An economical post-war design by Evans Powell Associates, serving the Southway estate. 

Post-war expansion of Plymouth saw the building of several large new housing estates, particularly to the north and east of the city. The church of St Thomas More was built in 1962-3 to serve the Southway estate, from designs by Evans Powell Associates of Paignton. Seating 130, it was blessed and officially opened by Bishop Restieaux on 26 May 1964.

Description

The main body of the church is rectangular in plan, with a lean-to chapel on the south side and sacristy/WCs to the north, resulting in an L-shaped plan form. The sacristy was formerly linked to a presbytery, now demolished after fire damage. The church is of steel framed construction with red Fletton-type brick cladding laid in stretcher bond, and a rendered east wall. The monopitch roof is clad in concrete tiles. At the liturgical south east corner is a raised brick feature surmounted by a plain cross. Continuous clerestorey glazing on the raised south side lights the interior. The entrance at the west end on the south side leads into a small lobby and the main space. A gallery is incorporated over the main entrance porch. There are no internal features of particular note.

Heritage Details