St Thomas
Garstang
Lancashire
Built in 1770 to designs by Richard Gillow, St Thomas is a Grade II listed building. The font is probably from the same date. Check this link out for a full list of incumbants since 1626. Prior to 1770, Garstang's chapel stood where the town hall now stands, and by 1769 was described as being in a very poor state of repair. The towns people of Garstang decided to build a new church in their town by subscription. The corner of a field in an area called Rivington Croft, with the foundation stone being laid in 1770 by William Lucas, agent to Sir Edward Walpole, politician and younger son of Sir Robert Walpole, Britain's Prime Minster from 1721 to 1742.
Above. View of the main door under the tower.
The church has a large number of memorials and monuments to the Boys-Stones family, my family on my mother's side, as well as a family plot (photos below) The Reverend George Boys-Stones, my Great Great Grandfather was the first vicar of St Thomas, serving from 1878 to 1914. He was the Rural Dean of Garstang from 1916 until his death in 1923.
Above. My Great Great Grandfather, the Reverend George Boys-Stones.
My Great Great Grandfather was a real-life philanthropist, donating money to the local poor house and providing funds for education and employment. He was heavily involved in local politics and invested heavily the Garstang Gas Company Ltd, from which he made a respectable fortune. His estate, when he died in 1923, was valued at £62.241, most likely as a result of his investment in the local Gas company. On top of his local benefactor work and interests, he was also Justice of the Peace for county of Lancashire. He appears to have been a true gentleman and I'm truly humbled to be his Great Great Grandson.
Above. Memorial plate to George Lawden Boys Stones, my Great Grandfather's brother.
George Lawden Boys-Stones was my Great Great Grandfather's brother. He was born in 1888, and served as a Captain in 7th Hariana Lancers and Staff Captian of the 6th Cavalry Brigade. He died from injuries sustained during the capture of Baghdad from the Ottoman Empire in 1917, and is buried in the military cemetery in Baghdad.
Above. First World War memorial with George Lawden Boystones' name on again.
Above. Memorial to the Reverend George Boystones....vicar and dean of Garstang.
Above. Small brass memorial on the organ...dedicated by my Great, Great, Great Grandmother Martha Stones.
Above. George Boystones' obituary.
Above. Newspaper cutting detailing comments made by the Bishop of Manchester about George's death.
Above. The Reverend George Boystones...Vicar, Dean and all round Humanitarian gentleman.
Above. Newspaper cutting detailing the will of George Boystones.
Check the church's official website.
I've had a recent request to provide further photos of the Boys-Stones connection with St Thomas in Garstang....and I'm only too happy to proudly display my family connection to this beautiful church.
Follow this link for an excellent history of the church.
