St Mary's Church, Chatham , Kent

St Mary's Church, Chatham Church

Image Source: Rob Baker

Formerly the Anglican church of St. Mary's, it was largely a derelict shell when the Redeemed Christian Church of God purchased the building from Medway Council in 2014. Located in a prominent position overlooking a bend in the River Medway between Chatham's former military Dockyard and the town centre and surrounded by 18th century military defences, including Fort Amherst immediately to the east; the current church building dates from the late Victorian period. It is actually the fifth church to be built on the site. The original wooden Saxon church was replaced by a Norman one in the 12th century, which was then replaced in the 14th century after being destroyed by fire. Fire again necessitated a major repair in 1635 and a complete rebuild in 1788. The 1788 design was a rectangular "preaching box" design typical of the Georgian period.In the 19th century St. Mary's was known as "the waterman's church" and drew its congregation from the many people who earned their livelihood from Chatham's riverside industries. This latest church was designed by architects Arthur Blomfield & Son in an Early English Gothic Revival style. The chancel, including a pair of side chapels to the north and south, was the first part of the 1788 church to be replaced, with the work carried out between 1884-87. The majestic south-west tower - a prominent local landmark - was added in 1897. It was known as The Victoria Tower to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee (60 years on the throne). The nave, including the apsed western baptistry and the north-west vestry, were added between 1901-03 which completed the replacement of the Georgian church. The total cost of the rebuilding was £16,000. Parts of the medieval Norman church can be seen at the west end. The large 12th century south-west doorway surrounded by columns and zig-zag arches leads into the Edwardian nave. Two further Norman doorways in the west wall flank the former baptistry while in the south-west corner there are the remains of a turreted staircase. By 1974 a decline in church attendances resulted in St. Mary's being declared redundant and closed as a functioning Anglican church.In 1977 it re-opened as a local heritage centre, but by 2002 this was closed; and in subsequent years the church remained derelict and beset by repeated acts of vandalism.In 2011 much of the interior was destroyed by arson although the nave and chancel ceilings fortunately managed to survive the damage. The interior fittings had already been stripped out during the building's tenure as a heritage centre, and many of the Edwardian stained-glass windows were later destroyed by vandalism, including the entire range in the apsed baptistry and some of the glass located high up in the west window. Situated away from the road, the baptistry windows were used as entrance points in which trespassers could enter the derelict church, and have since been bricked up. The row of early 20th stained-glass windows in the south aisle are still in situ; although the windows have been boarded-up on the outside to prevent damage. The secluded churchyard is open to the public and unfortunately the church still suffers from vandalism. Miraculously the east window by Kempe, dating from 1891, is still completely intact, albeit that it is now largely hidden from view behind modern partitioned walls. Much of the internal stonework had also been stained with fire damage; resulting in the installation of a large number of internal stud walls to house the new electric wiring. The exclusively Nigerian congregation and their charismatic style of praise and worship is completely different to how Arthur Blomfield and the Victorian-era churchgoers could ever have imagined; but at least this historic church is being used as an active place of worship once again. The church building is in a much better place under their custodianship than when it was lying derelict and uncared for. Text by Rob Baker November 2021

1851 Census Details

Seating Capacity: 1000

Morning Attendance: 600

Afternoon Attendance: 200

Evening Attendance: 800

Architecture Details

Original Build Date/Architect: A. Blomfield 1884

Restoration:

Second Restoration:

Notes

now used by the Redeemed Christian Church of God

Website

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