Canterbury: Holy Cross
Overview
Grid reference: TR 146 580
The exterior appears long and low, with flint walls and tiled roofs. The south-west tower is squat, with a tiled pyramidal roof. Buttresses have stone dressings and the tower parapet and a string course below it are also of dressed stone. There is a series of narrow bands of Roman tiles at intervals, giving colour and definition to the tower.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave with aisles, chancel, west tower contained within the west bay of the south aisle, shallow projecting rectangular north porch.
Exterior Description
The exterior appears long and low, with flint walls and tiled roofs. The south-west tower is squat, with a tiled pyramidal roof. Buttresses have stone dressings and the tower parapet and a string course below it are also of dressed stone. There is a series of narrow bands of Roman tiles at intervals, giving colour and definition to the tower. There are two tre-foiled openings on the south side, one near the top and the other mid-way, with trefoil headed openings contained within earlier round-headed arches.. The best view of the tower, however, is that seen from across the river in Westgate Grove, where the tower forms an important pivot as the eye travels from the West Gate on the north, across the steep aisle and nage gables, up to the tower, and then across the gardens to the Tower House at the right, The west elevation of the tower has the same pattern of windows as the south, with the addition of a larger window containing renewed tracery at ground floor level, lighting the ringing chamber. The nave west window has a pointed head, with three large lights and a traceried head, over the west door - and this no doubt dates from the building of the church in 1380 by Archbishop Sudbury, who also built the West Gate, The flat-headed four-centred arch of the west window of the north aisle is more characteristic of the church, which is now more Perpendicular than Decorated in the general character of its window tracery. There is otherwise little to be said of the exterior, except that most of the window tracery has been renewed in the three 19th century restorations of c.1860, 1870 and 1895 and that it is (as the foregoing description will have made clear) a most important element in the townscape.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is well-proportioned, light and spacious. There is an arcade of four bays on the north and one of three bays on the south (the fourth being occupied by the tower). In order to provide suitable accommodation for its former use as the Ecumenical Chaplaincy of the University of Kent the north aisle has been partitioned off by a screen with the upper parts glazed: the western bay is a well-equipped kitchen and the western bay of the nave is also partitioned off to provide small ancillary rooms. The arcades have octagonal piers with well-proportioned moulded capitals. There are two special features of note in the nave: one is the large dormer window on the north, which serves instead of a clere-story, and the other ls the very remarkable roof structure - presumably 15th century, with king-posts supported by four-way struts which are themselves supported by graceful curved 'flying' braces. There is no chancel arch and the division between nave and chance is marked by the change to a panelled wooden barrel vault and the restored 19th century change in floor level. The chancel is the lece interesting part of the church: the east window is high up over a poorly designed Victorian reredos of five blank arches with a kind of 'quilted' effect within the panels. The only stained glass is in the chancel, in the north-east, east, and south-east windows. The walls are plastered and cream-washed internally.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
Communion table is a curious and interesting piece with enormous claw feet and an arcade of Tuscan colonettes linking the two principal uprights at either end.
Pulpit
19th Century
Four aides of an octagon with painted panels.
Pew (object)
Pitch pine
Organ (object)
1892
By F.B. Browne of Deal, 1892. Two-manual.
Font (object)
Medieval
Octagonal, stone, with moulded base and presumably that provided originally for the church.
Font (component)
The tall wooden cover seems to be a palimpsest, with some late medieval work and some 17th or 18th century parts (v. gadrooned orb at the top and the cartouches in the lower part).
Churchyard
Grid reference: TR 146 580
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 | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
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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