About Us

We are a growing church family from a variety of backgrounds, with a desire to come together to be God’s people in this time and place

Meet the team

The Revd. Claire Towns

Priest in Charge, since May 2021
vicar@stthomaswells.co.uk 01749 939467

Chris Jenkins

Licensed Lay Minister, Churchwarden
& lead on all things ‘techy’

Judy Penhaligon

Churchwarden
churchwardens@stthomaswells.co.uk 07969 291736

Caroline Maycock

Parish Administrator and Hall, Church,
Community Room Bookings Manager
office@stthomaswells.co.uk 01749 672335

Margaret Hendy

Licensed Lay Minister and
Parish Electoral Roll Officer

Joanna Birkett

Parish Safeguarding Officer and Trainee Licensed Lay Minister
pso@stthomaswells.co.uk 01749 670588

Gill Tucker

Director of Music

Fiona Rorbye

PCC Treasurer

Debbie Cochrane

PCC Secretary

Ian Ames-White

PCC Member

Iona Baker

PCC Member

Christina Baron

PCC Member

Barbara Calverley

PCC Member

Megan Hewson

PCC Member

Linda Lapington

PCC Member

Charlie Sutton

PCC Member

Mike Tolley

PCC Member and Deputy Parish Safeguarding Officer

Hiring our spaces

The Church Hall

The Church Hall is a warm and light space, which can comfortably accommodate up to 100 people and is suitable for many events including children’s parties, family gatherings, exercise classes, art groups and has even been used as a Covid vaccination centre.  There is car parking at the hall, along with fully accessible toilets and a simple kitchen.

2023 Hall Hire Charges per session are:

One-off hire                                      £55

Children’s party                               £55

Regular users                                   £43

A session is a morning, afternoon or evening. 

Please contact the parish office to enquire about hiring this space:

office@stthomaswells.co.uk or 01749 672335

Contact us

The Church

St Thomas’ Church has excellent acoustics and so makes a wonderful venue for choirs, concerts, talks and other performances. The church seats 220-250 people.  Car parking is available, as are tea and coffee making facilities and fully-accessible toilets.  It may sometimes be possible to hire the hall at the same time as the church should you need it, and the Community Room may be available for your use too.

2023 hire rates are:

Evening & Daytime concerts 1st October – 31st March         £205

Evening & Daytime concerts 1st April – 30th September     £165

Rehearsal 1st October – 31st March                                          £75

Rehearsal 1st April – 30th September                                       £55

Use of Grand Piano                                                                       £5

Please contact the parish office to enquire about hiring the church:

office@stthomaswells.co.uk or 01749 672335

 

Contact us

The Community Room

The community room, opened in 2017, is a modern, warm and bright space, with underfloor heating, and is ideal for meetings of 2-20 people. Tea and coffee making facilities are available. This space can be accessed via the church but also has its own exterior entrance, so can be hired even when the church is in use.  Car parking is available in the church hall car park on a first-come, first-served basis.

2023 hire rates are:

per session 1st October – 31st March    £40

per session 1st April – 30th September £30

A session is a morning, afternoon or evening. 

Please contact the parish office to enquire about hiring this space:

office@stthomaswells.co.uk or 01749 672335

 

Contact us

The Fallen Spire

On February 18th 2022, the southwest of England was battered by Storm Eunice, with wind gusts of above 80mph. At about lunchtime on that day, the top 18 feet of the St Thomas’ Church spire ‘walked off’ and fell into the churchyard. This was caught on camera and so it made national and global news coverage. Fortunately, no one was hurt and the spire fell directly onto the ground below, without damaging the rest of the building. The spire was then rebuilt over several months and the 9 feet high weather vane was salvaged and refashioned, with a slightly tweaked design to be better able to cope with higher wind speeds. The spire was also strengthened with an internal rod and steel ring system. The spire was re-erected in-situ stone by stone during August, with the weather vane being put back in its rightful place on Thursday 25th August. The spire was re-blessed by the Revd. Claire Towns, who went up in the cherry picker to do this.