St Thomas Leesfield, Parish of Leesfield, Oldham

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In the Parish of Leesfield the Parish church is St Thomas Leesfield. There are 2 daughter churches St Agnes & St Hugh's.

In 1844 a small group started to meet at Leesfield House for the purpose of responding to the spiritual needs of the expanding population. At the first meeting on March 4th 1844 it was decided to build a church at Leesfield and Mr George Taylor gave the site in lieu of his subscription of £100. This church was St Thomas Leesfield and the site was known as ‘Bonfire Half Acre’ with the chancel of the church being built on ‘Mischief Plot’.

The design of the church by architect Mr Shellard was perpendicular Gothic, with a hammer beam roof and stained open wood tracery and involved the use of many ancient looking figure heads both inside and outside the building.

The foundation stone was laid on October 9th 1844 by the Chancellor of the Diocese of Chester in the presence of the Bishop of Chester along with supporters of the project.

On the feast of St Michael and All Angels September 29th 1846 the Parish of Leesfield was constituted with Canon Robert Whittaker as incumbent, but with services continuing at Leesfield House along with a new Sunday School until the church was ready.

In 1847 the new Diocese of Manchester was formed from Chester and in 1848 Manchester’s first bishop consecrated the church of St Thomas the Apostle, Leesfield on June 21st, along with the surrounding burial ground.

Baptisms, marriages and all services followed the Book of Common Prayer. The organ was installed in the west gallery in 1860 followed by the clock and installation in the tower of a full peal of 8 bells. The tower bells were first rung and the clock started on Whit Friday May 25th 1866.

There was also urgent need for a parish day school and a larger space for Sunday School which was agreed and the foundation stone was laid on Whit Friday June 2nd 1880.

The church of St. Thomas, Leesfield was most recently renovated between 1995 and 2004. The work totalled around £1 million which means that the Mother Church at St. Thomas is in generally good condition. It has its own splendid 3 Manual Organ and numerous stained glass windows. Four of these windows are by the Belgian stained glass artist, Jean Baptiste Capronnier which give a focal point to the west end of the church. It has a seating capacity of 600.

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Judith Knott/Roy Atkinson
  • Regular Services
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Sunday

Sunday Eucharist
Sunday at 11:00 AM
Sunday School Coffee
Sunday School
We are blessed to have a thriving Sunday school with committed teachers. With 46 children registered with us, there is a serious commitment to teaching the faith to a next generation of believers. We recognise that each child is unique and as far as possible, needs are met on an individual basis. All children who attend our Sunday school must be registered with us.Parents of children who attend our Sunday school must be worshipping members of the Church. Our policy is to encourage the building of ‘family faith’ rather than being a service provider of child care on Sunday morning!! Sunday school keeps a weekly computerized record of every child`s attendance at Sunday school, that is available for admission forms for Church secondary schools
Sunday at 11:00 AM

Monday

Rainbows
Monday at 6:00 PM for 1 hour

Tuesday

Holy Communion
Tuesday at 10:00 AM
Brownies
Tuesday at 6:00 PM for 1½ hours
Guides
Tuesday at 7:30 PM for 1½ hours
Bellringers
Tuesday at 7:30 PM for 2 hours

Wednesday

Tots Praise
Tots Praise is usually on the first Wednesday of each month every first Wednesday at 2:15 PM for ¾ hour
Scouts
Wednesday at 7:30 PM for 2 hours

Thursday

Mothers Union
Thursday monthly - check the exact date Thursday at 7:30 PM

Friday

Beavers
Friday at 6:00 PM for 1 hour
Sunday School Bell Ringing Regular Choir Ours is a Listed Building Tower Stained glass Organ Audio Visual Facilities Hearing / Induction Loop Large Print Hymnbooks / Orders of Service
Bookings

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Nurture Courses

 
Other information
The Revd Ruth FARRAR
Belvoir, 43 Coverhill Road
Grotton
Oldham
0161-633 0374
A Church Near You ID: 15922
Built: 1848
Archdeaconry: ROCHDALE (242)
Deanery: Oldham East (24208)
Benefice: Leesfield (24/197 L)
Parish Legal Name: Leefield (240278 24/278)
CofE Church Info: (624277 24/278)
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St Thomas Leesfield, Parish of Leesfield : Thomas St, Lees, Oldham, Greater Manchester, OL4 5AT
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