St Catherine's Church in Kingsdown

History

Kingsdown CHurch Medieaval church etching

The ancient Mediaeval Church was demolished after claims of structural defects and replaced by the Kingsdown Church we see today.

This is the only remaining Anglican Church by Edward Welby Pugin (1834-75), a Roman Catholic. By all accounts he was particularly happy with the west window and roof.

The current church at Kingsdown was started in 1864, although it is stated in Harris's History of Kent a church was established in Kingsdown at the same site in 1252. The first vicar or rector of Kingsdown on record is Peter de Luddenham in 1313.

A small booklet from the Redundant Churches Fund (see below) tells us that the population in 1865 was only 96 so a benefactor was essential. The first and only Baron Kingsdown (Thomas Pemberton Leigh, 1793-1867) supported the building of a new church on the site of the tumbledown mediaeval church that stood where today's nave stands. Lord Kingsdown led a successful career at the bar. He was MP for Rye and later Ripon, but retired from public life in 1843 after inheriting a fortune from a distant relative of his mother. He was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Cornwall and to the Privy Council's judicial committee with positive results in both. The Rector at that time was Houstone James Hordern.

The booklet tells us, "the Chancel went close to the edge of a disused chalk quarry, now filled with spoil from the M2. This led to large cracks appearing in 1922 and the rebuilding of the west and south west walls.

The first recorded rector for this site was in 1313 but the full list is incomplete - see list below.

Kingsdown Church Font

"Pugin's church consists of nave and chancel (with vestry) and a tower and spire over the porch at the south-west. It is built of Kentish ragstone with Bath stone dressings. The roofs are of patterned tiles. The circumstances of the building's construction give it an unusual unity, in the late Decorated style.

Above the doorway is a niche with a statue of St. Catherine. Inside, the carving is richer on the roof timbers, the corbels and the hood stops — the end of the mouldings around windows. Above the vestry door is a large sculpture of the Conversion of St. Paul. The furnishings, pulpit, font and ornate sanctuary are all to Pugin's designs, as are the windows made by Hardman of Birmingham. A small brass inscription plate (1555) survives from the previous church. There is also a 14th century bell. The other bell is by J. Warner of London, 1868, probably a recasting of an earlier bell. Under the floor are the ledger stones from various 17th and 18th century burials, all carefully recorded by Hordern, together with traces of the mediaeval building discovered during the 1990 repairs. A few mediaeval floor tiles, found during this work, have been displayed in the vestry.

The elegant estate churches of the 18th century are well known. This Victorian equivalent is, in the eyes of many, as fine a building. Much love went into the construction of Kingsdown church — and that is still apparent 130 years later."


David Bage told us

"Until the hurricane of 1987 its congregation had kept this church in good repair. Kingsdown parish was amalgamated with Lynsted (ecclesiastically) in 1956 into the parish of Lynsted-with-Kingsdown. None of the expenses fell to the congregation of Lynsted. It always managed to raise monies to do whatever it had to do; it also managed to contribute a fair share of the expenses, which fell on the whole combined parish. In 1987 the church was severely damaged in the hurricane but had not been insured against storm damage. This occurred during the interregnum when our parish was to go into a larger group of parishes under one priest and it was unlikely that services at Kingsdown would be retained and the church would become redundant and in no way would the parish be able to pay for its repair. Fortunately, because of its historical importance it was taken over by what was then called the Historical Churches Fund (it now has a more upmarket name! - The Redundant Churches Fund) and was restored to, and is maintained at its former glory without any cost falling on the parish. The church wardens remain responsible for the churchyard however."


REDUNDANT CHURCHES FUND: ST. CATHERINE, KINGSDOWN, KENT

"This is, so far as is known, the only remaining Anglican church by Edward Welby Pugin (1834-75) who was, like his celebrated father, a Roman Catholic. Pugin was given a relatively free hand with the design and is reported to have been pleased with the outcome, particularly the west window and the roof.

Church and parsonage house (designed by William Burn) together with the garden landscaped by W. A. Nesfield cost £7,000. For a place with, in 1865, only 96 inhabitants - and many fewer now - this needed a benefactor. Thomas Pemberton Leigh, the first and only Baron Kingsdown, readily fell in with the rector's suggestion that, rather than repair the old church, a new one should be built. Lord Kingsdown (1793-1867) just lived to see the church completed.

After a grim start in life, due to his father's early death, Lord Kingsdown had a very successful career at the bar. He was MP for Rye and later Ripon, but retired from visible public life in 1843, having inherited a fortune from a distant relative of his mother. He was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Cornwall and to the Privy Council's judicial committee. He improved the administration of both (is it fanciful to hear the sound of a reformer tackling Dickens' Circumlocution Office?) and was highly regarded for his judicial opinions. The rector of the time, Houstone James Hordern, makes clear the enthusiasm for the building of its distinguished benefactor.

The site was old, the nave standing on the previous church's foundation. The chancel went close to the edge of a disused chalk quarry, now filled with spoil from the M2. This led to large cracks appearing in 1922 and the rebuilding of the west and south walls.

The first rector was recorded in 1313, but the list of his successors is incomplete (see list below). Mr. Hordern was there for 55 years.

The isolated situation - made worse by the motorway - and damage done by the October 1987 gale led to a decision to make St. Catherine's redundant. It was vested in the Redundant Churches Fund in 1989. Repairs have been carried out under the supervision of Mr. Jonathan Carey of Faversham.

Pugin's church consists of nave and chancel (with vestry) and a tower and spire over the porch at the south-west. It is built of Kentish ragstone with Bath stone dressings. The roofs are of patterned tiles. The circumstances of the building's construction give it an unusual unity, in the late Decorated style.

Above the doorway is a niche with a statue of St. Catherine. Inside, the carving is richer on the roof timbers, the corbels and the hood stops - the end of the mouldings around windows. Above the vestry door is a large sculpture of the Conversion of St. Paul. The furnishings, pulpit, font and ornate sanctuary are all to Pugin's designs, as are the windows made by Hardman of Birmingham. A small brass inscription plate (1555) survives from the previous church. There is also a 14th century bell. The other bell is by J. Warner of London, 1868, probably a re-casting of an earlier bell. Under the floor are the ledger stones from various 17th and 18th century burials, all carefully recorded by Hordern, together with traces of the mediaeval building discovered during the 1990 repairs. A few mediaeval floor tiles, found during this work, have been displayed in the vestry.

The elegant estate churches of the 18th century are well known. This Victorian equivalent is, in the eyes of many, as fine a building. Much love went into the construction of Kingsdown church - and that is still apparent 130 years later.

The Redundant Churches Fund

(Now the Churches Conservation Trust)
This church is now in the care of the Fund. This body was set up in 1969 to preserve churches of the Church of England no longer needed for regular worship but which are of historic, architectural or archaeological interest. The Fund's main income is provided by Church and State but the constantly increasing number of churches entrusted to it (270 in May 1991) means that its resources are severely stretched. Contributions from members of the public are therefore gratefully received. If there is no money box in the church or the key holder is not available please send any contributions you would like to make to the Fund at the address shown.
Published by:
The Redundant Churches Fund,
St. Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe,
Queen Victoria Street,
London EC4V 5DE.
Reg. Charity No. 258612
May 1991
Illustrations provided by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England.
F. W. Cupit (Printers) Ltd., 36 North Street, Horncastle. Lincs."


Clergy of Kingsdown Church

  Year Type Office
* de Luddenham, Peter 1313   Rector
* Laffe, John 1348   Rector resigns
* ??  Richard 1349   Rector presented
* Astley, John 1421   Rector presented in place of Thomas Nevee
* Walpole, Roger  1422   Rector
* Baumbergh, John  1423   Rector
* Ayscow, Richard 1430   Rector in place of William Smyth
* Exchange between Richard Ascow and Simon Lorse of Coventry 1435   Rector
* Fitzwater, John  1436   Rector
* Flete, John 1438   Rector
* Jordan, Richard 1455   Rector
* Griggs, William 1457   Rector
* ap Thomas, William  1463   Rector
* Ley, Thomas 1467   Rector
* Tonstale, Thomas  1500   Rector on death of William Ockys
Thomlyn, Lodowicus  1540 Libc Rector
Tomlyn, Lodowicus  1541 Libc Rector
Thomlyn, Lodovicus  1550 Libc Rector
Bigge, Richardus  1550 Libc Curate
Colinson, Thomas  1552 Appt (Institution) Rector
vacancy 1555 Libc Rector
Jackson, Rowlandus  1569 Libc Rector
* Lamb, Arthur  1570   Rector on death of Rowland Jackson
Jackson, Roulandus  1577 Libc Rector
Jackson, Rowlandus  1578 Vac (natural death) Rector
Lambe, Arthurus  1578 Appt (Institution) Rector
* Lamb€,  Rowland  1580   Rector died
Lambe, Arthurus  1581 Vac (natural death) Rector
Collyson, Laurentius  1581 Appt (Institution) Rector
Collinson, Laurentius  1584 Libc Rector
Collinson, Laurentius  1592 Libc Rector
Collison, Laurentius  1596 Libc Rector
Collingson, Laurentius  1603 Libc Rector
other 1607 Libc Curate
Collinson, Lawtentius  1607 Libc Rector
Collinson,Laurentius  1612 Libc Rector
Collinson, Laurentius  1622 Libc Rector
* Batcheller, Christopher  1623   Rector
* Golden, Nathaniel  1623   Rector
Collison, Laurence  1623 Vac (natural death) Rector
Batcheller, Christopher  1623 Appt (Institution) Rector
Bacheller, Christoferus  1628 Libc Rector
other 1634 Libc Curate
Bachelor, Cristoferus  1634 Libc Rector
Bachelor, Christopherus  1637 Libc Rector
Bacheller, Poferus  1642 Libc Rector
* Tylden, Richard  1661   Rector
* Allen, Thomas  1661   Rector died
Dale, Thomas  1662 Vac (resignation) Rector
Archbold, Eadwardus 1662 Appt (Induction Mandate) Rector
* Slaughter, William  1668   Rector
Gilmon, John  1690 Appt (Institution) Rector
Gilman, Johannes  1690 Appt (Institution) Rector
Atwood, Samuel  1697 Appt (Licensing) Preacher
Baree, Edmund  1700   Rector
Grant,  John  1711 Appt (Institution) Rector
Gilman, John  1711 Vac Rector
Grant, Johes  1713 Libc Rector
Pugh, Hugo  1716 Appt (Licensing) Curate
* Allen, Thomas  1717   Rector
Grant, Johnes  1722 Libc Rector
Grant, Johes  1724 Libc Rector
Johnson, Unknown  1724 Libc Curate
Johnson, Gulielmus  1724 Appt (Licensing) Curate
* Swinden, Tobias  1733   Rector
Grant, John  1734 Libc Rector
Hodges, Walter  1736 Appt (Institution) Rector
Grant, John  1736 Vac (Death) Rector
Hodges, Walter  1738 Libc Rector
Norbury, Thomas  1738 Libc Curate
Hodges, Walter  1738 Libc Rector
Hodges, Walter  1743 Libc Rector
Lambe, Davies  1743 Libc Curate
Hodges, Walter  1747 Libc Rector
Hodges, Walter  1748 Libc Rector
Hodges, Walter  1748 Libc Rector
Lambe, Davies  1748 Libc Curate
Hodges, Walter  1754 Libc Rector
* Gardiner. William  1754   Rector (died within a month)
* Pennington, Thomas  1754   Rector
* Pennington Junior, Thomas  1786   Rector
* Horden, Houstowne J  1856   Rector
* Owtram, Cuthbert Ellidge  1911   Rector
* Taylor-Jones, Edward William Tetley  1922   Rector
* Serviced by Milsted until Union with Lynsted 1939    

 


Quinquennial Report - November 1975 - St Catherine's Church in Kingsdown

Pugin church card(thanks for this transcription go to Jenny Sargent; the documents were passed to the Society for archiving from David Bage's effects)

Copies sent to:
The Rev. B. (Basil) Minchin
P.C.C. Secretary
Archdeacon of Canterbury
Diocesan Office
Cyril P. Griggs, A.R.I.B.A.,
Chartered Architect,
1, Manor Road,
Folkestone, KENT CT20 2RZ

CHURCH OF ST. CATHERINE KINGSDOWN, NR. SITTINGBOURNE, KENT
QUINQUENNIAL REPORT OF THE STRUCTURE
NOVEMBER 1975

INTERIOR

Steeple

The steeple is immediately over the porch or the south side of the nave.

Vertical walls above the porch are lined with a rather soft red brick which is structurally satisfactory but the faces of some of the bricks are spalling. Louvred window openings on two levels have brick arches over or store lintels.

The steeple itself is stone throughout and appears satisfactory.

There are four small openings at the top of the steeple and this is where birds gain access. These should be covered in wire netting but access to fix it would be very difficult. There are four further openings near the base of the stonework and these have been covered in wire netting. They are unglazed and obviously in really rough weather, a certain amount of rain has penetrated and run down the wall. Openings below the stonework of the steeple are all salts with slates and have been wire netted to keep put birds.

There is a bell frame to take two bells but the bells and fittings have been removed. I assume that the bells have been moved to a safe place because according to the records, one of the bells is dated early 14th century and must be one of the earliest bells in the county.
There are some furniture beetle holes in the frame but these appear to be old and I could find no sign of activity.

The floor to the bell chamber is boarded and appears satisfactory but could not be properly checked as it is thick with twigs from birds nests. There is the usual trap in the middle and the bell chamber is reached by a ladder from the ringing chamber below. The ladder has a number of furniture beetle holes and although they look old, it would be wise to treat this with an insecticide to prevent further deterioration.

The ringing chamber itself again has a boarded floor but this could not be checked as twigs from birds nests are about two feet thick. This should be cleared as it will encourage vermin and beetle
From the ringing chamber, stone steps lead down on the east side to the porch, where there is a good oak door which is normally locked.

The walls to the south porch are faced internally with coursed stone which is structurally sound but the face has deteriorated in places. I can only suggest cleaning down and treating with a colourless stone preservative.

The ceiling over the porch has rather nice oak framing with softwood boarding over and all appears to be in good condition. There are two old nests of martins or swallows and these can do no harm as there is no external door to the porch.

Roofs

Kingsdown Church roof internalThe roof over the chancel has been lined to form a kind of barrel vault, the panels being formed in what appears to be thick ply wood, inlaid with coloured veneered wood to form a good Victorian pattern.

I found a fair amount of active furniture beetle in these panels, particularly on the south side.

This does require fairly urgent treatment and the panels should be treated both sides.

I would advise that the work is carried out by a specialist firm who I imagine could access all round by taking out a middle panel on each side, but this would have to be investigated further.

The remaining timbers in the chancel roof are of softwood stained and appear generally sound.

The roof over the nave is similarly constructed with softwood but lined with diagonal match boarding over the top of the rafters. The length of the roof ids divided into four bays and supported on curved brackets which bear down on carved stone corbels. These brackets support the rafters and purlins but the tie beams are at high level and not very effective. As a result, the roof has settled and spread slightly on both sides but is slightly worse on the south side where it can be seen that the curved brackets have opened up about an inch.

The walls are well built and of a good thickness and as stated, the corbelled brackets take ,most of the weight. I therefore imagine that the settlement observed is very old and could have taken place soon after the church was built.

The roof is sufficiently well built and well pegged that in my opinion, there is no danger of any collapse. It would however be advisable to check this at the next quinquennial inspection and if there is any further noticeable movement, we should then have to insert some steel ties at the base of the roof truss.

The timbers are all in softwood and stained and I could find no evidence of active furniture beetle.
The vestry roof is similarly constructed but on a much smaller scale. He roof is lined with horizontal match boarding and all appears satisfactory except for possible weather penetration at the north end and in the east valley. The timber is now dry but stained and could be an old leak which has been repaired.

Walls

Walls to nave and chancel are all in good coursed stone which has been extremely well built and has at some time had the surface distempered.

There is a small settlement crack in the chancel arch and a vertical crack on both sides of the chancel arch on the wall immediately below the corbelled arch supports. These are only thin cracks and very dirty so they are obviously old and it would appear that there has been no further movement for some years.

There is a vertical crack under the west window of the nave but this has in the past been filled and there is no evidence of further movement.

There is a similar vertical crack in the middle of the north nave wall but again, this has been filled and there is no further movement.

Walls of the vestry are lined with vertical match boarding and this is generally sound but there is some active furniture beetle. There is also active furniture beetle in the cupboard containing the altar covers.

Windows are all in stained glass and appear satisfactory. One window on the south side is bowed outwards but it appears weatherproof and generally sound. Opening fanlights are rusted and require attention but I am personally happy to leave them as they are as ventilation is not normally needed and such opening do trap birds.

Floors

The chancel floor is part stone and part ceramic tiles and all in good condition.

The aisle floor in the nave is of red and cream chequered quarry and ceramic tiles which are all level and satisfactory but the colour has worn off the ceramic. Old original heating grilles are still in place but the holes filled.

Pews are all on raised oak boarding and this appears sound and free from beetle.

The floor to the vestry appears sound and satisfactory and is built over the solid floor of the boiler house.

The south porch has a stone slab floor which is satisfactory.

Fittings

The altar table is satisfactory and free from beetle but iron supports to the altar rail are rusting and require cleaning and painting.

Choir stalls are of oak, sound and free of beetle.

The pulpit consists of a raised stone floor with carved stone front panel and all is satisfactory.

Pews are all stained and varnished and I could find no evidence of any active beetle.

There are some furniture beetle holes in the organ front and also in the form behind the organ and it is possible that there may be some activity here.

The font is of carved stone on a raised stone platform and is satisfactory.

An old fireplace in the vestry is in fair condition.

Boilerhouse

This is situated under the vestry on the north side and contains the remains of a derelict heating system. It is brick vaulted and reasonably dry.

External stone steps lead down to the boiler house but the area is choked with rubbish and requires clearing out. The door to this boiler house has no lock and is open.

HEATING AND LIGHTING

A new overhead electrical supply appears to have been recently installed and this now serves the vestry with a light and heating point with two further heating points in the nave, one by the vestry entrance and one by the organ. I understand that finance was not available to instal a system in the church but an opportunity suddenly arose when a cheap supply could be obtained and this was wisely accepted for future use.

The church is at the moment adequately supplied with a piped Calor gas system for lighting and heating. Supply is from two cylinders in the porch and there are two further spare cylinders on the north wall of the church.

There are two further oil lamps suspended in the nave for emergency

EXTERNAL

The steeple and south porch are faced in stone and all appears to be in good condition.

An iron finial and supports at the top of the spire, together with a secondary iron finials are all rusting and now staining the stonework. These require rather urgent derusting and repairing. They are at a considerable height but you may be able to find someone willing to do this from a ladder as scaffolding would be very expensive, probably in the region of £400.

The steeple is fitted with a satisfactory copper lightening conductor on the west side.

The stone alcove and statue of St. Catherine over the south porch is beginning to deteriorate and could with advantage be cleaned down and treated with a stone preservative.

Roofs to the nave, chancel and vestry are all pitched roofs, covered in patterned clay tiles which are all in good condition except on the vestry where a few tiles require refixing. The tops of some ornamental ridge tiles have been broken but the ridge tiles themselves appear to be sound.
Walls are all faced in stone with ragstone filling and are generally in good condition.

Ivy is getting quite thick on the south side and east walls and in several other odd places and this should be poisoned because although it looks attractive, it is detrimental to the stone fascia.
Gutters and down pipes are all of iron which is now rusting rather badly. It is still sound and requires cleaning down and repairing.

A collar to the down pipe on the south chancel wall is broken and the down pipe to the west gutter of the vestry requires refixing.

An Elder tree now growing out of the base of the north east chancel buttress should be destroyed.

CHURCHYARD

The only entrance to the church is by the south door and there is no hard path from the south boundary.

Apart from an area near the south side of the church, the south side of the churchyard is very tidy with well cut grass. The north side of the churchyard is however rather overgrown and neglected.

There are some nicely placed old yew trees which are undoubtedly older than the church itself but frame up the church beautifully as you approach it from the south.

I would suggest that the south east boundary fence requires checking. It is now hard up against the south east chancel buttress and I feel that this is wrong. There should be access all round the church.

NOTE
The above is a report on the condition of the church and certain recommendations have been made for repairs or rectifying defects. These comments are not intended as a specification, which must be much more detailed.

It should also be noted that before any work is executed, the Diocese should be notified and either a faculty or an Archdeacon's certificate be obtained.

It is strongly advised that the architect should be first consulted on all repairs etc.

Cyril P. Griggs


Church of St. Catherine, Kingsdown, nr. Sittingbourne, Kent - Quinquennial Report 1975

SCHEDULE OF REPAIRS IN ORDER OF PRIORITY

  1. Remove Elder tree from base of N.E. chancel buttress.
  2. Clean and paint iron finials to spire.
  3. Treat chancel ceiling and other areas affected by furniture beetle.
  4. Clean and paint iron gutters and down pipes.
  5. Clear rubbish from boiler house area.
  6. Clear rubbish from steeple interior.
  7. Refix vestry roof tiles.
  8. Fix padlock to boiler house door.
  9. Poison ivy on various walls.

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