St. Thomas Church is the parish church of Heatherycleugh Parish. There is actually no village of Heathery Cleugh. Rather, the church is located in the center of the village of Cowshill, Upper Weardale, having been rebuilt there in 1912 after an encroaching quarry forced abandonment of the original site.
St. Thomas is one of 7 churches in the Benefice of Upper Weardale. The rector of the benefice is Rev. Susan Kent. The benefice is also served by curate Rev. Brenda Bloomfield and retired priest Arthur Bell.