Learn More
Learn more about our church and what we believe
Giving at St Thomas'
Thank you for considering donating to St Thomas’
All donations are gratefully received and used to support our mission in Brentwood. If you want to make a one off donation, you will find a link to St Thomas’ donation options on ‘sum up’ here.
If you want to give regularly. whether you are a new or existing giver, it is good to review your giving and consider how your gifts to God compare to your other regular spending.
For regular giving, we are encouraging everyone to move to the ‘Parish Giving Scheme’. This is a centralised scheme, endorsed by the Church of England, which collects your contribution by direct debit each month and credits it to St Thomas’, reducing our administration costs.
Click here for an explanation of the Parish Giving Scheme and the joining form.
Should you wish to join the Parish Giving Scheme online or make a one off donation via the Parish Giving Scheme, click here.
If you want to join by telephone, click here for a guide of what to expect.
Planning for our future
Please think about including a ‘legacy’ to St Thomas’ in your will. Various major charities promote the use of a ‘legacy’ as a way of providing the security of future income. Gifts of this nature can ensure financial security for St Thomas’ for decades to come. Click on the links before for more information.
Hiring our facilities
Please see details below of the different facilities we have for hire.
Rooms can be laid out with tables and chairs or just chairs. We have flip charts and can arrange access to the kitchen for tea and coffee or for providing a meal.
St Thomas' Church Hire
The church can be hired out for a number of different events and makes for a great concert venue due to the wonderful acoustics.
Capacity: 450
Church Parish Centre Hall Hire
The parish hall can be used for a multitude of events including dining, meetings, stand up events etc
Parish Centre Rooms Hire
There are a total of three meetings rooms each with a capacity of 15 people making it the perfect space for small meetings.
There is also the option to hire the Choir Vestry Room which has a capacity of 20.
Meeting room 1
The Choir Vestry
Brentwood Chapel Ruins Hire
The open area just in front of the chapel ruins is perfectly located in the centre of the busy Brentwood highstreet ensuring you will get lots of foot fall.
Please note: hiring is strictly for charities & community events only
Chapel ruins advertisement space
Just like the chapel ruins hire, there is also the opportunity to hire the railings on the side of the Brentwood chapel ruins with a banner (subject to approval)
The history of St Thomas'
The history of the St Thomas' of Canterbury church in Brentwood goes back as far as 1221.
The church was originally a much smaller chapel built for passing pilgrims but grew to much more.
You can find out the full history by visiting the below link!
Team Members
Fr Mark North, Vicar
Fr Mark joined St Thomas' in November 2018 from his parish in Burnham-on-Crouch. Fr Mark is married with one son.
Fr Matthew Austen, Curate
Fr Matthew joined St Thomas' in May 2020, after formation for ministry at St Stephen's House, Oxford. He is a former Soldier, and married with two children
Fr Ossie Trelles
Fr Ossie is our retired honorary assistant Priest.
Lesley Lynn
Licensed Lay Minister
Carolyn Robertson
Licensed Lay Minister
Michelle Jackson
Church Warden
Chris Horten
Treasurer
Ross Morell
Safeguarding Officer & Data Protection
Karen Porter
Parish Administrator (Finance)
Valerie Davis
Weddings Co-Ordinator
Lesley and Tony Dipper
Gift Aid Officers
John Gibson
Health & Safety Chair
Mia Davies
Clubhouse Coordinator
Safeguarding
We are committed to ensuring that St Thomas of Canterbury, Brentwood is a safe place for all.
The Parochial Church Council of St Thomas of Canterbury, Brentwood has adopted the House of Bishops' Promoting a Safer Church Safeguarding Policy Statement.
Our Parish Safeguarding Representative is Ross Morrell. He can be contacted at church, by phoning 01277 201094 or by e-mail.
St Thomas of Canterbury, Brentwood is part of the Diocese of Chelmsford.
For further information about Safeguarding in the Diocese of Chelmsford click here.
For information about the Diocesan Safeguarding Team and Safeguarding contacts in the Diocese of Chelmsford click here.
This page includes contact details for Safeguarding organisations and charities.
If you believe that somebody is in immediate risk of danger or harm you should call 999 and ask for the police.
Our beliefs
Belief in God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit is at the heart of our faith.
Christians believe that Jesus is God’s Son. Jesus reveals to us that God is our Father, and that God is available to us through the Holy Spirit.
You won’t ever be asked if you completely understand all this, but you are asked whether you believe and trust. This is called faith. It is a different sort of knowledge. It is the knowledge of being known and loved, and of loving in return.
The Christian faith is not a human invention. There are signs of God’s existence and handiwork in creation for anyone to read in the Bible – but we believe in the way we do because God has come to seek us out and has made himself known to us.