History of St Mary's
The present church has 13th century origins but was substantially rebuilt in the 14th century. The fine west tower with its stair turret and four pinnacles was added in the 15th century, and the chapel was enlarged in 1516. Following a lightning strike in 1624, which destroyed all but the tower, the church was rebuilt and rededicated in 1629.
We have a ring of eight bells in the tower which were all were rehung in 1991. Our font was made in 1628 of local sandstone and has been described as the best production of its period in Kent. The pulpit dates from the same time. We are also proud of our organ (two-manual T C Lewis and much loved by our roster of organists) which dates from 1881.
The improvements to the fabric of St Mary's continue with recent additions of a small chapel in the base of the tower, toilet facilities, an area for preparing and serving light snacks, tea and coffee for meetings, concerts, visiting groups and general gatherings after services and a built-in laptop, remote controlled projector and screen for use both within services, by guest speakers and, importantly, the school. We have also recently installed a broadband link to the school with the co-operation of Kent Education Committee.
St Mary's reredos
St Mary's reredos was designed by the leading Gothic Revival architect George Edmund Street and carved by Thomas Earp in 1866; they had a close working relationship from 1860 until 1880 and were also responsible for the design and construction of the Eleanor Cross at Charing Cross Station in London’s Strand. The reredos is constructed of limestone, alabaster, and marble. The alabaster central panel depicts the crucifixion of Christ. It is carved in a white alabaster with red veins running across its surface, the entire group and its back panel are carved from the same veined alabaster.
Please click below to download a copy of the Guide to St Mary's.
Documents relating to the following topics are also available. Please email the Benefice Office to request a copy:
Lichens at St Mary's
The Story of Chiddingstone
Chiddingstone Memories
Closed Churchyard Records
Churchyard Plan
Matters relating to Closed Burial Ground: 2015
Other useful links
St Mary's Church Burial Ground
Some Monumental Inscriptions of Chiddingstone Churchyard
War Memorials
The Glorious Dead of the two parishes are recorded on the War Memorials at St Mary's and St Luke's churches, and on the memorial plaque formally in the Chiddingstone Hoath Chapel (now located in St Mary's).
St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
The Great War 1914-1918
George Brown
Fred Card
Francis Childs
Charles Coomber
William Coomber
Harry Cooper
Ernest Coulstock
Harry Coulstock
Charles Denton
Percy Everest
John Graham Stewart
William Colder
Geoffiey Gunnis
Harry Hundleberry
Albert Huntley
Ernest Huntley
George Huntley
Sidney Huntley
George Inkpen
Leonard Knight
Sidney Marchant
Reginald Medhurst
Gerald Milburn
James Pryke
Frank Sando
Emest Smith
Walter Smith
Alec Theobold
James Venn
Robert Wallis
Harold Whitaker
Trevor Whitaker
William Whitelaw
Harry Yeoman
The World War 1939-1945
Harold Boakes
Samuel Chapman
Lewis Leigh
Edmund Meade-Waldo
Robert Swaffer
William Whatley
St Luke's, Chiddingstone Causeway
The Great War 1914-1918
Geoffrey Ashmore
William Crossland
William Crouch
Horace Eade
John Everest
Sidney Everest
William Frost
Herbert Grubb
Montague Hewlett
Albert Jamman
Percy Parker
Victor Pitfield
Sidney Pocock
Victor Ready
James Richards
Alfred Sears
Arthur Warner
Mark Young
The World War 1939-1945
Samuel Chapman
Frederick Gill
Harold Reid
Robert Swaffer
They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
St Luke's War Memorial
Please email the Benefice Office to request a copy of a picture of the Chiddingstone Hoath Memorial Plaque and details of those commemorated on it.