Church of St. Thomas, Southwick

In 1881 an iron mission church was built here as a chapel of ease to the Church of St. Nicholas at North Bradley. It was funded by Thomas Miller, the father in law of the Rev. E.A. Were, vicar of North Bradley. Unfortunately an ill-attended stove caused it to catch fire in December 1897 and the church was destroyed. For a while the congregation worshipped in the school and then in a tin mission church. A new church was built to the design of C.E. Ponting in 1903 and the tin church was moved to Brokerswood, where it is still in use. The foundation stone was laid on 13th June 1903 and the church has a nave with a north aisle, a chancel and a tower with a shingle tower. It is in the 14th century style and has a genuine 14th century font from Chilton Foliat. In deference to the strong Baptist principles of the village there is a tank for baptism by immersion in the west end of the church. The church was built by J. Long of Bath at a cost of about £1,800. It was not licensed for weddings until after the Second World War and the first marriage there was on 23rd July 1949. In 2001 the Friends of St. Thomas organisation was set up and the church is thriving with regular joint services also held with the Baptists..