Church History

History

St Thomas's Church was designed by E.H. Shellard a Manchester based architect. Building work began in 1844. It's a so-called Gothic Revival Church and is a good example of Shellard's work. The interior is very much as he designed it.

Shellard worked mainly in the North West of England. He is responsible for many of the region's so-called 'Commissioners' Churches' that came about after the Church Building Acts of 1818 and 1824. One of the reasons that churches were seen to be needed at this time was because of the shift in population from rural to urban areas. The Establishment was also concerned about the growth in non-conformism and the potential threat of revolution of the kind that France had expereinced.

Biggin was one of the four hundred new churches being built in the middle of 1846. At one point Shellard was overseeing the building of for 29 churches at the same time.

The Eccesiologist , Volumes 4-5 published in 1845 (p88) in it's chapter on new churches writes the following of Biggin:

We have been much pleased with the designs for a new church proposed to be built at Biggin, in the parish of Hartington, Derbyshire. The church consists of a west tower, nave without aisles, south porch, and chancel. The style is Perpendicular. However the chancel is well developed, and the roof is of a good pitch. The entrance is by the south porch, and the font is correctly placed. All the seats are open. we fear however these is to be a west gallery. The architect is Mr. E. H. Shellard of Manchester.

(ed) Hoppen, K, Theodore. (1998) The Mid-Victorian Generation, 1846-1886 Oxford: OUP

St Thomas's Church was consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Lichfield -John Lonsdale - Biggin being part of the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield at that time.

Consecration of St. Thomas's Church, Biggin, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire This pretty little village church was consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Lichfield, on 25th instant, the presence of numerous congregation. accommodation for about 300 persons, and a nave, chancel, and finely proportioned with a porch on the south side of the church. The style and general character are in excellent keeping with the surrounding scenery, and reflect great credit upon the taste and skill of the architect, Mr. E. H. Shellard, of this city.

Under local news section of the Manchester Courier and Lancashire Advertiser - Saturday 27th May 1848 it was recorded that St Thomas's Church was consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Lichfield -John Lonsdale- Biggin being part of the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield at that time:

Consecration of St. Thomas's Church, Biggin, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire This pretty little village church was consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Lichfield, on 25th instant, the presence of numerous congregation. accommodation for about 300 persons, and a nave, chancel, and finely proportioned with a porch on the south side of the church. The style and general character are in excellent keeping with the surrounding scenery, and reflect great credit upon the taste and skill of the architect, Mr. E. H. Sheilard, of this city.

The Historic England website provides a brief back ground to the church and permits registered users to upload a maximum of four photos.

Church Records

Records for the parish of St Thomas Biggin and the civil parish of Hartington Nether Quarter commence in 1849 when Biggin became a separate parish from nearby Hartington.

Records relating to St Thomas’s are deposited at the Derbyshire Record Office in Matlock. The records are recorded under references beginning D3445/ 

The online search catalogue can be found here. Search for ‘Parish of Biggin near Hartington St Thomas’ for a complete list of records.

1848-1860 Rev. Thomas Booth

Reverend Booth is buried in the churchyard. His gravestone states that he died, aged 60, 24th January 1860 having held the incumbency for 11 years and 9 months.

1860-1864 Rev. Robert Topham

1865-1886 Rev. John Murray

He died whilst he held the incumbency on 13th May 1886. He was 69. He is also buried in St Thomas's churchyard in front of the East window.

1886-1897 Rev. John Foulger

Reverend Foulger died on 2nd December 1897.

1898-1904 Rev. John Whitworth Crowther

Rev Crowther died on the 25th January 1904 and is buried in Longnor Church.

1904- 1908 Rev. Arthur Cotton

1908 - 1919 Rev. Charles Frederick James

Interregnum

1921 -1935 Rev. Robert Arthur Ellis

1935-1949 Rev. Frank Samuel James

1949-1970 Rev. Gilbert Macduff Cooper

1970-1976 Rev. Cyril Howard Huggill

1977-1988 Rev. Alexander Douglas Gibson

1988-1996 Rev. Derek Vivian Gibling

1997 Rev. Pauline Thompson

2019-2022 Interregnum

Four images images attached are:

The original charter for St Thomas’s and the school house (Matlock Archives), the original plan for the church which is held in Lambeth Library an image from its opening and a picture of Lord Bishop of Lichfield (John Lonsdale) .