St. Thomas Episcopal Church (Taunton, Massachusetts)
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St. Thomas Episcopal Church
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| Location | Taunton, Massachusetts |
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| Coordinates | 41°53′50″N 71°5′27″W / 41.89722°N 71.09083°WCoordinates: 41°53′50″N 71°5′27″W / 41.89722°N 71.09083°W |
| Built | 1857 |
| Architect | Upjohn,Richard |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| MPS | Taunton MRA |
| NRHP Reference # | |
| Added to NRHP | July 5, 1984 |
St. Thomas Episcopal Church is an historic church at 115 High Street in Taunton, Massachusetts, United States. Its present building, an 1857 Gothic Revival structure designed by Richard Upjohn, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The current church building was constructed in 1857 although the congregation dates back to 1728. Unlike most colonial parishes that were formed by the Society for the Gospel in Foreign Parts, Saint Thomas in Taunton was founded through the efforts of lay people living in the community. On November 30, 1728 a plot of ground was deeded for the erection of a church near the Three Mile River on what is now Tremont Street. The earliest mention of a building is contained in a letter to the Society for the Gospel in Foreign Parts, dated July 31, 1763 requesting the aid of the society in obtaining the services of a clergyman and in which it stated that for thirty years the people had a church for public worship. But the history of the parish goes back to an earlier date and to a layman, Thomas Coram, an English sea captain who erected a shipyard in 1698 on the Taunton River in what is now Dighton. The Puritans, strongly opposed to the Church of England, thwarted Coram, a loyal churchman, in his efforts to establish a parish in Taunton. Before returning to England, in a deed dated December 8, 1703, Coram left in trust with the Vestry of King's Chapel, Boston, fifty-nine acres of land that he owned with the stipulation, "that if ever hereafter the inhabitants of the town of Taunton should be more civilized than they now are, and if they should incline to have a Church of England built amongst them, or in their town, then upon application of the inhabitants of said town, that is to say, forty ratable men of them, upon their application, or petition to the said vestry, or their successors, for any suitable part of said land, to build a Church of England, or a school house for the use and service of said church."
Although the struggling church was unable to profit from Coram's bequest, the authorities of King's Chapel having sold the property in 1754 and the proceeds diverted to their own use, he presented the church with a sizable library, as well as using his influence with the Speaker of the House of Commons who gave a large Prayer Book, still prized by members of the parish. Although it is not documented in writing, it is generally assumed that the parish was given the name of Saint Thomas to honor Thomas Coram, who, in turn, bore the name of the Apostle. Thomas Cobb and Thomas Baylies headed the list of twenty-six lay persons who subscribed 528 pounds and 10 shillings for the purchase of a Glebe on March 19, 1743 "for ye sole use, benefit and profit of ye Rector of ye Church of Saint Thomas standing near Three Mile River in Taunton." A house was standing upon the Glebe and when enlarged called Coram Hall.
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