Bell 1 of 1
Dove Bell ID: 62873 Tower ID: 25113 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Sittingbourne: St Mary
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 902 633
1901-02, R. Philip Day (the Diocesan architect). Church hall extension to W, 1937; extension providing lobby, kitchen and lavatories to SW, 2001.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Three-bay nave, north aisle, north transept, Lady chapel to north-east, chancel, vestry to south-east, lobby, kitchen and lavatories to south-west, attached church hall to west.
Description of Archaeology and History
There are no known previous buildings on the site and there is no reason to think that church sits on a site of any archaeological importance. However, Sittingbourne was well-established by medieval times and Saxon artefacts have been found at other locations in the town; in the event of any redevelopment of the site an archaeological watching brief should be in place. There are no known burials on the site.
Consecrated 25 January 1902, initially as a chapel of ease in the parish of Holy Trinity, Milton Regis, the population of which was increased by workers employed in the local brick and paper industries. St Mary Sittingbourne became a separate parish in 1925, and in 2000 returned to a united benefice, this time with St Michael the Archangel, Sittingbourne.
Exterior Description
Early English in style. The church has a short nave, with a chancel of almost the same length (with a lower roof): the fact that the W gable is shingled and that the W windows are simple brick lancets lacking the stone surrounds of the other church windows, suggests that the money may have run out before the church was completed. Similarly, although there is a N aisle and transept, infilled brick arches attest that an intended south aisle was never built.
To the N, an aisle, transept and lean-to Lady Chapel; to the SE, a lean-to vestry. There are weathered angle buttresses to E and W ends and to the Lady chapel, but not the vestry. The church gables are coped, with kneelers. A gabled kitchen/lavatory/lobby extension of 2001 projects to the SW, and attached to the W is a flat-roofed church hall extension of 1937.
The church windows are generally cusped lancets, grouped with shared hood moulds and string courses beneath. The main E window is three light; the vestry E and N, and Lady Chapel E and S, are two-light; there is one light to the chancel N and S; and the nave and N aisle windows are two-light. The clerestorey windows are two-light, in square surrounds. The W windows are brick lancets, uncusped, lacking stone surrounds. The north transept has a two-light window with quatrefoil above.
Set into the N wall of the chancel is a dedicatory plaque, dated 1901.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
20th century 3-bay
Aisle
20th century north
Transept
20th century north
Lady Chapel
20th century north east
Chancel
20th century
Vestry
20th century south east
Kitchen
20th century south west
Church Hall
20th century attached to west
Building Materials
Brick
20th century red
Bath Stone
20th century dressing
Tile
20th century church roof
Slate
20th century extension roof
Timber
20th century roof structure
Interior
Interior Description
The church interior is a short space, of only three bays. It is very simply detailed, featuring almost no ornament, though it is by no means shoddy. It has a king-post timber roof structure to the nave and barrel-vault to the chancel; simple stone pillars with roll-moulding, topped with brick arches with hood-moulds, divide the nave from the N aisle. There is a stone chancel arch, with three steps up, and there is further step up to the sanctuary. From the chancel on the S side, three steps lead through a pointed-arched door to the vestry. On the N side a brick arch leads through to the Lady Chapel, which retains its floor of patterned tiles and a couple of pews as a sort of heritage corner. The main church has lost its furnishings and has been carpeted throughout. In the S wall of the nave, the westernmost lancet window has been dropped to make a square-topped doorway to the new lobby. At the W end, two square-topped doors lead to the hall, a well-lit space with a parquet floor.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century High altar: wooden, plain. Also in chancel (possibly the historic high altar): oak with pierced pointed arches. In Lady Chapel: modern, wooden, plain.
Pulpit
20th century Oak with pierced Gothic tracery, on a stone base, 1902.
Lectern
20th century Brass eagle, in need of a polish, in the Lady Chapel. Formerly of Holy Cross, Canterbury. Originally dedicated in memory of the Reverend T. G. Hill, MA; rededicated in St Mary’s in 1998, in memory of Inez Elliott.
Font (component)
20th century Stone, octagonal, with stiff-leaf carved decoration, now located on the chancel step.
Reredos
20th century Oak with three blind pointed arches and gilded decoration, inscribed ‘Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus’. An inscription records that the gold lettering and decoration on the reredos were dedicated in memory of Caroline Cooper Smith, 1933.
Pew (component)
20th century A couple of plain pews have been retained in the Lady Chapel and also, painted, in the lobby; otherwise the seating is modern chairs, some solid wood and some upholstered.
Rail
20th century Oak with Gothic tracery. Also brass rails to the Lady Chapel.
Organ (component)
20th century 2 manual, Compton, 1932, relocated from St Andrew’s Luton. Rebuilt in 1982 by Peter Wells of Benenden. The organ has been dismantled and the pieces are now stored behind the altar.
Plaque (component)
20th century Brass plaque above one set of doors to hall at W end, recording their donation in memory of Ernest Cecil Harris, churchwarden, 1938; above the other set of doors, another brass plaque recording their donation (and the donation of the font cover) in memory of George F. A Huart, churchwarden, and his wife, by their daughter, 1938. Bronze plaque in Lady Chapel recording the donation of ‘these walls’ (perhaps there were once low walls at the chancel arch?) and the bracket holding the aumbry light in memory of Henry and Elizabeth Kift, undated. On the Lady Chapel altar, brass plaque in memory of Bruce James Shaak, d.2005. Brass plaque on wooden cross in Lady Chapel records its donation (and construction) by William Turner, 1973. Brass plaque in new lobby records the start of work in 2001. Brass plaque beneath wooden cross in Lady Chapel in memory of Violet Irene Matthews, d.2002. Dedicatory plaque to N wall of chancel (external), dated 1901. WW1: Brass plaque in N aisle.
Stained Glass (window)
20th century Two light: the figure of Charity, and St Mary. Given in memory of Mary Louisa Cowper, d. 1925. By George Wragg Ltd. Of London & Manchester.
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 902 633
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.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
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
Sources
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