A History Of St Thomas' Church Stourbridge
By Sylvia Edwards

By the early Eighteenth Century Stourbridge, already noted for its glass, woollen and iron trades, was a rapidly growing town. It had a population of about 3,000 but no church, being but part, with Amblecote, Lye, Norton, Stambermill, Wollescote and Wollaston, of the parish of Old Swinford.

Because of the complaints that St Mary's Church was too far away for people to attend and because of the rapid growth of Non-conformity - the Brownists (Congregationalists) had a chapel off Coventry Street - John Biggs, a clothier of the town, on the advice of his solicitor, Thomas Milward, included in his will a clause which directed that, if a church was begun to be built on Stourbridge within three years of his death, then £300, together with interest, was to be put into the hands of the the Governers of King Edward VI's Grammar School, towards the building of such a church.

The will was executed in 1726 and immediately a subscription list was opened. Many well-known local people subscribed and by March 13th 1727/8, with £2,300 in hand, the townspeople were able to appoint a committee of trustees to purchase the land and oversee the building of the church. The trustees were Gregory Hickman, Edward Milward, Joseph, Best, Thomas Saunders, Thomas Littlehales, Thomas Milward, Paul Rogers, Jeremiah Lowe and Thomas Yorke and the land the bought part of the grounds of Cuckow Oak House fronting onto the Rye Market, although, in fact, payment was not completed until 1736 by which time the church was nearly finished. It had been been begun in May 1728.

No sooner had the church been built than differences and quarrels began. The Rev. George Wigan, the Rector of Old Swinford, and his patron, Thomas, Lord Foley, argued that the church should not be used without the consent of themselves and the Bishop of Worcester. Thomas Milward and his party amongst the Trustees strongly opposed this, considering that the inhabitants of the town had a right to free seats and that, if the Rector nominated the minister, then he should pay him. But there was a third party to the dispute. Gregory Hickman, one of the trustees had a son named Walter, a clergyman, whom he was determined to have nominated to the church. Walter did, in fact, take possession without the Trustees' consent and remained there from 1736 to 1742. He let the pews at prices varying from four shillings for the best seats, via three shillings and sixpence for the second best to half a crown for the rest which gave him a salary of about £80 a year.

Some of the inhabitants, longing for independence, petitioned Lord Foley to have the new church endowed and made into a parish church by Act of Parliament, and in fact "The Humble Petition of Several of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the Town of Stourbridge and Parish of Old Swinford in the County of Worcester" asking for Stourbridge to be made a separate parish in all respects except for tithes and for a levy for the repair of the mother church, was brought into parliament in 1741 by Lord Foley, the Rev. George Wigan and Gregory Hickman. It was also proposed that the Short Heath (15 acres) and common land on the south side of the Gigmill Pool (20 acres) should be endorsed as a glebe for the new church.

Thomas Milward and his supporters, however, began to take steps to oppose the Bill. They considered that the church belonged to the inhabitants, and, in the words of their counter-petition, "neither had either the Patron of Old Swinford, or the Rector of the Parish, any Right whatsoever to intermeddle". They accused the Rector of claiming the new church as a chapel of ease and appointing the curate, and of imposing on some of the inhabitants the idea that the church could not be used without his and his Patron's consent, and that he or his curate had the right to let the seats. Moreover, the Rector, though claiming the church, refused to help to support the curate. "So that", the petition read, "instead of this 2000L laid out on the chapel being any Benefit to the Inhabitants it became a very heavy Burden on those who frequented the Chapel in the Town, especially on those who had large Families, and much impoverished them". "Some inhabitants, because the Rector had taken the Chapel from them … and as they could not go there without paying for leave to say their Prayers, refused to go at all to this Place, and went to the Parish Church".

The Petition went on to emphasise that the people had been falsely led to believe that the Rector had control of the new church and would have it 'shut up' if they did not comply with his demands. They also objected that in order to pay for the minister of the new church, as well as support the parish church, some of the commonland, worth £30 a year, would have to be enclosed. As they pointed out, this would be a hardship not only to them but to the town in general, "Because the Common is always full stocked with sheep, which bear a very fine wool, suited to their own Manufacture of fine narrow Cloths, and if the Common should be taken in, the land will be converted to Arable and Pasture, and the Clothiers lose the growth of so much Wool, and all or most Part of the principal Clothiers in Town, have signed the Petition against the Bill, and many poor Inhabitants keep Horses, Sheep and Geese on the Common, which does in some means keep them off the Parish".

However, though these petitioners were willing to agree to a separate parish being formed, with Lord Foley as Patron, they would prefer to have the new church made a free chapel with five or seven of the inhabitants acting jointly as Patron, who would let the seats, maintain the Minister and Clerk, and repair the church. They believed that if the inhabitants had this power, benefactions would be forthcoming. "One Gentleman", they said, "having already a Design to give 1000L to the Inhabitants; but hath declared he will not give it to the Patron".

The Petition against the Bill was presented to Parliament by Mr Lyttleton, (later the first Lord Lyttelton) and to the great satisfaction of Thomas Milward and his petitioners, Stourbridge Church Bill was defeated after the second reading.

After the defeat of the Church Bill, affairs seem to have settled down fairly quietly for some thirty years, under the Rev. Walter Hickman's successor, the Rev. Charles Harris. It was during this period that the tower must have been completed - certainly by 1759 - as the peal of eight bells was cast in that year.

In September 1782 the Rev. Charles Harris, who was also Master of King Edward's School, died in Stourbridge at the age of 72, after a ministry of forty years. He was described in the Worcester Journal as "a person of a humane and benevolent disposition, and possessed those virtues which constitute and adorn the characters of the divine". Immediately a new appointment dispute broke out.

At that time the Rev. Robert Foley was Rector of Old Swinford and also a governor of King Edward's school. He and the other governors advertised the vacancy caused by Mr Harris' death as if the post were at the disposal of the governors. Thomas Milward, the only survivor of the original trustees, called a meeting of townspeople, who agreed unanimously to support his right of nomination of the minister, and to oppose any nomination made by the Rector of Old Swinford or the Governors. In reply, the Rector threatened to close the church unless his nominee, the Rev. John Pattinson, were accepted. It was difficult to decide which party was right, as the trust deeds of the church seem to have got into the possession of Margaret Harris, the only child of the late Minister, who, on the advice of the Rector, her attorney and of Mr Pattinson, kept possession and refused Mr Milward even a copy.

However, on November 23rd 1782, Milward agreed to Pattinson's nomination and requested the Bishop to license him, only to discover that many of the inhabitants had serious objections and wished for a candidate of their own nomination. Typical of the eighteenth century spirit were the satires which were hurled at the unpopular Mr Pattinson. However, in spite of initial opposition, he was appointed and remained Minister for a quarter of a century.

On February 7th 1783, Thomas Milward appointed some new trustees, his grandsons, Edward and Thomas Milward Oliver (sons of Hungerford Oliver of Old Swinford), Wilson Aylesbury Roberts of Bewdley, John Foster and William Waldron.

Peace once again reigned for about forty years.

St Thomas as it appeared in the 19th Century.

After being Minister of twenty-six years, Pattinson resigned, and on November 1st 1808 Wilson Aylesbury Roberts and Edward Oliver, the two surviving trustees, requested the Bishop to license the Rev. Joseph Taylor, Vicar of Snitterfield, Warwickshire - the candidate who had been nominated and elected by the inhabitants of Stourbridge.

In 1810 a new organ was installed by Mr England of London and opened on March 25th by Mr Sims, organist of St Phillip's Church, Birmingham, with a choir from the Birmingham Oratorio Choral Society.

In 1814 "A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for the use of the congregation of St Thomas's Church in Stourbridge" was published by the Rev. J Taylor, a supplement being added in 1817.

In December 1822 there was, once more, a single surviving trustee of St Thomas' - Edward Oliver, and at this time he appointed eight new trustees - The Right Hon Thomas Lord Foley, The Hon Thomas Henry Foley of Witley, the Hon Augustus Frederick Foley of Witley, John Hodgetts Hodgetts Foley of Prestwood, the Rev Thomas Philip Foley, Rector of Old Swinford, Thomas Milward Oliver of Wollescote and Francis Walker of Stourbridge. It was once again stated that the church was to be on trust for the use of the townspeople.

In 1833 the Rev Joseph Taylor died. Very little of his character has come to light, except for a remark by W B Collis after his death. He says, "There was no individual, whilst living, that I felt more esteem and regard for, or any one to whom I labour under deeper obligations; and I trust that I shall ever entertain a lively sense of his kindness towards me, and the most profound veneration and respect for his memory".

The immediate result of Mr Taylor's death was an outburst of the most outrageous behaviour amongst the inhabitants, in connection with the election of a new minister. Even before his death, canvassing had been going on, and on the morning after he died four candidates were ready to be announced. The election was conducted in the same way as a parliamentary election, each candidate supported by his committee and issuing handbills advertising his qualifications for the post (and attacking the other candidates). Two of those who applied were the Rev J M Kirby, second master at King Edward's School and the Rev Giffard Wells, head master of the School. At least eight others also applied, but later withdrew.

The poll, held in July 1833, resulted in Mr Wells' election as Minister of St Thomas'. Another crisis was past.

Large congregations were the rule in the mid-19th century, and although more seats had been made available by 1837 we are told that "The congregation has become so numerous at St Thomas's Church in this town that many persons are often compelled to stand during the whole service, and frequently many have to return home who cannot gain admittance".

In November 1855 a Stourbridge solicitor - Mr John Harwood - made public his intention of bringing a bill into Parliament for making St Thomas' a more normal parish church, but his proposals were not accepted at a public meeting. However, a meeting of St Thomas' congregation approved the terms of the bill. They recommended that the inhabitants should give up their right of patronage in order that the congregation might have its wishes carried out. But at an adjourned public meeting this decision was reversed, and it was insisted that the patronage should be vested in thirty trustees to be elected by the townspeople, being members of the Church of England. John Harwood was not satisfied, and determined to apply to Parliament.

The last two years of Gifford Wells' ministry seem to have been quiet. Disputes over the Church Bill were in abeyance, but only to break out again much more violently after his resignation. In June 1858 he resigned due to ill-health, after twenty-five years at St Thomas', bidding farewell to his congregation in a twelve-page booklet entitled "A Parting Word addressed to the Members of the Congregation of St Thomas's Church Stourbridge". His letter of resignation was read out at a public meeting. It seems a trifle unfitting that the chairman expressed the hope that "… as they would be soon called upon to elect a successor to Mr Wells, that they would never again appoint a minister for life (cries of hear, hear). They now had some experience, and he hoped that such experience would lead them to limit his tenure"! The meeting decided by a great majority that the pew-holders and congregation should have the choice of the Minister.

At this time there was a curate of Amblecote named Hugh Sherrard, and in June 1858 he announced his intention of standing for election to St Thomas's. Eight other clergymen applied and each was required to preach a trial sermon at St Thomas's. Then the pewholders met to choose a candidate to be recommended to a public meeting. The list had narrowed to five, three of whom were present. But as the candidates could not agree to abide by the decision of the pewholders, it was decided to put all the names to a public meeting. The Worcester Chronicle of the July 21st 1858 describes a fight in the High Street between a lawyer and a doctor, supporters of rival candidates.

As the election date drew near only two candidates remained - the Rev Hugh Sherrard and another who later withdrew as, he explains, "having duly considered the warlike aspect of the approaching election, and reflected upon the many evils which might accrue from it to your church and district, I feel called upon as a Christian clergyman to retire from the contest". He urged his friends to support the other candidate.

The public meeting for the election was held in the Corn Exchange on July 26th and the Rev Hugh Sherrard was unanimously elected Minister. The Bishop was asked for a licence.

One might have thought that affairs at St Thomas' were at last in order, but this was far from the case. A Mr George Prescott thought fit to protest to the Bishop on the grounds that the consent of the two living trustees had not been obtained. But the Bishop gave a licence to Mr Sherrard, and, it is reported, "… the bells of St Thomas' rang out merry peals upon his return".

In December 1861 Mr Sherrard took up the question of the constitution of St Thomas', advocating getting the church consecrated and endowed, and instituting churchwardens. He favoured five trustees - two chosen by the pewholders, two by the inhabitants and one by the Rector of Old Swinford.

And the Worcester Journal of May 14th 1864 reported that steps were at length to be taken with regard to the endowment and consecration of the church. A committee had been recently formed to raise funds for church repairs and expenses, and it was now resolved to use most of the proceeds of a forthcoming bazaar for the endowment of the church. In June 1864 a great bazaar was held in the grounds of Old Swinford Hospital, which raised over £300. By June 1865, £800 of the required £1000 had been obtained and in December of that year an order was made in the Chancery for the endowment, consecration and patronage of the church and assignment of a parish. Trusteeship was to cease, and on Easter Tuesday, April 3rd 1866, St Thomas' was consecrated and the bells rang at intervals all day. After the service "upwards of 70 ladies and gentlemen sat down to a sumptious luncheon in the Assembly Room at the Talbot Hotel … and in the evening a tea party and musical entertainment was given in the National School. Upwards of 300 sat down to tea, which was kindly provided by the ladies of the town". The choir dined at the Bell Inn.

The London Gazette for July 27th 1866 announced the bounds of the new parish, which was carved out of the parish of Old Swinford. In March 1867 the Ecclesiastical Commissioners made a grant of £200 per annum to augment the living, and in 1870 a Georgian house in Market Street was purchased for a vicarage.

In 1907 the Rev Hugh Sherrard's wife Sarah died, and in the next year he resigned, shortly before his own death, aged eighty. An obituary notice says, "His declining years had been much saddened by domestic sorrow and broken health and spirits; but those who can remember him in his vigour recall an able, earnest man, an eloquent preacher and a weighty speaker". He had been at St Thomas's for fifty years.

On August 14th 1908 the Rev Thomas Ludovic Chavasse was instituted, but because of illness he resigned in the October of the next year, being succeeded by the Rev T G Gilling-Lax, who also stayed for only a short time. The next Vicar was the Rev Montague Stanhope Newland.

In 1912 a further series of alterations were begun and a Church Hall was built in 1914. To pay for these a Bazaar was held during the year 1913-14 which raised the then enormous sum of £1,160.