The Roman Catholic Church of Ss Thomas and ElizabethThurnham lies some 5 miles south of Lancaster in the Diocese of Lancaster. The Parish was founded in 1785 and was originally in the Diocese of Liverpool. The present building was consecrated in 1848. A report on the Consecration of the church in 'The Tablet' (9th. September. 1848) stated that the churchyard 'is laid out with much picturesque beauty and effect, being covered with soft grassy turf, and planted with poplars, box and yew trees, those venerable appurtenances of 'the field of the dead,' shady lanes and serpentine walks lead from the sacred edifice to the Hall. The situation, from its silence and retirement amidst the deep woods which surround Thurnham Hall, is admirably adapted for contemplation and prayer.'

The church serves the Catholic communities of Thurnham, Ashton, Condor Green, Forton, Glasson Dock and Cockerham with an approximate head count of 120. In the year ending December 2009, the parish celebrated 1 baptism, 2 marriages and 1 First Communion and there were 8 deaths. The average Mass attendance is in the region of 61. The parish is rural in nature, the highest population concentrations being in Glasson Dock, Cockerham and Forton. Year round, there are a number of visitors from Thurnham Hall (holiday apartments) and in the summer, there are also regular visitors from the local holiday caravan sites. Since November 2001 (when Father Peter Foulkes, parish priest of St. Bernadette's Church, Bowerham, was appointed priest in charge), a significant fraction of the congregation, has been made up of parishioners from St. Bernadette's. After Easter 2009, the Diocese closed the church of St Joseph's, Galgate and re-merged it with Ss Thomas & Elizabeth's. Although this was a bereavment to the parishioners of St Joseph's, it has become a great blessing to Thurnham as the St Joseph's parishioners have brought their talents to our parish. The future of the church building at Galgate is at present under review.

We extend a warm welcome to visitors and new parishioners: please make yourself known to Father Peter.

If you are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith, please ask Father Peter about the R.I.C.A programme (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) or visit the Catholic Enquiry Office web-site. Come Home for Christmas is a new initiative of the Catholic Church which aims to offer a seasonal welcome to Catholics who for different reasons no longer or rarely attend Mass. Whatever your story or journey, the door is open for you. The journey back into the Catholic Community can of course happen at any time and the information on the web-site may therefore be of help to you at any point throughout the year.

Church Services
You are most welcome to come forward at the Eucharist and receive a Blessing from the Priest, if for any reason you feel unable to receive Holy Communion.
Mass is celebrated at 9:00am on Sundays. A Children's Liturgy is celebrated once a month.
The Saturday Vigil Mass is celebrated at 6:30pm at St. Bernadette's Church, Bowerham where a later Sunday mass (11:00am) is also celebrated.
Details of other local churches, schools and societies can be found at the Diocesan web-site, where a comprehensive list of links to other web-sites of interest can be found.
Please see the times of Easter Services lower down the page

How to find us
The church is located almost 5 miles south of Lancaster off the A588. Access to the church is gained using the signed private road to Thurnham Hall to the east of the A588.
Travelling from Lancaster on the A588, this private road is set in on the left hand side and is flanked by a short stone wall, almost immediately opposite a well-disguised wooden bus shelter, one mile south of the Stork Public House at Condor Green. A location map can be found from the Parishes page of the Diocesan web-site by scrolling down to find THURNHAM.
The church is served by the Number 89 bus ( Lancaster-Knott End via Glasson Dock) although this does entail a half-mile walk from Thurnham Hall gate.

How to contact us
Priest-in-charge: Father Peter Foulkes (e-mail: st.bernadettes"at" talktalk.net )
Phone 01524 63000
Ss Thomas and Elizabeth RC Church, Thurnham, Nr. Lancaster LA2 0DT

Ministries
“Each one of you has received a special grace, so, like good stewards responsible for all these different graces of God, put yourselves at the service of others. If you are a speaker, speak in words which seem to come from God; if you are a helper, help as though every action was done at God's orders; so that in everything God may receive the glory through Jesus Christ.”1 Peter 4: 10-11
There are many different ministries within the church: if you would like to know more about ways in which you could contribute, please see Father Peter or ask for a ministry leaflet. The leaflet groups ministries into broad areas such as: visiting, liturgy, catechetic, spirituality, working with young people, administration, communication and social and fund-raising. Please ask for more details.

News and Events

Thurnham Church will be taking part in Bishop Campbell's new initiative for Lent 2012: "The Light is on for You". Each Wednesday in Lent (29th February until 4th April) between 7.00 and 8.00 pm, Thurnham church and all the Roman Catholic churches of the Diocese will be open for individual confessions. More information can be found on the dedicated page on the diocesan website diocesan website  

Easter Services  

Chrism Mass, Maundy Thursday at 11:30am in The Cathedral
Maundy Thursday Mass of the Last Supper at 7pm at St Bernadette's – with Watching until Night Prayer at 9 pm
Liturgy of Good Friday at 3pm at St Bernadette's
Easter Vigil on Saturday at 7:45pm at St Bernadette's
Easter Sunday Mass 9am at Ss Thomas & Elizabeth, Thurnham and 11am at St Bernadette's

Postcodes
Ss Thomas and Elizabeth, Thurnham: LA2 0DT, Lancaster Cathedral: LA1 3BT, St Bernadette's: LA1 4HT

To read the Statement by the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales issed on 22nd April 2010 about child abuse in the Catholic Church please click here.

The outstanding parish debt to the diocese has been repaid in full . The total amount spent on the building repairs to date is £85,565.09. We are very grateful to English Heritage for a grant of £47,355.73 towards this work and to all who have donated their time, talents, energy and money to the fund. Many thanks to all concerned.