Church of St Thomas More, Sheldon, Birmingham

Roman Catholic Church of 1968-9 by Richard Gilbert Scott (born 1923) of Giles Scott, Son & Partner, with stained glass windows by John Chrestien.

The Roman Catholic Church of St Thomas More, Sheldon, Birmingham is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Architectural interest: it is a good example of a modern Roman Catholic church by Richard Gilbert Scott, of the nationally important architectural dynasty, displaying innovative and high quality design and architectural detailing; * Interior: it has an interesting plan and its fixtures, fittings and embellishments are of good quality both in terms of their design and materials, with the impressive stained glass windows by John Chrestien giving the building considerable artistic interest; * Degree of survival: the building, including its internal fixtures, fittings and embellishments, has survived remarkably intact; * Historic interest: it is a good example of a post-war Roman Catholic church situated in an area which historically had a relatively large community of Irish immigrants, which grew in the 1950s and 60s, and where design and plan form express the liturgical developments in the Roman Catholic Church that took place after the Second Vatican Council held in 1962-5; * Group value: it forms part of an interesting group of post-war Roman Catholic churches in this area of Birmingham, including for example that at Tile Cross (listed at Grade II) by the same architect, which contribute to the understanding of the religious and social history of the area.