St Thomas was completed in 1842 to the designs of Edward Blore and at the suggestion of Lady Frances Neave of Dagnams Park who felt that the church at South Weald was too far for her staff to walk.

The construction cost, partly funded by Parliament, partly by the Church Building Society, was £1,883.

The church, grade II listed, was largely constructed from soft red brick in lime mortar coloured with lamp black, later repointed in cement. As is all too often the case, the use of hard mortar with porous brickwork lead to extensive spalling, especially to the spire.

With limited funds available the emphasis was placed on overhauling or replacing cast iron rainwater goods and flashings and on stabilising the most seriously damaged areas of brickwork.