Thomas Church

Thomas Church (23 June 1798 – 10 August 1860) was a British colonial administrator under the British East India Company. Church started as a writer in Bencoolen (Bengkulu) in 1816 and rose to the high position of Resident Councillor of Singapore before retiring in 1856.

Career Church was nominated as a "writer" (record the details of accounting, managerial decisions, and activities related to the company) under the British East India Company at Fort Marlborough, Bencoolen (Bengkulu) on 17 April 1816 and started his duties in October 1816. During Church's stay in Bencoolen, he held several offices as Assistant to the Resident of Manna, Assistant to the Judge and Magistrate of Bencoolen and Registrar to the principal native Judicial Court.

In 1825, Church was a civil member of the "Eastern Settlements" which consisted of Prince of Wales' Island (Penang), Singapore and Malacca.

In 1830, Lord William Bentinck hastily reduced the Straits establishment which deprived Church of a lucrative appointment and subsequently forced Church to return to England in October 1831. Back in England, as there was lack of employment of his calibre, he applied to the Court of Directors for active employment. and was active in supporting the Singapore Library and participating in many other civil duties.

Family Thomas Church's parents were Thomas Church (1761-1815), a cooper of Old Fish Street and Upper Thames Street in the City of London, and Elizabeth (née Dixon) Church (1772-1847). He was baptized on 22 July 1798 at St Mary Somerset, City of London,

Elizabeth Church returned to Singapore after her husband's death in 1860 and died there in 1884.