St Bartholomew's Church, Sandwich , Kent

St Bartholomew's Church, Sandwich Church

Image Source: Rob Baker

The chapel of St. Bartholomew's Hospital sits in the centre of a cluster of sixteen 19th century almshouses which have replaced the communal hall and dormitories of medieval times. In 1190 the Hospital was established to offer shelter to travellers. It is located just outside the town so that visitors could receive food and lodging long after the evening curfew which closed the gates into town. The chapel is a thirteenth century building consisting of nave, chancel and north aisle. Various types of materials have been used in its construction; flint, Kentish ragstone, Bath stone, and Caen stone from France. Tradition suggests it was funded from the loot and ransoms obtained by captured French vessels after a naval battle on St. Bartholomew's Day 1217 (24th August), hence its dedication. Between the chancel and the north chapel there is a tomb chest topped with the effigy of a crusader knight. He is dressed in chainmail with a triangular shield over his body and a broadsword along his left thigh. Believed to date from 1230, it is believed to represent nobleman Sir Henry de Sandwich. St. Bartholomew's was always a privately owned chapel administered by lay persons and never part of the Established Church, which spared it from destruction during the Reformation. During the English Civil War weekly services were discontinued, but they resumed after the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660. To commemorate this, the Royal Arms of Charles II hang in the chancel. By the late 19th century the chapel had fallen into decay and was restored in 1877 under the direction of the Chaplain, Rev. David Bruce-Payne. Architect George Gilbert Scott carried out a heavy Victorian restoration, but preserved much of the Early English characteristics including the impressive arcade of lancet windows in the north aisle. One of his sons, John Oldrid Scott, completed the restoration in 1887, adding the shingled spirelet to the west end. This is now topped with a modern weathervane depicting St. Bartholomew holding flaying knives, the instruments of his martyrdom. The church is rich with Victorian stained-glass, manufactured by a number of practitioners. The workmanship of Bell & Almond, Hardman, Lavers & Westlake and Ward & Hughes are all displayed. A more recent window towards the rear of the nave was dedicated in 2000 on St. Bartholomew's Day. Depicting St. James, the Patron Saint of Pilgrims; and St. Christopher, the Patron Saint of Travellers; it was designed by Leonie Seliger of the Canterbury Glass Studios. A service is held each year on St. Bartholomew's Day where the name of one of the resident Hospitallians is pricked with a bodkin to assume the nominal role of Master for the forthcoming year. Local children then run around the outside of the chapel at noonday and collect a St. Bart's Bun as a symbol of the hospitality of food and shelter formerly afforded to pilgrims and travellers. (The parents receive a biscuit). Text by Rob Baker

1851 Census Details

Seating Capacity: 250

Morning Attendance: No service

Afternoon Attendance: 130 estimate

Evening Attendance: No service

Architecture Details

Original Build Date/Architect: Medieval

Restoration: GG Scott 1887

Second Restoration:

Notes

Hospital Chapel

Website

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