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History of St. Thomas

Prepared for Millennium Exhibition at Dagenham Baptist Church Chaplin Rd 13/14th May 2000

The Beginnings

On hearing of the building of the largest municipal housing estate in the world, the Bishop of Chelmsford called together his Diocesan Council to meet together “to work at once to meet the spiritual needs and forward the moral welfare of the thousands of people as they begin literally to pour into this new area from all parts”. On the plan of the estate, positions were marked out for 10 new parishes and Rev A Butterworth was appointed, as “a living agent” to be in charge of these new parishes.

This was in many ways pioneer work as there were no churches or suitable buildings in place, but Rev Butterworth obtained what was known as the “Ritz Canteen” (a corrugated iron hut used as a workman’s messroom during the week) to hold the first service in 1922.

As the population of the Estate increased, numbers attending the church also grew and the Diocese bought outright one of the sites earmarked above for its first parish which was named - St Thomas’. This was to be a memorial to the late Bishop of Barking, Thomas Stevens who had been described as “a man of God, a man for work, generous in his gifts and unsparing in his activities for the welfare and well-being of Barking and district”. As big churches are not built in a day, a small temporary church was built and licensed for the administration of the Sacraments and Divine worship on Thursday 28th May 1922 when it was packed to the doors with many unable to gain admission. Before the end of September that year the number of children attending had grown from 5 to nearly 500, all squeezed in to a building made to accommodate 300 - and at times children were turned away as there was no room!

At this point, in 1923, a permanent Hall or Church Institute was built consisting of a central room to accommodate 800 children and four smaller rooms to hold about 150 in each.

On Saturday 3rd July 1926 the foundation stone of the permanent Church building (to accommodate 700 people) was laid by Mrs Eisdell, the daughter of the late Bishop Thomas Stevens. A year later in July 1927 the church of St Thomas Becontree, was consecrated.

The early work of St Thomas’ in “its catholicity of activity was analogous (means ‘similar’ !) to the work of a pre-reformation monastery or a later well conducted parish church”. It helped to educate the children, it helped to look after those who were sick or in distress, and it helped to start social organisations for all. The Vicar’s wife, Mrs Butterworth, started a nursing service and was instrumental in helping two or three Estate women to become trained midwives. The Vicar, the Senior Resident Officer of the London County Council on the Estate, and others, commenced the Becontree Branch of the British Legion, the Becontree Horticultural Association and the Becontree United Football and Cricket Clubs. One of the small church halls was used as the library for the area and up until 1988

when the halls were demolished was still called ‘the library’ by church members. A 40 strong church choir was formed and Men’s Service, Cubs, Scouts, Rovers, Girls Friendly Society, and a Guide troop also followed.

In 1988 with the demolition of the old halls, the permanent church building was reordered to give us a church area which can seat approximately 250 people, a hall, two small lounges, a kitchen and toilets.

Over the subsequent years of course, there have been many changes, too many to speak of in a limited space. Nine other vicars have followed Rev Butterworth each leaving a different contribution to the work and life of the church. The Rev Philip Ritchie is presently the Team rector of the now united parish of Becontree West. (In 1985 St Thomas’ joined with St Peter’s, Warrington Road and St Cedd’s Lodge Avenue in becoming a Team Ministry).

Looking to the future

On the building side we are presently looking to improve our building to make it more accessible and user friendly to those with disabilities and also to re-order our side chapel to give us much needed improved adaptable space.

On the spiritual side, we are in the process of setting up Ministry Leadership Teams in the parish to affirm church members in the ministries in which they already serve, and to encourage others to seek, through the Holy Spirit, what they can do to serve Him.

As we are now into a new millennium, we look again at the Bishop of Chelmsford’s vision for the area in which we live from 1922 - perhaps people “pouring into the area” has now slowed down somewhat, but people, no matter what year we are talking about, still have the same problems, hopes and fears. We pray and hope that through witness and service we will continue to meet the spiritual needs of the community through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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