St Thomas's started life as a Congregational Chapel in 1843 catering for local people and the large number of summer visitors to the seaside resort Parkgate was then. The Congregationalists numbers reduced and it was sold to the Presbyterians in 1858 who became so successful that, in 1858, they moved to a larger building in Neston leaving St Thomas's empty. The Church of England had been holding occasional services at Mostyn House School and in the corrugated 'iron room' in the yard of the Infants School. They leased the empty building and, in 1913, bought it and named it 'St Thomas's Church'. Since then, it has been one of the two a daughter churches in the Parish of Neston. Neston is a large parish including the villages of Ness, Little Neston and Parkgate as well as the town of Neston, itself.

Our church had to be closed in July 1994 because of concerns about stability. The cost of repairs was considered too much by the Parish which, at one time, intended demolition and sale of the site. However, its future was safeguarded by the Department of National Heritage which protected the church by granting it Grade II listing.

You can find out more about St Thomas's by purchasing the booklet 'St Thomas's Church Parkgate', price £3.00 including postage. Cheques or Money Orders, payable to The Bishops Trust for St Thomas's, should be sent to PO Box 80, Parkgate, Neston, CH64 6WE. Mark your envelope 'Booklet'.

The Parish of Neston's Vision places its three churches at the centre of the community and the Vicar, the Reverend Neill Robb, spoke on 5 September 2002 when the appeal was launched, of a ministry to the visitors who still flock to Parkgate and a resource for the Parish as a whole.

We are preparing for the day when St Thomas's re-opens, when services begin again and when the full range of activities associated with being a church can be put in place. People have got used to not having a church in Parkgate; some worship elsewhere, including other churches in the parish. Now it's time to pray and consult and think about re-building the congregation.

To find out more

Might you be interested in worship at St Thomas's and sharing in church activities in Parkgate? Please tell us if you would like to be kept in touch with developments on the religious front.

e-mail us on stthomasparkgate@hotmail.com heading your message with Family & Friends and we'll include you.