ON THIS DAY 11 MAY 1901 THE FOUNDATION STONE OF ST THOMAS' TELFORD PARK WAS LAID
As the residential area of Telford Park became developed in the mid 19th century, a temporary iron church was erected in February 1885 at the junction of Telford and Thornton Avenues. The Church foundation stone, located on the external wall at the east (Salford Road) end of the building, was laid on May 11th 1901 by Sir Frank Green, Lord Mayor of London. The nave was opened five months later and the north and south aisles and baptistry were opened in April 1905. St Thomas' obtained the position of a legally established and independent church in July 1903. Reverend E J Wolfe was instituted as first vicar on 22 December 1903 and served until 1922.
The chancel was built after the war in 1927. The 107 men of the parish killed in The Great War are commemorated by a war memorial in the church. The Second World War brought damage to the roof of the church and east window, and the iron railings and gates were handed over for munitions production. In the half century or so after the Second World War, the damage was repaired and St Thomas' continued as a focus for Anglican worship, social fellowship and community activities, and became part of the Diocese of Southwark.
(Source St Thomas and St Stephen)