1842

Plans drawn by Benjamin Ferrey for a new church in Keresley. A copy of these plans is now kept in the Lambeth Palace Library, you may view the plans by clicking on this thumbnail.

1847

Parish formed from St Michael's Coventry and Holy Trinity without. Church and Churchyard consecrated 10th September 1847; bells and clock added later. First vicar, Rev W. H. Thickens, lived at Keresley House (his brother was vicar of Exhall).

1852

Church school built: of stone with a tower; a house below and 2 classrooms above.

1868

First vicarage built on Brownshill Green Road, the land was a gift of Maria Wilmot. There were 14 rooms, 2 cellars, a coach house, 3/4 acre grounds and no mains services.

1874

Second vicar, Rev G. T. P. Deere

1875

Church school enlarged: one class room added and school manager's room below

1884

First extension to churchyard with surrounding wall, given by Mrs Troughton.

1886

Chancel and Sanctuary floor laid with tiles representing implements of the crucifixion, the money raised by a "Sale of Work".

1890

First monthly leaflets, forerunner of the present church magazine.

1897

An organ is installed in the gallery for the first time and the choir moved back there. (At first the choir had sat in the gallery, where string and wind instruments provided the music, but then they had moved to the chancel where they were accompanied by a harmonium.)

1898

Mr H. P. Loasby appointed School Headmaster and Church Organist

1905

Third vicar, Rev W. C. Kerr. Approximate date of improvements to church, organ and heating

1909

Local Authority (Warwicks) built Infants School - removed infants from Church School

1911

Boring started for coal in North East part of parish

1918

Change of Diocese from Worcester to Coventry

1919

Colliery Village begun astride N.E. boundary with Exhall

1920

Enabling Act creates P.C.C.s etc. Capt and Mrs Miller helped to build Women's Institute in New Road. This continued here until 1970

1921

Fourth vicar, Rev T. H. Perry. Stipendiary Reader Mr A. B. Barnes

1923

Hut in Fivefield Lane for services and social events. Churchwarden Mr S. Glover

1925

Mission Church opened in Bennetts Road

1928

Housing estate in East of Parish: astride St Lukes and Exhall

1929

Keresley Hall (former home of Hillman family) became Alcock Hospital, vicar becomes honoury chaplain. Conventional District is created of St George with Hall/Church in Coundon

1930

Housing Estates developed in S.W. and S. of parish

1931

Work on Church Bells; Miss Rotherham leaves Keresley Grange. Fifth vicar, Rev G. N. Roper

1934

Death of Mrs Hands, born 1837, the last surviving person who remembered the church being built

1935

Parish of St George (Coundon) formed from parts of Keresley with Coundon, St Nicholas Radford, and St John the Baptist Coventry. Church School became Juniors only. Mr D. K. Daniels became Lay Reader.

1936

Sixth vicar Rev E. J. Bastin

1937

Capt A. G. Walker (Church Army) took on work in Colliery area Keresley Grange became headquarters squadron RAFVR

1938

Second extension to Churchyard and fence given by Mr E. Turrall. Mr H.P. Loasby retires after 40 years as Church Organist.

1939

Work on Church Tower & Spire. Full time Verger/Sexton appointed.

1940-1941

Casualties in Air Raids; St Nicholas and St Francis destroyed

1941 onwards

National Service Hostels built

1942

First Assistant Curate appointed; Rev D. R. McKinnon ; restarted children's work ; Keresley Hospital enlarged

1944

Rev W. H. Oliver succeeded Rev D. R. McKinnon; Church School closed.

1946

Rev W. H. Oliver left; the Birches became part of Keresley Hosplital; The Manor becomes a children's home; a house called "Dovedale" and 4.4 acres purchased for church use to mark the first centenary.

1947

First Centenary celebrated. Captain Walker died suddenly. During the last 50 years various alterations took place in the church. The pulpit and reading desk were moved, opening up the chancel and sancturary, while prayer desks and a brass lectern took the place of the square reading desk. Keresley Grange became a Children's Care reception centre; Mr L. Green becomes Reader.

1948

Coundon Hall became a hotel. Church organ rebuilt.

1950

Development of Colliery estates. Vicar ceased to be chaplain at hospital; Newlands House became Old People's Home

1951

Coundon Court becomes Girl's Comprehensive School

1952

Adjustments to parish boundaries; Church repaired and redecorated

1955

Negotiations begun for site of new vicarage.

1957

Assistant curate Rev W. H. Bates; curae's house bought; Old school sold, later realised over £6,000 which went to the diocese for Blue Coat School.

1958

Mr H.S. Pettitt becomes Reader

1960

Rev W. H. Bates leaves

1961

Rev R Hawtin assistant curate

1964

New Vicarage built on Tamworth Road. "Dovedale" converted to Church Room with flat above.

1965

Church Walk and Church path given to church by Coventry Boy Foundation Trust, full time Verger/Sexton ceased to be employed.

1966

Repairs to South side of church, 2 acres of land exchanged with Coventry Corporation. Rev R Hawtin leaves

1968

New heating system installed in church, Keresley Hospital closed.

1970

Mission Church altered and repaired/re-decorated. Church Hall built in Wickham Close. Churchyard extended. Parish Magazine ceases

1971

Seventh vicar Rev J. H. Tyers

1972

Repairs to North wall of Church. Sanctuary re-worked again. Mr L. Green completes 25 years as Reader ; Rev M. Clarke becomes Assistant Curate

1979

Eighth vicar Rev J. Panting

1980

Captain Martin Hathaway appointed to serve Keresley Village and the Mission Church. At St Thomas the five bells were re-cast as a peel of six.

1982

Mission Church became Church of the Ascension

1989

The Galilee Room is built on the North side of the church, giving a meeting room with kitchenette, and toilets.

1990

Rev A. Donaldson appointed to Keresley Village as full-time minister for Church of the Ascension.

1991

Colliery closes for the first time.

1992

Ninth vicar Rev K. Mobberley

1994

Church of Ascension building declared unsafe in May, demolished in December.

1996

Colliery closes finally.

1997

Parish celebrates 150 years. Two shops bought in Keresley Village for new church.

1999

Keresley Community Church opens, an ecumenical church shared by Anglicans and Methodists. Tenth vicar Rev P. A. Walker appointed together with his wife Rev R. E. Walker to job-share Keresley Village and St Thomas'.

2000

New Church Heating System installed

2003

St Thomas' Churchyard is officially closed for new burials by Order in Council and maintenance is passed to Coventry City Council. Extension and re-roofing of Keresley Village Community Church.

2011

Steven Medley, formerly Children and Families Worker in the parish, becomes Lay Pioneer Minister at Keresley Village Community Church

2012

Eleventh vicar, The Revd. Mark Norris.

2017

St Thomas' sanctuary replastered, redecorated and recarpeted.

2018

Keresley Village Community Church congregation closes. The building is renamed by the local community as 'The Pit Stop' and continues to be used by St Thomas' for outreach and building community in Keresley Village.

2019

The Garden of Remembrance is opened in St Thomas' Churchyard, providing over 500 new burial plots for cremated remains.

2020-2021

St Thomas' Church embraces change through the COVID-19 pandemic and, for a period, moves to online worship and develops an online community.

2021

Clement Wedderburn licensed as a Reader at St Thomas'. Work commences on the proposed 2000+ new houses in the centre of the parish.

2022

175th Anniversary of St Thomas' Church.