Church History
The Church of St. Simon & St. Jude
St. Simon and St. Judes started off as a wooden structure in 1921, which later became the church hall. John Henry Lote was the Church Warden. The population increased due to the opening of the pit and Rother Vale Colliery Company donated £25,000 to build the new church, the foundation stone was laid in 1937, the church furniture made of light oak was built at the colliery workshop.
This foundation stone was placed by
Sir Walter Benton-Jones Bart
and Dedicated by
Leonard Hedley Bishop of Sheffield
On Saturday the 2nd of October 1937
In February, 1924, the Rev. W. A. Kendall, Curate in Charge at Thurcroft, was appointed to the Vicarage of Woodlands,
Doncaster, vacant through the death of Rev. W. L. Barker.
On 5th October 1931 it was reported that the Bishop of Ripon was to institute the Rev. W. Paskin of Thurcroft to the Vicarage of Arkengarthdale, Richmond, Yorkshire. On 13th November, the Rev. C. W. Scott senior Curate of Rotherham Parish Church replaced him.
April 1936 - Rev. W. J. Lowry, priest-in-charge went to Monk Fryston, Yorkshire.
A new Ecclesiastical Parish of Thurcroft was formed in 1946, the first Vicar was Rev K.F. Kinns, formerly curate of Swinton, Rotherham. He was also curate-in-charge at Ulley. It was announced in March, 1955 that he was to be Vicar of St. Nathaniel's, Crookesmoor, Sheffield.
On 20th April, 1960, the Rev. F. J. Milverton Curate of Ecclesall, Sheffield was appointed to be Vicar of Thurcroft. He replaced Rev. J. W. Kennedy who went to St. James in Doncaster.
In July, 1966 Rev. J. F. Humble, left Thurcroft to be Vicar of Lillington, Coventry. It was announced in December, the Rev. J. W. A. Copeland, Vicar of St. Mary's Worsborough, was to be Vicar of Thurcroft.
In November, 1982 Rev. S. J. Matthews, Vicar of Thurcroft and Rural Dean of Laughton left to be Rector of Sprotborough, Doncaster. He was replaced by the Rev. W. Chalton, Assistant Curate of Christ Church, Doncaster.
