St. Thomas More, Towcester

Introduction

The church is built of coursed squared limestone and ironstone with a slate roof, in a single-cell plan and Classical style.

Architecture and furnishings

The church has a pair of rendered pedimented porches to the south gable end with double-leaf doors. The sides have three round-arched giant niches within arches framing segmental-headed windows to the ground floor and round-arched windows above. The church has a two-storey wing to the rear gable end with pairs of round-arched windows to ground and first floors. The wing to the rear houses a vestry on the ground floor and a former school room on the first floor, with large round-arched hinged double-leaf panels that can be opened to give a view down into the chapel.

The interior has a gallery at the entrance end on cast-iron columns incorporating a clock by Sidney Hall of Towcester. The church's gable is of red brick with moulded stone eaves that continue across its base to form a pediment. Ironstone and limestone quoins mark the front angles of the church. The rear gable wall and the left side of the wing are of red brick, while the wing's rear gable end is of coursed limestone and ironstone rubble.

All windows in the church have cast-iron frames. The Roselle String Quartet presented an evening of musical excellence at the church, attended by over 100 people.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish hosted a visit from St Thomas Becket School. At an Induction Mass presided by the Dean of the Pastoral area, the parish priest received the keys to the parish.