Church Of St Thomas

ST 85 NW SOUTHWICK FROME ROAD (south side)

6/158 Church of St Thomas

GV II

Anglican parish church. 1899-1904 by C.E. Ponting. Rock-faced limestone, tiled roof. Plan: north west tower, aisleless nave, chancel with north organ chamber, south west vestry. Free gothic. Multi-chamfered pointed doorway on west side of 2-stage tower, image niche over, north side has 2 cusped lancets within pointed panel, pair of arrowloops over, offset bellstage has pair of large louvred lancets to each side, moulded string course with gargoyles to parapet with corner turrets, oak-shingled fleche, 1903 dated foundation stone on north west corner. North side of nave has two 3-light mullioned windows with cusped ogee lights to right, gable to left with two 2-light plate tracery windows, projection for organ chamber to left has battered corners, arrow loops. Chancel has gableted buttresses, one cusped lancet to north side, 4-light free gothic east window, south side has three cusped lancets. South side of nave has three 2-light mullioned windows with cusped ogee lights, gable with two 2-light plate tracery windows to right, large ashlar gableted buttress to east corner. Interior: Groin-vaulted porch at base of tower with circular bell opening. Nave has 5-bay roof with deep arch-braced collar trusses, exposed rafters, rendered walls. Double chamfered chancel arch with Arts and Crafts open traceried wooden screen, chancel has barrel-vaulted ceiling with ribbed panels, piscina set into south east windowsill, organ chamber on north side. Fittings: octagonal limestone font with C17-style strapwork cover, said to be from Chilton Foliat. Plain polygonal wooden pulpit. Good unsigned stained glass in east window. Immersion baptistry at west end. (N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England, Wiltshire, 1975)

Listing NGR: ST8374755249