St Thomas More History

IMG_0281At one time, travellers from Plymouth would enjoy open country and farm land on the western side of the main road into Yelverton.  By the early 1960’s the scene had changed to one of factories and hundreds of houses – the Southway Estate.  Fr. McSweeney started a Mass centre in a farmhouse.  Then the local county primary school was used for Sunday Mass.  A continued steady influx of Catholics into Southway required a Church.  In January 1963 a site already reserved for church building was purchased from Plymouth Corporation.  Construction began on May 27th, 1963.  Bishop Restieaux laid the foundation stone on July 24th, 1963.  The Church was completed in 1964.

During its time as a separate parish, St. Thomas More was served by many priests including Fr. Seamus Flynn, now Canon Flynn, before he moved to St. Paul’s, St. Budeaux.  Whilst ministering at St. Thomas More, he also served as catholic chaplain to HMP Dartmoor.  Following the departure of Fr. Flynn, the parish was then served by several priests including, Fr. John Webb, Fr. Keith Mitchell and Fr. Tony Delsink.

St. Peter’s church and St. Thomas More church amalgamated to form one parish, the parish of St. Peter & St. Thomas More, on January 1st, 2006.