In 1844 a small group started to meet at Leesfield House. At the first meeting on March 4th 1844 it was decided to build a church at Leesfield and Mr George Taylor gave the site in lieu of his subscription of £100. This church was St Thomas', Leesfield, and the site was known as 'Bonfire Half Acre' with the chancel of the church being built on 'Mischief Plot'.

The design of the church by architect Mr Shellard was perpendicular Gothic, with a hammer beam roof lit by dormer windows and stained open wood tracery, and involved the use of many ancient looking figure heads both inside and outside the building. The Church is built of coursed stone with ashlar surrounds to openings, quoins, parapets etc. There is a bell tower at the west with a slate covered roof, the nave roof is of slate and has a double pitched aisle on both sides.

St Thomas Leesfield, with a seating capacity of 600, has numerous stained glass windows, several of which are by the renowned Belgian stained glass artist, Jean Baptiste Capronnier. The stone font with beautiful carved wood is situated at the rear of the church.

The foundation stone was laid on October 9th 1844.

On the feast of St Michael and All Angels September 29th 1846 the Parish of Leesfield was constituted with Canon Robert Whittaker as incumbent, but with services continuing at Leesfield House along with a new Sunday School until the church was ready.

In 1847 the new Diocese of Manchester was formed from Chester and in 1848 Manchester's first bishop consecrated the church of St Thomas the Apostle, Leesfield on June 21st, along with the surrounding burial ground.

Baptisms, marriages and all services followed the Book of Common Prayer. The organ was installed in the west gallery in 1860 followed by the clock and installation in the tower of a full peal of 8 bells. The tower bells were first rung and the clock started on Whit Friday May 25th 1866.

The Church is now Grade II* listed, and has been successful in gaining grant assistance for two phases of repair work from English Heritage. This has enabled the nave, aisles, vestry and south porch to be restored; the most recent renovation being between 1995 and 2004 with the work totalling around £1 million.

The Church is now open to the public every Tuesday and Saturday morning from 10.30 am to 1 pm in addition to our service times and events, and we participate in the Heritage Open Days scheme each September.