Kendal: St Thomas

Name:
Kendal: St Thomas
Record Type:
Church
Church code:
607220
Diocese:
Carlisle
Archdeaconry:
Westmorland & Furness
Parish:
St. Thomas, Kendal

Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?
This is a Grade II Listed Building
View more information about this Listed Building on the National Heritage List for England web site
Scheduled Monument?
There is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

The church is in the following Conservation Area: Kendal

Heritage At Risk Status

On Heritage At Risk Register?
This church is not on the Heritage at Risk Register
 

Approximate Date

Approximate Date:
Post Medieval

Exterior Image

Exterior image of 607220 Kendal St Thomas
Caption:
Exterior image of 607220 Kendal St Thomas
Description:
Photograph of the exterior of St Thomas Kendal church taken 17 April 2007
Year / Date:
2007
Copyright:
Archbishops' Council
Originator:
Unknown

Summary Description

The illuminated cross high on the tower is probably the most familiar point of reference, but the tower’s convenience for high level ‘advertising’ sums up the issues: history as background to more contemporary means. In response to a difficult site, the altar unusually is to the west; only essential parking is provided off a busy road. The Parish Centre extensions (c.1980-95) enwrap its host so people now enter and congregate in spaces from a different era; the Victorian building is present, but its characteristics seem irrelevant to the experience – even ignored or a hindrance. Under the gallery, an arcade of original slender columns has become inconsequential behind a glazed partition that encloses a purely functional lobby. The nave surprisingly is still very much rank-and-file pews – ironically, it is their regime and not the contemporary west window that seems alien as the context for modern worship. The design is boldly graphic in technique, cartoon-like in its immediacy; the dice must be quite unusual in this medium. On glass or around the building, everywhere, space is animated as the resource of active church worship and fellowship. This Victorian church building as a formal expression of worship no longer seems to be expressing the free spirit of this church as a body of people with vision.

Visiting and Facilities

The church is open for worship.
Work in progress - can you help?
 

Church Website

Church Website:
Work in progress - can you help?

Sources and Further Information

Unknown (2007) Exterior image of 607220 Kendal St Thomas [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Exterior image of 607220 Kendal St Thomas
Unknown (2007) Interior image of 607220 Kendal St Thomas [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Interior image of 607220 Kendal St Thomas
Church of England (2021) A Church Near You https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/12376/ [Digital Archive/Index]
View information on worship and access at this church
ICBS (1817-1989) Incorporated Church Building Society Archive https://images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/luna/servlet/detail/LPLIBLPL~34~34~169489~122828 [Archive/Graphic material]

Ground plan

ICBS File Number - 14678

Coverage - 1978

Created by ?Brian DOCKRAY; GILL, DOCKRAY, RHODES & MOORE; WHITE (K. C.) & PARTNERS

ICBS (1817-1989) Incorporated Church Building Society Archive https://images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/luna/servlet/detail/LPLIBLPL~34~34~169498~122829 [Archive/Graphic material]

Other

ICBS File Number - 14678

Coverage - 1970

Created by GILL, DOCKRAY, RHODES & MOORE

ICBS (1817-1989) Incorporated Church Building Society Archive https://images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/luna/servlet/detail/LPLIBLPL~34~34~169508~122830 [Archive/Graphic material]

Other

ICBS File Number - 14678

Coverage - 1970

Created by GILL, DOCKRAY, RHODES & MOORE

ICBS (1817-1989) Incorporated Church Building Society Archive https://images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/luna/servlet/detail/LPLIBLPL~34~34~169518~122831 [Archive/Graphic material]

Other

ICBS File Number - 14678

Coverage - 1970

Created by GILL, DOCKRAY, RHODES & MOORE

ICBS (1817-1989) Incorporated Church Building Society Archive https://images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/luna/servlet/detail/LPLIBLPL~34~34~169528~122832 [Archive/Graphic material]

Ground plan

ICBS File Number - 14678

Coverage - 1978

Created by ?Brian DOCKRAY; GILL, DOCKRAY, RHODES & MOORE; WHITE (K. C.) & PARTNERS

ICBS (1817-1989) Incorporated Church Building Society Archive https://images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/luna/servlet/detail/LPLIBLPL~34~34~169537~122833 [Archive/Graphic material]

Perspective

ICBS File Number - 14678

Coverage - 1978

Created by ?Brian DOCKRAY; GILL, DOCKRAY, RHODES & MOORE; WHITE (K. C.) & PARTNERS

Church Buildings Council (2019) Church Bells 1 Bell [Archive/Index]
1 Bell