St Thomas' Church in Stourbridge is one of our renewal projects. It has received funding from the national church as part of our priority to ensure that each major area of population has at least one larger healthy and sustainable church by 2030 - one with at least 150 people attending in an average week.
Why St Thomas' Church Stourbridge and why now?
St Thomas’ Stourbridge was chosen for funding from the national church due to the opportunities it has, owing to its central location in Stourbridge, and possibilities to expand on its current activities and introduce new ones to engage diverse groups of people visiting the town centre.
Stourbridge has lots of day visitors such as students, commuters and shoppers, some whom already visit the church building to look round or sit in quiet contemplation.
Stourbridge also has a large leisure centre and a thriving evening economy, with people visiting restaurants, bars and music venues. The church has long identified the opportunities to tap into, through evening worship and offering the church as a space for music concerts and other activities.
Vision
Led by vicar Andrew Sillis with help from curate Paul Latham and their new staff, the team plan to create a church and foster an environment that is truly welcoming to everyone and to all sections of society. They plan to have a menu of different services, activities and events, resulting in lots of different worshipping communities to cater for all the different groups of people that visit the town centre on a daily basis.
Plans
- New services and worshipping communities are planned including the relaunch of the Sunday Cafe Church congregation and midweek Toddler Praise services
- Development and expansion of existing new worshipping communities - including the popular Chewsday Church group which meets for lunch and crafting, prayer and fellowship each month.
- Further development of the ‘St Thomas Basics Course’ which introduces people who are new to the faith, to ways of thinking about God, what relationship with God can mean and how it can transform life for the future.
- Expansion of the cultural offering for Stourbridge - in partnership with local community groups offering more for the arts, concerts, and exhibitions
- Further development of the social outreach programme, including the School Uniform Bank which has already expanded to three locations across the borough
Team
With financial support from the national church, new staff are being recruited to help the church achieve its goals:
- Town Centre Missioner - working with students and young adult visitors to Stourbridge, growing new worshipping communities to serve young adults and the night-time economy of the town. This role needs a person with a pioneering heart and a passion for mission.
- Children and Families Minister - to take a lead within the Toddler Praise and Multi-Gen Cafe Church congregations. This role needs a person eager to serve families with the love of Christ.
The team at St Thomas are keen to talk to anyone attracted to these positions, and are happy to discuss different kinds of flexible working arrangements.
Building works
Some building and reordering works are needed to bring alive the vision of making St Thomas’ Church a flexible space with all the facilities needed for it to become a great venue for activities and events, truly serving the needs of the town.
To make the space inside the church more flexible, most of the church box pews will be removed and the Baptism font relocated to create a hospitality area. New under-floor heating and flooring is also planned. External works will improve signage and visibility outside the church as well.
The re-ordering is a 6-9 month project during which time the church will be closed and other nearby venues and spaces will be utilised instead to continue a reduced amount of activities and services during this time.
Film
Filmed Autumn 2025
Relevant News Articles
- St Thomas Stourbridge uniform bank extends across Dudley
- Deacon Paul Latham joins St Thomas church Stourbridge
- A Cross of Community and Hope at Chewsday Church