SAINT THOMAS' HOSPITAL: SAINT THOMAS' CHURCH AND PARISH

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: H01/ST/P
Held at	: London Metropolitan Archives   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma ›
Full title	: SAINT THOMAS' HOSPITAL: SAINT THOMAS' CHURCH AND PARISH
Date(s)	: 1552-1898
Level of description	: subfonds View parent record
Extent	: 0.38 linear metres
Name of creator(s)	: Parish of Saint Thomas | Southwark

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The Parish of Saint Thomas', Southwark was closely allied with Saint Thomas' Hospital and the Governors of the Hospital paid for the upkeep of the building and also appointed and paid the incumbent. The parish covered only eight acres and included the grounds of Saint Thomas' Hospital and much of Guy's Hospital and was therefore the parish church for the hospitals.

Th parish was not created until 1378 but there were certain parochial rights already in existance before then. The church was dedicated to Saint Thomas the Martyr until the reformation when the dedication was changed to Saint Thomas the Apostle. During the middle ages a substantial stone church was built and was granted to the corporation of the City of London with the hospital buildings at the refounding of Saint Thomas' hospital in 1551. This was rebuilt inbetween 1700 and 1702 with the interior work all being funded by the hospital.

In 1836 the parish was for poor law and other civil purposes united with Saint Olave's, Southwark and Saint John's, Horsleydown to form Saint Olave's Union. To this were added Saint Mary Magdelene, Bermondsey and Saint Mary, Rotherhithe in 1869. In 1898 Saint Thomas' Church was closed down and the parish incorporated into Saint Saviour's, Southwark for ecclesiastical purposes. The parish church of Saint Saviour later became Southwark Cathedral and Saint Thomas' church is now used as the Cathedral Chapter House. It also housed the Old Operating Theatre, Museum and Herb Garrett in the roof space of the church where an operating theatre was in use in 1821.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of Saint Thomas' Church and Parish, including deeds for property in Southwark, including the rectory and church, 1552-1697; testimonial letters from Thomas Ridley, Bishop of Winchester, approving the site of a new cemetery, 1617; financial account book for the Church, 1698-1706; deed of covenant between the President and Governors of Guy's Hospital and the Governors of Saint Thomas' Hospital, regarding a contribution to repairs to Saint Thomas' Church, 1849; papers relating to Episcopal jurisdiction, 1830 - 1875; plans of proposed alterations to the church, 1800s; papers of the Saint Thomas' Church Charity School, 1836-1892; papers regarding amalgamation with Saint Olave's parish, 1872-1898; instructions for the treatment of cholera, 1849 and papers regarding the paving of streets in the parish, 1852-1857.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

In sections according to catalogue.

Conditions governing access:

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright: Depositor

Finding aids:

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Materials received in multiple accessions from 1967 onwards.

Allied Materials

Related material:

The records of St Thomas' Parish, Southwark are deposited at the LMA, ref. P71/TMS

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
February 2009