St. Thomas à Becket, Wandsworth

Introduction

A small church designed by Pugin was built in 1847 in the centre of Wandsworth. The parish began with a mission in 1841, using rooms above the George and Dragon Pub as a chapel. The present church was begun in 1893.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is in Perpendicular style with red brick, stone dressings and slate roofs. The west front has a moulded basket-arch door surround with spirelets and crockets, framing paired doors each side of a polygonal pier with a figure of St Thomas. The interior has octagonal stone piers to a barrel-vaulted nave. The chancel is rib-vaulted with three fourteenth Century-type windows.

The church has a north-west tower with battlemented parapet and polygonal staircase buttress. The church has been extensively and tastefully restored in recent times.

Parish life

The parish runs a Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults programme for adults in various stages of faith, including those not baptized, those baptized in another Christian tradition, and baptized Catholics who have not received the Sacraments of Eucharist and/or Confirmation.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish requires 6 months' notice of marriage, as required by the Diocese. The parish arranges visits for those who are ill or housebound when contacted.