The Parish of

Berkswich

History of St Thomas Church

Although St. Thomas’ was completed in 1842 we must go as far back as 1808 when a serious proposal to demolish Holy Trinity at Baswich  was made due to the church being made due to the church being in need of very considerable  repairs.  It was suggested a church should be built where it would be accessible to the major part of the inhabitants. Sites at Brocton and Walton were considered. Eventually the site chosen was Walton. The ground for the church was donated by the Earl of Lichfield.  The Builder was Thomas Trubshaw F. A. S. The cost was £753. this estimate did not include a tower and spire. The estimate for this supplementary work was £204.  The church was dedicated to St. Thomas the Apostle as a Chapel of Ease, on 22nd December 1842. The population of the village at that time was 500. The church was financed mainly by the Rev. Richard Levett, his wife Ann and Thomas Salt.

On the 9th May 1845 the spire of the church was struck by lightening and part of it was destroyed. Glass in the windows was shattered and a part of the roof was  damaged. Sundry repairs were made in 1887 but in 1903 it was considered unsafe. The lead covering was replaced with a lighter one and the weather cock was also replaced by one of less weight The herring-bone fashion of the lead cladding is a notable feature of the church on the hill.

The latest modification to the fabric of the building was carried out in 1982-83 when it was considered better facilities for social events and meetings were necessary. The little used South Trancept was converted to provide a meeting room also an extension was added to provide kitchen and toilet facilities.

 Plan of St Thomas Church

Points of particular interest

1. The carved oak Reredos. Located behind the altar was erected in 1889 in memory of Col. Richard Byrd Levett. The figures from Left to Right are:- Saint Augustine, St. Thomas, The Virgin Mary, St. John the Apostle, john the Baptist and St. Chad bearing a model of Lichfield Cathedral.

2. The Pulpit and Chancel Screen. Made of alabaster and marble with wrought iron gates was given by the Rev. Inge (vicar 1884—1912) and family replacing what was probably a wooden pulpit.

3. St. George’s Chapel. The north trancept was converted into a memorial chapel in memory of those who died in the 1914-18 Great War. At the entrance to the chapel is an alabaster tomb bearing a recumbent effigy. This was placed there in 1917 in memory of Lt. Richard Levett who was killed in action that year. Adjoining the tomb is the actual wooden cross, which was placed on Richard’s grave where he fell and which still bears deposits of the Somme battlefield mud from Northern France. An interesting feature is the bronze Madonna and Child at the head of the tomb.

4. The Pipe Organ. Located in the gallery at the rear of the church was originally housed in what is now the clergy robbing vestry on the left of the chancel. Since it was first introduced it has undergone several modifications. Some elements however do date back to the first pipe organ installed in St. Thomas’ in 1849.

5. The Clock. Which was installed in 1846 on the first floor of the tower was made by Mr. E. J. Bent of London. The clock is regarded as a valuable antique which has been giving accurate time forecasts to Walton Village for more than 150 years. It is hand wound weekly and still gives an accuracy of within 20 seconds per week.

6. The Church Bell. is located on the second floor of the tower. It was cast at Whitechapel Foundry in London. It is about 84 cm in diameter and weighs about 305 kg. It serves the dual purpose of calling the faithful to worship and striking the hours of the clock.

7. The Plate Glass Windows. The East and South side of the church building contains several stained glass windows, which have been donated by clergy and parishoners over the years. The two most recent additions were installed in 1995, one dedicated to St James and the other to an unknown airman called Peter.

(The Parish of Berkswich acknowledges the use of material originally researched and published
by Des Sant and Alf Middlefell in the compilation of this page.)