Nominal: 1488 Hz Weight: 230 lbs Diameter: 22.06" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1958
Dove Bell ID: 53123 Tower ID: 19612 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Derby: St Thomas
Diocese of Derby
Church, 612223
This church is on the Heritage at Risk Register (verified 2025-11-06)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
Overview
Grid reference: SK 353 343
In 1879, Joseph Peacock was commissioned by Canon and Mrs Olivier to build St Thomas' in memory of her father, Ven. Archdeacon Hill. It is of darkened stone with steeply pitched roofs. The church is designed in the Neo-Norman style, with Romanesque motifs including the round arch, chevron and dog-tooth details. Standing on a plinth, this church is oriented north-east to south-west, and comprises of a 3-bay nave with slightly shorter north and south aisles, west narthex and north porch, north and south transepts, and a chancel wit vestry to the south.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Rectangular plan. 3-bay nave with north and south aisles, west narthex and north porch. North and south transepts with north chapel and south organ chamber and choir vestry. Chancel with vestry to south.
Dimensions:
(Approximate) Nave 15m (49ft) x 6m (20ft), chancel 9m (29.5ft) long, aisles 3m (10ft) wide.
Footprint of Church buildings: 490 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
Derby was settled by the Romans and prospered on the wool trade until industrialisation in the 18th century. The town continued to grow and in 1839 the railway arrived, becoming a major station in 1867. By the 20th century Derby had become a large industrialised centre. Few pre-Victorian buildings remain. As the population throughout the 19th century grew surburbs were drawn into Derby.
Joseph Peacock, a London-based architect, was commissioned by Canon and Mrs Olivier in 1879 to build St Thomas in memory of her father Ven. Archdeacon Hill. St Thomas was consecrated in 1881. In 1885 land was bought to build a parsonage house.
The original spirelet above the chancel was probably replaced by the present turret in 1958, the date of the bell. The archaeological potential is low.
Exterior Description
The church, whose exterior is of darkened stone with steeply pitched roofs (with short octagonal bell-cote over the chancel and stone finials marking east gable and chancel crossing), was built in the Neo-Norman style. Romanesque motifs such as the round arch, chevron and dog-tooth details, balls and scallop mouldings repeat throughout the building as well as in the fixtures and fittings and even on the gate posts and rain hoppers. The church was built in one phase and Peacock combines many playful and unexpected elements into the composition.
The church stands on a plinth. A continuous corbel table at eaves level and a moulded string course, both above and below the windows, encircle the building. Several original cast iron light brackets and rain hoppers survive in situ.
A lean-to narthex at the bottom of the gabled west elevation provides access to the church through a round arch to the south side. Beneath a moulded chevron band a round-headed arcade with colonnettes with scalloped capitals is obscured by signage (though unsightly they serve to protect glass behind). Gabled buttresses abut west elevation. Above, recalling a Palladian window, a round-headed window recessed within two orders of arches with chevron decoration and attached shafts and scalloped capitals sits between two blind panels. A niche containing a figure of St Thomas is in the apex. Additional buttresses with scalloped and ball tops (as repeated on gate piers).
The aisles are shorter than the nave by almost one bay, so the north and south walls of the west end have triple lancets beneath a wheel window. The west end gables to north and south have round windows above coupled round-headed lancets with shafts with scalloped capitals. Buttresses to corners. North elevation has single lancets whilst the south has paired lancets, both with buttresses. The north side has a gabled porch with three orders of arches with shafts with scalloped capitals and banded chevron detail to apex. Gabled north and south transepts with two single lights with small single light to apex. Different buttresses again. North and south chancel walls have three lancets grouped together. West end has three individual lancets beneath large wheel window. Vestry to south-east corner with door to south side with steps. Chimney above.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
19th century 3-bay with north and south aisles
Narthex (classical)
19th century west
Porch
19th century north
Transept
19th century north and south
Chapel (component)
19th century north
Vestry
19th century organ chamber and choir vestry
Stained Glass
East end, wheel window depicting Christ in Majesty surrounded by angels above 3 single lights depicting from left to right Mary in the Garden, Ressurection and St Thomas' Unbelief
Stained Glass
1945-50
North and south chancel windows depicting various saints by Nuttgens
Stained Glass
1921
Lady chapel, east window. Mary and an Angel, in memory of Mary Elizabeth Sarah Olivier by Archibald John Davies of Bromsgrove Guild of Applied Art
Stained Glass
North window over porch. St Martin. In memory of two fallen soldiers of the First World War
Stained Glass
South aisle window. 2 scenes above angels.
Stained Glass
West window. Single figure above angels.
Building Materials
Sandstone
19th century rock faced sandstone
Ashlar
19th century dressings
Tile
19th century plain
Concrete
19th century roof tiles
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is entered from the west end. North and south aisles are separated from the nave by round-headed arcades with scalloped capitals. Piers to the south side are drums whilst those to the north have attached corner shafts. An arch separates the north aisle from the Lady Chapel in the north transept. An oak screen with open round-headed arcade separates the vestry in the south transept from the south aisle. The roofs are simple open wood rafters. The walls are painted, with the stone surrounds of windows and arches left exposed. The floors are covered with red, black and yellow geometric tiles between raised wood pew platforms. Carpet has been laid in the nave aisle. Simple benches provide seating.
The chancel is raised by two steps beneath the chancel arch which has zig-zag decoration under a pointed hood mould. The arch is cogged either due to historic settlement or as part of Peacock’s original design. The chancel arch rises from marble shafts resting on trumpet-like corbels. A similar motif is repeated between the chancel and transepts where a round arch on trumpet-like corbels is surmounted by a tripartite opening. The Lady Chapel to the north is screened by a curtain, the organ chamber to the south is screened by an open oak screen, organ pipes fill the lower arch.
The chancel floor is embellished with blue and white Minton floor tiles and the ceiling is a boarded barrel-vault. Original choir stalls repeat now familiar motifs. The sanctuary is raised by a further two steps. The east wall is faced with alabaster beneath a five arch arcade with marble colonnettes, within stained glass and mosaic panels alternate. Additional gold mosaic and chevron detailing above. A sedilia is recessed within the south wall and an ambry within the north wall.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
19th century main altar table is a simple oak table (same in south aisle); table in Lady Chapel is of decorative wood with image of Virgin and Child in centre of three panels
Reredos
19th century Byzantine style, alabaster, marble shafts topped by angels to either side. Two rows of four roundels with cut out trefoils into which are the images of eight of the Apostles against gold backgrounds created in mosaic. Dogtooth and ball details match the font.
Pulpit
19th century Substantial balustrade circular oak pulpit on moulded conical stone base with scalloped, dog-tooth and ball detail. Presumably designed by Peacock.
Lectern
19th century brass eagle, inscribed 1890
Font (component)
19th century Very good, circular, lead-lined, alabaster font on raised slab with dog-tooth detail inside. Oak cover repeats scallop, dog-tooth and ball details. Presumably designed by Peacock.
Rail
19th century solid oak arcade repeats Romanesque details
Plaque (component)
19th century various brass and wood plaques
Organ (component)
19th century Brindley and Foster, 1881
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: SK 353 343
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
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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