles (with hipped roofs), the first 2 stages with string-courses and clasping pilasters, has a window in each side of the 2nd stage, with set-in shafts and roll-moulding, a slightly set back belfry stage with a string-course and roll-moulded corners, and a window in each side with 2 recessed lights, shafts and nail-head and roll-moulding to the arch. The 5-sided apsidal chancel has corner shafts with carved caps, string-course, plain frieze and a nail-head cornice, and one window in each side. INTERIOR: altered by insertion of upper floor (etc), but retains cylindrical piers of arcades (arches visible at 1st floor but now blocked), massive inverted conical corbels to east and west tower arches (which are now concealed), at the east end of the upper floor a large 2-light window (to the tower) with a column and imposts, and many stained glass windows.

Listing NGR: SD5371930253