Chatham: St Mary
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 757 684
The church is built of rock-faced ragstone, with some ashlar used for quoins and window surrounds. The main body of the building is in the Early English style, with plain lancet windows, except in the aisles and the principal light of the west window which have plate tracery; the tower, architecturally more refined, is Perpendicular and of three stories with diagonal buttresses rising to pinnacles on the corners of the embattled top.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Chancel, five-bay nave with north and south aisles and apsidal baptistery, free-standing south-west tower; north chancel chapel, with organ Chamber on the south, and north-west vestries.
Footprint of Church buildings: 845 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The site is Saxon, and some fragments of Norman work are incorporated into the fabric, but the present church (by Sir Arthur Blomfield and Sons) supercedes a Georgian church of 1788. Chancel, 1884-7; south-west tower, 1897; nave, 1901-3.
Exterior Description
The church is built of rock-faced ragstone, with some ashlar used for quoins and window surrounds. The main body of the building is in the Early English style, with plain lancet windows, except in the aisles and the principal light of the west window which have plate tracery; the tower, architecturally more refined, is Perpendicular and of three stories with diagonal buttresses rising to pinnacles on the corners of the embattled top. The late Perpendicular-style openings in the bell-stage have particularly notable tracery.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is wide and spacious: the ragstone wails are fair-faced, internally, with arcades and other details in Bath stone. The nave roof is rather impressive and has tie-beams and arch-braced collars; the.chancel roof is arch-braced, and the aisles have lean-to roofs. Nave and chancel are separated by a tall chancel arch and by a late 19th century screen, elaborately fretted and surmounted by a crucifix. The screen is almost the only highly-decorative note in an, otherwise rather austere interior. Warmth and colour are provided by the stained glass windows.
Of archaeological interest are the Norman jambs worked into the two west doorways flanking the apsidal baptistery: the doorways are enriched with a zigzag ornament internally, and.the baptistery arch looks as though it might once have been a tower arch.
Fixtures and fittings
Font (object)
14th Century
Reredos
Triptych by Clayton & Bell.
Organ (object)
1795
By Samuel Green
Pulpit
Octagonal, in white marble with black marble shafts. Geometric panelling.
Lectern
Brass eagle
Painting
1909
Two water colours of the interior by Grace Wiles
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 757 684
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard is closed for burial by order in council.
The date of the burial closure order is 19/05/1899
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
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