That the Catholic parish of Saint Thomas the Apostle continues to flourish in the twenty-first century testifies to the strength of William Penn's pioneering seventeenth-century vision of a "Holy Experiment" in religious toleration.  St. Thomas' Quaker and Anglican neighbors shared his vision and along with many others have since continued to participate willingly in the experiment.  The Friends of Old Saint Thomas, (FOST) was established in order to increase the understanding that what has happened at St. Thomas over the centuries continues to bear strongly on the faith and tolerance of the parish and of the wider community today.
     The Friends' purposes are to preserve and restore the old church building, a significant connection with our past, and to foster awareness of the historical experience of St. Thomas the Apostle parish, the oldest Roman Catholic parish in Pennsylvania (see timeline below).

The Friends of Old Saint Thomas is pursuing the following activities:

• Air Conditioning of the 1852 church building
• Restoration of the 1852 church building and the 1874 Rectory
• Collection, preservation of and research in parish historical records, photos, manuscripts, and memorabilia.
• Preservation and restoration of outbuildings, the barn (now used as a garage), the one remaining horse and carriage shed
• Educational programs for the parish, St. Thomas School, and the wider community.
• Special events celebrating over 280 years of parish life.