This year we celebrate 650 years of worship in the parish of St Thomas the Apostle, Claughton-on-Brock. A warm welcome is extended to everyone to join us in our celebrations. Parishioners or not, Catholics or not, all are welcome.

A range of events are planned to take place throughout the year and have been designed to represent the various facets of the life and history that is to be found in our parish.

The parish has a strong family and social basis so dances, barbecues and a strawberry fair have been organised. Throughout the parish there are physical reminders of our past, from Saxon and Roman times to the Industrial Revolution.
A history trail has been devised to provide a glimpse of our past. There is also a tour of parish gardens, courtesy of some of our parishioners who have kindly opened their gardens to demonstrate the variety of horticultural landscapes to be seen within the parish.

Our approach is one of inclusiveness; so much so that in 1990 Monsignor Martin Molyneux, a former parish priest at St Thomas, whom along with the Rev Alan Camp (the then Congregational Minister of Inglewhite), established Brock Valley Churches Together - an ecumenical venture that continues to thrive.

Our current priest Fr Stephen Cross was elected President for 2008. In addition to our regular participants, we would be delighted if others joined us at mass during the year, or just popped in to the church for a visit. The highlight of 2008 will be a mass at St Thomas's celebrated by the Bishop of Lancaster, Patrick O'Donoghue. We look forward to welcoming you during 2008 as we celebrate this special year.

A full calendar has been planned and includes: (See events page)

" Easter Sunday at St Thomas's" - Celebration of the greatest feast day in the Catholic liturgical calendar.
" Elswick Singers Concert" - A musical feast performed by this local ensemble.
" Parish Open Weekend" - including:
         Garden Tour - a variety of garden landscapes open thanks to the kindness of our parishioners.
         Strawberry Fair & Floral Display at St Thomas's.
         The School will be open.

" Commemorative Mass at St Thomas's" - Celebrated by the Bishop of Lancaster

"A Commemorative Brochure":- including both a history of the church and parish and a history trail including:-
Roman History
Viking History
Industrial Revolution
Great War Memorials

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List of Events

Parish History

Priests of the Parish