St. Thomas the Apostle parish came to be in the year 1846 in a place known as North Barrens, about 4 miles west of Crystal Lake along Rte. 176. The actual site of the first Church, a log structure, was on the grounds of Mt Thabor cemetery. It was Rev. McMahon who organized the mission Church. The Structure was called the Little Church in the Bush by the Algonquin Township residents around Crystal Lake, and the Little Church in the Woods by the Grafton Township residents of Huntley. Both areas attached themselves to the church. There were approximately 20-25 families that it served. The mission Church was served from Woodstock by the following Priest from 1855-1885.  Rev. Bernard O’Hara, Rev. James Meager, Rev. Terrance Fitzsimmons, Rev. James Ryan, Rev. J.M. Riordan, Rev. T. Quigley, Rev. T.L. Lightner, Rev. John Carroll, & Rev. Thomas Leyden.
A large influx of Catholics onto the Crystal Lake area came in 1846. The congregation grew rapidly, and it became a mission church of St. Mary Parish, Woodstock, when that church received its first resident Pastor, Father Bernard O’Hara in 1855. By 1877, when Rev. Thomas F. Leydon was Woodstock’s Pastor, weekly mass had to be said in the larger quarters of Fitch’s Hall (Virginia Street & Florence Street the Mobile gas Station is now there) in Crystal Lake.
Under the supervision of Rev. Leydon, property was purchased (from Thomas Leonard, Sr.) on Pierson Avenue and a frame church was constructed, with the first mass being said in 1881.The parish consisted of 65 Families and the property value was $ 5,000.00.

In 1905, Barrington and Crystal Lake were separated from Woodstock and each was made a separate parish. Each town had its own church; both communities financed the rectory which was built in Barrington. During these latter years, St. Thomas parish was unique in that Mrs. T.F. Leonard, a parish member and gifted artist, decorated the church in the fashion of old country cathedrals. Inspiring murals frescoed the walls, and holy pictures covered the ceiling. The subsequent sale of the building for a homesite found these works of art destroyed, but the impression of their beauty and inspiration remained.

The Baptistery Is positioned at the entrance of the church following the traditional symbolism that we enter in the Church through the sacrament of Baptism.
Within the church the Altar of Sacrifice commands the attention of the worshipers. Suspended above the Eucharist table of a figure of the Christ the High priest, hand carved of Lindenwood on a cross pf walnut and bronze. Behind the altar is a chair for the celebrant from which he presides over the parish community. The Blessed Mother and St. Joseph are honored on opposite sides of the sanctuary area by hand carved statues with light polychrome finish. On the nave walls hang bronze Stations of the Cross of contemporary design.
In the area behind the Sanctuary is the Blessed Sacrament Chapel visible from all points of the church. The chapel provides a sacred space for daily mass. Traditional prominence due the Eucharist Presence is maintained while keeping it separate from the area designated for the Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Six large faceted windows and six skylights add a rhythmic pattern of light and color to the entire edifice. The interior and exterior is basically red and charcoal brick. Plaster panels of antique gold add an attractive dash of color. The laminated beams, roof deck and sanctuary panels are treated with ebony and walnut stain. The pews are dark oak with black naugahyde seats and kneelers. Vestibule and baptistry feature black slate. The nave floor is covered with copper gold carpeting. Surmounting a black shingle roof is a cupola containing carillons and supporting an eighteen foot aluminum cross.
Two cry rooms, a parish library, an usher’s room, a sacristy, and a small apartment for a resident priest complete the first floor plan. The basement has 600 square feet of usable space for parish activities. The entire building is air conditioned. In the near future, a pipe organ will be installed as a Memorial to Father Burwell Beddoes, a former pastor. St Thomas Church was designed by Millin, Ewald and Proctor of Crystal Lake, with Ladd Enterprises as General Contractors.
 

Under Rev. Wirth guidance St. Thomas and renovation was planned the first phase was an interior renovation to Oak street Church. In spring of 1988 the 26 year old church received an extensive renovation which included the Ceiling being cleaned, resealed, and the skylights being repaired. The Brick and Cedar were also cleaned, along with the paneling in the sanctuary being cleaned and treated. The woodwork and wood doors were cleaned and resealed along with the painting and repairing of cracks and holes in the plaster areas; they clean and paint all metal windows and door casing. The carpet was removed and new carpeting was laid. The roof was also replaced and increased interior lighting was upgraded and ceiling fans were installed. In the altar area the baptistery font was moved to the front and the former site in the back of the church was renovated, reworking of the platforms on the altar to increase the second level and removal of the fourth level and new tile installed. A new altar and lectern were installed along with reupholstering of the chairs on the altar, adding of free-standing candles and the purchase of cordless microphones.