St. Thomas' Church

St Thomas’ Church stands on Bath Row in Birmingham as a former Church of England parish church. Built as a Commissioners’ church, its foundation stone was laid in 1826 by the Bishop of Worcester and the building was designed by architect Thomas Rickman. At the time it was consecrated in 1829 it became the largest church in Birmingham, seating 2,600 people. During the Chartist riots of 1839, railings from the churchyard were taken to make pikes. The church once had its own football team that competed in the 1880-81 Birmingham Senior Cup. The church was restored in 1893 under architect Frank Barlow Osborn, who removed old high-back pews and renovated the interior. Walter James Bird of Birmingham restored the organ at the same time. On the night of 11 December 1940, German bombs destroyed all but the tower and classical west portico. The surviving parts were later incorporated into St Thomas’ Peace Garden after the parish merged with Immanuel Church. The preserved portico and tower remain as a reminder of the church’s past. Visitors to the site find the preserved tower and classical west portico standing in St Thomas’ Peace Garden. The garden provides a quiet space in the city centre where the church’s history is still visible. Nearby, the area around Bath Row offers a mix of historic and modern buildings. The surviving architectural elements reflect the church’s original design by Thomas Rickman. The Peace Garden serves as a place for reflection on the church’s role in Birmingham’s history.