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Aslockton has never been a parish in its own right. In medieval times there was a chapel, roughly where the current Cranmer Cottage stands, but it was attached to the church in Whatton. It fell out of use in the middle of the 15th century and was converted into a dwelling. It is possible that some of the stone masonry of Cranmer Cottage came from this chapel. There was a mission room in this house.

In 1866 Aslockton was re-linked to the parish of Scarrington, despite the fact that this was unpopular with parishioners. By the later part of the 19th century Aslockton had outgrown both Whatton and Scarrington. The impetus for a new church came when the vicar of Whatton, Thomas Hall, was drowned at sea in Australia. His mother decided to sponsor the building of a new church, which became the church of St Thomas the Apostle. The dedication was chosen to reflect both Thomas Hall, and the villages most famous inhabitant, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. The church remained attached to Scarrington until 1919 when it was again attached to Whatton. In 1965 it became part of the Cranmer group of parishes, including Scarrington, Orston, Whatton, Hawksworth, Aslockton and Thoroton colloquially known as the SO WHAT group!

The church is quite typical of small churches of the period. It consists of nave with south aisle with transept, chancel, organ camber, vestry and south porch. There is a small bell turret on the peak of the western gable. The church was designed in Early English style by one of the best known practices of the Gothic Revival in the late 19th century, Sir Arthur Blomfield & Son, the lead being taken by Sir Reginald Blomfield. Although faced in stone, the structure is almost entirely of brick.

Internal fittings are largely contemporary with the building, resulting in this relatively plain church being Listed Grade II.

In 2009/10 a new wing was added on the north side of the church to provide a community centre and village hall. It is named the Thomas Cranmer Centre.



The church is Listed Grade II
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For more information about this church, visit the Southwell & Nottingham Church History Project Link