St Thomas The Apostle Parish Church To Glen Parva & South Wigston

St. Thomas' is a warm and friendly Anglican Church, worshiping in a liberal catholic style.

Sunday Services
8: 00 am said Eucharist (1st Sunday - B. C. P. )
10: 00 am Sung Eucharist (1st Sunday - with Children)
6: 00 pm 1st Sunday - Healing Service, 2nd Sunday - Choral Evensong, Other Sundays - Evensong

Weekday services
Morning prayer- Monday to Saturday at 9: 00 am
No Evening prayer (said privately)
Eucharist- Wednesday at 10: 30 am
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Our Sunday School is small yet enthusiastic, it is held in the church hall at 9: 45am. School Superintendent: Gemma Collins at gemma_collins@hotmail. co. uk
0116 2823135

The bell team ringing, the tower’s eight bells have recently reformed, meeting at 7: 30pm on Tuesday evenings to practice and perfect their skills. . . Bell Captain: Nigel Robinson. . . . . nrcontractors@hotmail.com or 07730308701

St Thomas Church holds a variety of spiritual prayer services, these include a Silent Harvest (1st Tuesday of the month) A Breath of Prayer (3rd Thursday of the month) and a Healing Service (1st Sunday of the month). Quiet Days are ether held here at St Thomas’s or within the shire. Many different activities and events are held throughout the year, bringing the church and community together.

The Church (a grade 2*) listed building has wheelchair access, a hearing /Induction loop and welcomes assistance dogs. Large print hymn books and service sheet are available as is the St Thomas’s parish magazine.

The Church Hall has in fact two halls; the lower hall is accessible to wheelchair and is where the toilets and baby changing facilities are situated. The lower hall also contains a kitchen / food preparation area. Many of the church and communities activities take place in the hall, which is also available for hire at competitive rates. . . . Hall Enquiries /Bookings: Jackie Pinnock. (0116 278 0643)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---POTTED HISTORY
St. Thomas’ Church was built (minus the tower) in 1893 to replace the ‘tin’ church which had been used for worship since 1886. The tower was added in 1900 and this, together with a peal of eight bells, was dedicated in October 1901. The Church Clock was added later as a memorial to the fallen man of the parish, who served in the First World War.

The Royal Leicestershire Regiment, housed in the Victorian Barracks in Saffron Road, used St. Thomas’ for parade services and the church became known as the Garrison Church after the Boer War in 1901, and remained as such until the Royal Leicestershire Regiment was incorporated into the East Anglia Brigade in the 1960’s.

The 1939-45 war brought the army and the local community together and the Church was a source of great comfort to many. The gas lighting in the church was replaced with electricity in 1946 and the stained glass windows were once more revealed after the blackout curtains were removed. Inevitably there have been a great many changes over the years, but one thing has remained constant and that is the fine musical tradition within the church. . . . Jean Barnwell
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The Choir of St Thomas the Apostle, South Wigston ranks among the finest choirs of its kind in the country. Formed in 1890, the choir has given joy to generations of people at St Thomas' Church and at cathedrals around the UK, and continues to delight concert and radio audiences in Leicestershire and further afield. The choir is one of the UK's few remaining all-male ensembles still performing weekly duties as a parish church choir. The vast majority of choristers come from primary schools in and around Glen Parva and South Wigston. . . . Director of Music, John Gull. . . . . www. wigstonchoir.org. uk

The Friends of St Thomas' Choir, a registered charity which supports the work of the choir, promotes music education, and provides musical opportunities for young people in the area. . . . Email: fostc90@gmail.com