Nominal: 605 Hz Weight: 2304 lbs Diameter: 50.5" Bell 1 of 10
Founded by Thomas II Mears 1818
Dove Bell ID: 2151 Tower ID: 10607 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Dudley: St Thomas & St Luke
Diocese of Worcester
Church, 642204
Overview
Grid reference: SO 942 900
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
There are regular Sunday services at 11am. The church is open on Saturdays on 10am for visitors. Facilities include toilets (accessible), ramped entrance, and a hearing induction loop. The church has an organ and a regular choir.
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower and spire, with canted western bay to the aisled nave, short chancel. The choir vestry sits behinds this, entered by doors each side of the High altar (one opens to a store room). More rooms beyond.
Dimensions:
Nave estimated to be c 22m (70ft) x 7m (22ft).
Footprint of Church buildings: 649 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The church was built in 1815-18, designed by the architect William Brooks. It was on the site of an earlier building dedicated to St Thomas of Canterbury which was already known as the “top church”. The site is therefore of considerable archaeological potential.
The Act of Parliament for taking down and rebuilding the parish church was passed in 1815, and Mr Evans of London was contracted to demolish the “old and much decayed St Thomas’s”, said to have been too small, and build the new. Brooks submitted two designs, the neo-Classical losing to the Gothic. How much of Brook’s design pays homage to the old church is unclear, other works in which he was involved appear to have been Classical.
The galleries appear to be original, as are many of the furnishings and fittings, though there was a reordering in the 1880s, and the nave pews may be of this date, for example.
Vestries were added beyond the east end in the 1980s and extended in 1993, providing useful accommodation and modern facilities. Major repair works were undertaken to the tower in 2004-5. The aisles have been cleared of pews.
Mature trees and grass, there are no TPOs or other designations, but all protected in some measure as this is a Conservation Area.
Exterior Description
The church is an ambitious early attempt in the Gothic Revival idiom in the early 15th century Perpendicular style outside, but a rather outrageous Regency version of Decorated inside. It has the galleries and the short chancel one would except from a church of this period, but it is rare to find this combined with Gothic Revival architecture. The use of plaster vaulting and cast iron adds to the interest. This is a highly significanct building for our understanding of the roots and development of the Gothic Revival in England.
The west tower is of three stages, the lower stage with a pointed doorway. Large windows to each face of the two upper stages with Perpendicular tracery. Corner pinnacles around the spire, and more to the aisles which have cross gables suggesting transepts, all with crenellated parapets giving a heavy Gothic mantle to this church. The nave his higher than the small chancel.
Building Fabric and Features
Tower (component)
19th century west
Spire
19th century
Nave
19th century canted western bay to the aisled nave
Chancel
19th century short
Vestry
19th century choir vestry entered by doors either side of the High Altar
Building Materials
Stone
19th century Tixall stone from the Staffordshire quarry
Plaster
19th century vaulted throughout
Iron
19th century iron window tracery and iron struts in the plaster ceilings
Slate
19th century roof
Sandstone
1815-18
Sherwood Sandstone
Interior
Interior Description
Luminous whitewashed interior with raked box pews in the galleries, fine stained glass, and a number of good monuments giving texture. The beautifully painted organ pipes occupy the west gallery. Fine staircases to the galleries in the canted west end bays. Looking east the tall slender clustered arcade piers have decorated capitals above which they flower into the tierceron vaulting. Chancel arch of three tall orders in the same style. The High Altar is attractively lit, not overpowering the brown-golden tones from the big stained window behind. Crocketed ogee hoodmould over the window. Encaustic brown and gold tiles throughout mixed with restored oak boarding where Victorian pews removed under Faculty in 2019.
Fixtures and fittings
Clock
20th Century located in Tower made by JohnSmith from Derby in 1925
Historical Notes
1925 - 1925
Period Qualifier: 2
Altar
19th century marble, of a piece with the reredos, oak chest with inset brass representation of the Last Supper
Reredos
19th century carved marble semi-relief figures, Doubting Thomas, Gilded plaster canopy over with pinnacles. Flanked by ogeed niches with Commandment Boards within
Pulpit
19th century the pulpit is of oak, apparently a cut-down three-decker, panelled, with cherubs under the corners of the cornice
Lectern
19th century brass eagle, Victorian
Font (component)
19th century stone font, highly elaborate with figures and niches all around the octagonal bowl
Stained Glass (window)
19th century There is stained glass in the east window, the Transfiguration after Raphael by J Blacker, 1821
Plaque (component)
19th century next to the chancel arch, an interesting collection of restrained mid and late 19th century wall monuments
Organ (component)
19th century by Thomas Elliott and presented to the parish by the Earl of Dudley in 1818
Rail
19th century heavy plain oak with moulded rail
Bells
Nominal: 1525 Hz Weight: 522 lbs Diameter: 25.25" Bell 2 of 10
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1970
Dove Bell ID: 18837 Tower ID: 10607 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1358 Hz Weight: 534 lbs Diameter: 27.5" Bell 3 of 10
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1970
Dove Bell ID: 18838 Tower ID: 10607 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1211 Hz Weight: 602 lbs Diameter: 29" Bell 4 of 10
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1970
Dove Bell ID: 18839 Tower ID: 10607 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1142 Hz Weight: 634 lbs Diameter: 30" Bell 5 of 10
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1970
Dove Bell ID: 18840 Tower ID: 10607 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1019 Hz Weight: 798 lbs Diameter: 34" Bell 6 of 10
Founded by Thomas II Mears 1818
Dove Bell ID: 18841 Tower ID: 10607 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 906 Hz Weight: 888 lbs Diameter: 35.75" Bell 7 of 10
Founded by Thomas II Mears 1818
Dove Bell ID: 18842 Tower ID: 10607 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 810 Hz Weight: 1130 lbs Diameter: 40" Bell 8 of 10
Founded by Thomas II Mears 1818
Dove Bell ID: 18843 Tower ID: 10607 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 766 Hz Weight: 1276 lbs Diameter: 41.5" Bell 9 of 10
Founded by Thomas II Mears 1818
Dove Bell ID: 18844 Tower ID: 10607 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 679 Hz Weight: 1670 lbs Diameter: 45.25" Bell 10 of 10
Founded by Thomas II Mears 1818
Dove Bell ID: 18845 Tower ID: 10607 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers dating from 1538 held at CRO.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SO 942 900
Burial and War Grave Information
The church/building is consecrated.
The churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard is closed for burial by order in council.
The date of the burial closure order is 21/08/1856
The churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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