Gravesend Chalk Village Gravesend: St Mary the Virgin

Getting here

Often known as St Mary's, Chalk or just Chalk Church, the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Chalk is more than just a building. Through our worship and the life of our members, day by day, we aim to be a channel of God's healing love and a witness to a faith that is as relevant today as it has always been.

Each Sunday more than a hundred people come to our services where we make a particular point of trying to be welcoming to families and children of all ages. Our services, especially at 10.30am have a varied pattern and include elements of relatively traditional and relatively modern styles of worship. There is usually something for everyone.

St Mary's is from a geographical point of view quite separate from the village of Chalk and no one really knows why this is the case. Nevertheless, it is clear that the building has for many generations represented something highly significant to the people of the area. Indeed, there has been a place of Christian worship on the site for more than a thousand years.

A church building existed here for the Synod of Chalkhythe in 785 and was noted in the Domesday Book of 1086. The current structure dates from the 12th century. Significant building also took place in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. The font is Norman and the oldest bell was first hung in 1348. The tower, a prominent landmark for navigation in the Thames, dates from the 15th century.

The building generally had a period of decline probably from the early 18th until the mid 20th century. This decline was partly halted by the energies of the Revd William Joynes who carried out a restoration in 1874. However, the real reversal of fortunes began after the Second World War. In this modern period, new bells, stained-glass windows, banners, a balcony and various modern facilities have been added in the same spirit as previous improvements, to the glory of God and the spiritual encouragement of all who come.

The building remains a wonderful historic monument and also a place of corporate worship for a committed Christian congregation. We hope that you would be blessed if are able to visit us in person.

A charity in our own right with a concern for the whole parish, we also help other charities, near and far, and not least the Hands of Compassion school in Zambia.

For more info, contact details, service times visit our dedicated website:

www.chalkchurch.org.uk

Remember Sundays at 10.30am! God bless you.

Nigel Bourne
Vicar of Chalk

Chalk Gravesend
DA12 2NL

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