St Paul's Church, Rusthall Church

Image Source: Rob Baker

 

St. Paul's was built between 1849-50 to a design by Derbyshire based architect Henry Isaac Stevens. Stevens had designed the nearby church at Fordcombe only a couple of years earlier. His brother, Nehemiah Edward Stevens, was residing in Tunbridge Wells as a minor architect: for St. Paul's they are listed as having collaborated together. Eminent Victorian-era politician, the Viscount Henry Hardinge, had known of Stevens' work in Derbyshire where he owned estates, and commissioned him to carry out the work in these burgeoning and affluent Victorian-era suburbs immediately to the west of the spa-resort of Tunbridge Wells, where he considered home. St. Paul's is built on the edge of Rusthall Common, land which belonged to William Neville, the 4th Earl of Abergavenny, as part of his estate, Neville Park. The Church purchased the land from the Earl who provided the finance and building costs. The result, built from local sandstone, is an Early English Gothic Revival design in the style of the 13th century. In keeping with churches of this medieval era, it has a cruciform pattern with a central tower. In 1865 it was extended with the addition of a north aisle. H.I. Stevens was again the architect; but this time understudied by Frederick Josias Robinson. In 1875 an organ chamber and vestry were added to the north east, designed by John Norton who also provided the design for the reredos behind the altar. The church was extended again in 1913 with a large western narthex, with both a west and north entrance. The interior is unrendered, with bare walls of sandstone and ashlar giving the church a somewhat dark appearance. However, on a bright sunny day the sun's reflection shone through the stained-glass windows which allowed some interesting colour patterns to penetrate into the interior. The stained-glass originates from a number of sources: the main east window coming from the workshops of Ward and Hughes. Later work, added until 1935 when every window was filled, includes designs by Edward Burne-Jones and Martin Travers. In 1999 a stained-glass window was discovered on a dusty shelf high up in the tower. It originated from a small east window in the south transept (now behind the organ) which had been replaced by clear glass. It was re-sited in a former blocked window in the east wall of the north aisle which now adjoins the 1875 vestry. It is effectively a false window illuminated by a strip light, as demonstrated to me by the Vicar of St. Paul's, Ronald Williams. The sculptured reredos, designed in 1869 by John Norton and carved by William Farmer (later part of the Farmer Brindley partnership) was controversial. The Reverend thought it was too Roman Catholic with its lifelike imagery and petitioned for its removal. He was furious that the Ten Commandments had been removed from behind the altar to make way for this. The Ten Commandments had lain in storage for over a century, when in 1999 they were cleaned up and added to the west end of the north aisle in what has become a dedicated chapel. Hanging from the ceiling is a modern piece of glass work designed by Jenny Clarke. Elsewhere in the church, the carved pulpit (possibly designed by Earp) dates from the 1869 restoration and is topped by a wooden tester. The font is original, dating from the opening of the church in 1850. Text by Rob Baker.

 

 

Church Data

 

1851 Census Details

 

Seating Capacity: 430

Morning Attendance: 218

Afternoon Attendance: 266

Evening Attendance: No service

 

Architecture Details

 

Original Build Date/Architect: Stevens 1849

Restoration: 1864 Stevens and Robinson

Second Restoration:

 

Notes

 

 

Website

 

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Contact Details

 

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