St Thomas’ Church, Rhyl

St Thomas’ Church, Rhyl

Services in Welsh began at the Parish Church of Holy Trinity in Rhyl in 1835. Population growth after the railway’s arrival in Rhyl in 1848 meant that a larger church – the one you see here today – was soon needed. It was intended for visitors as well as residents.

Aerial view of Rhyl with St Thomas Church in 1920
Aerial view of St Thomas' Church in 1920, courtesy of the RCAHMW and its Coflein website

The church was dedicated to St Thomas in honour of the Bishop of St Asaph, Rt Rev Thomas Vowler Short. He had supported the church’s construction. Sir George Gilbert Scott designed the building and, later, the clock in the tower. The church, now listed Grade 2, was consecrated in 1869. The tower and spire, added in 1875, were seemingly designed to outdo those of the Marble Church in Bodelwyddan – being 30cm (1ft) taller!

Thomas Winston, Rhyl’s first stationmaster, helped to raise funds for the church’s construction, and donated one of the stained glass windows and one of the bells. Sometimes he defended Nonconformists when they were “abused” by intolerant Anglicans. When he died at his nearby home, Bodannerch, bells were tolled at the church to inform the townspeople. Railway employees carried his coffin for the funeral.

The aerial photo, courtesy of the Royal Commission on the Ancient & Historical Monuments of Wales, shows the church and nearby streets in 1920. It is from the Aerofilms Collection of the National Monuments Record of Wales.

Some members of the choir of St Thomas’s Church have gone on to careers as soloists. They include tenors Arthur Cobbin and George Owen, singers at the Royal Opera House from 1957 to 2012 – see the footnotes for more about them. In its post-war heyday, the choir boasted a rare family quartet: tenor John Evans and sons Barry, Bobbie and Peter.

In 1951 the choir was the only one from North Wales to sing at St John’s Church, on London’s South Bank, in the Festival of Britain’s daily church-choir showcase. The choristers and choirmaster Arthur Berry travelled by train to London, performed at 4.30pm and started back at 6.30pm. On arrival at Rhyl after an exhausting day, some choirboys were carried off the train fast asleep!

With thanks to George Owen. Sources include: ‘St Thomas’ Church, Rhyl 1861-2002’, by Michael McEvoy

Postcode: LL18 3LW    View Location Map

Parish website

Copies of the old photo and other images are available from the RCAHMW. Contact: nmr.wales@rcahmw.gov.uk


Footnotes: The two tenors from Rhyl

For two years in the early 1990s, two tenors from Rhyl performed together in various productions at the Royal Opera House, in London’s Covent Garden. Both had been choirboys at St Thomas’ Church: Arthur Cobbin 1942-1947; and George Owen 1948-1955. As “top boys”, both sang the solos when required.

Arthur went to study at the Guild Hall School of Music and joined the Royal Opera House company in 1957, following military service in the 14/20th King's Hussars. He remained at the ROH until his retirement through ill-health in 1992. He died shortly afterwards, aged 62.

George studied at the Royal Welsh School of Music, Cardiff, and performed at Nice Opera, Monte Carlo Opera and Florence Opera before joining the ROH in 1989, where he remained until his final performance in Puccini's La Boheme in 2012.