St Thomas Aquinas Church

What if I told you that this unassuming building, St Thomas Aquinas Church, was once a humble village school? Yes, before it became a place of worship, St Thomas Aquinas Church served the community as a schoolhouse. It was built in the late 19th century to replace an even older school, which couldn’t keep up with the changing times and the demands of the Elementary Education Act of 1870. Imagine, children once gathered here, their voices echoing through the halls, learning their ABCs where now hymns and prayers fill the air. St Thomas Aquinas Church served as a school until 1966 when the larger St. Richard’s with St. Andrew’s Primary School took its place. But the story doesn’t end there. This building, full of history, wasn’t ready to retire. It was acquired in 1968 by the Roman Catholic community, becoming St Thomas Aquinas Church. This marked an important moment – the first time since the Reformation that Catholics in Ham had a dedicated place of worship. The building underwent a transformation with the northern part becoming the church and the southern part serving as the church hall, a space still used by community groups today. The first mass was held on October 14th, 1968, a testament to the enduring spirit of faith and community within these walls.