For over one hundred and thirty years St Thomas Church has been serving the community of the Eastside of Swansea. During this time the church has been in the centre of the community where thousands of people have begun married life, said farewell to a loved one or welcomed their child into the Christian faith through weddings, funerals and christenings.

Over the last five years the church has sought to serve the community in new ways through social outreach and community partnerships, following the teaching of Jesus to love our neighbours.

We open our building for the homeless to sleep in during the coldest winter months, offering professional support, a safe place to sleep and hot food.

We have weekly free community breakfasts and lunches attended by over one hundred people each week.

Host large scale events for our local schools like Christmas Through the Keyhole and Easter Explored that have been visited by thousands of children.

We have our two Parent and Toddler Groups which help new mothers and prevent social isolation and post-natal depression.

A weekly bereavement support group to help those people who are grieving, who are alone, who are widowed, who need company attended by over thirty people every week.

Our food bank serves the local community and further afield every week with hundreds of meals given out every year.

Our Baby Basics Charity has given out over 90 packages of essential items for new born babies and mothers to give the most vulnerable a better start in life.

We have our wonderful Boys Brigade and Girls Association which now has over 70 children registered and meets for two evenings a week, helping develop skills for young people between the ages of 5 and 15.

In the last five years we have helped over 300 families with funeral arrangements, joined over 50 couples together in Marriage and celebrated at least 50 baptisms including some amazing ones down in the sea in Caswell bay.

Our church works with both our school heads to serve the community through our Cwtch Charity, blessing families who are having a difficult time.

We deliver bags of presents each Christmas to those who wouldnt receive anything and every year we provide Christmas dinner for those who would otherwise be alone. Over the last three years we have delivered over 30 christmas gift parcels and served food to over 150 people on Christmas Day.

We provide hundreds of meals for children and families over the school holidays who may struggle without the provision of free school meals and provide opportunities for fun and games including our community cinema that has shown films to hundreds of people.

We are about to launch our mentoring programme to transform the lives of children and help them reach their potential.

Our credit union helps stop people being paralysed by door to door lenders and loan sharks.

We are now embarking on an ambitious programme of redevelopment and we need your help so that we can protect the future of the church. We have been awarded some funding to begin the transformation of this historic building into the central hub of our communitythe place where people naturally go, for friendship, Companionship and for support. Our plans include

The creation of a Mezzanine second floor that will be home to a full-length worship space for Sunday Worship, Weddings, Funerals and Baptisms.

A not for profit community café space with catering facilities for cooking lessons and our school holiday meals. Providing training opportunities for young people who are out of work.

The opportunity for families to host funeral wakes, wedding parties and baptism celebrations in the community rooms after the church service. Your wedding and reception can be in the same venue.

A new home for our Food Bank, Credit Union and Baby Basics Social outreach.

On site toilets for users including a shower facility for the Night Shelter.

Under Floor heating to allow the church to be warm throughout the year.

A large Community Hall that will be used by our existing and new hall users.

A new heritage, history and education area to serve our local community and local schools.

Relocation of the Parish Office.

We believe that this transformation will protect and preserve this historic church long into the future where it can continue to serve the community around it. The church will change from only being open for one day a week to being open 7 days a week. But to do it we need the support of both the local community and the wider area. We are asking people to join us to become a friend of St Thomas Church. By joining with us you will both strengthen our ability to obtain grants and also be able to invest yourself into this wonderful transformation. You will also be a vital part of the community of the church to support our ongoing social programmes well into the future.

St Thomas Church needs to raise over £43,000 per year to remain open because of Parish Share Costs, Utilities and Insurance and this amount will increase over the coming years due to the changes to the parish share system and to ensure the ongoing provision of a vicar in the parish. We also need to demonstrate long term sustainability to be able to secure grant funding. Our Redevelopment project will cost around £1 Million.

This is where you may come in! Perhaps you were married in St Thomas or have a family connection to the church? Maybe you are supportive of what we do in the community and dont want to see that put at risk? Could you be a potential new user of our community hub? Could you be a friend of St Thomas Church?

We simply cant do it without you!

All money donated through the Friends of St Thomas Scheme will be used for the ongoing ministry and mission of St Thomas Church and will be under control of the Parochial Church Council of the Parish of St Thomas and Kilvey.