John E. Vigars Kent Church Photographs
Image Source: John Salmon
The medieval church of Broadstairs, St Peter's stands well inland to serve the original farming community that showed little interest in the coast that was to change the later life of this part of Kent. The tower, however, is easily visible from the sea and was long used as a landmark to shipping, which is why it still flies the White Ensign. Although the church was restored in the nineteenth century by Joseph Clarke and is stamped with the atmosphere he usually managed to create, there is some fine Norman architecture in the five bay aisle arcades (although the central arch in the south arcade is a later insertion into an inexplicable break in the Norman work). The chancel arch is of the thirteenth century and there is a good cut-down sedilia in the sanctuary. The delicate marble font is of eighteenth century date and there are some fine hanging wall tablets of the same period. The stained glass presents a good cross-section of the nineteenth century art, much of it by Heaton, Butler and Bayne.
Church Data
1851 Census Details
Seating Capacity: 600
Morning Attendance: 326
Afternoon Attendance: 383
Evening Attendance: No service
Architecture Details
Original Build Date/Architect: Medieval
Restoration: Joseph Clarke 1852,1859
Second Restoration:
Notes
Website
http://www.st.peterschurch.org.uk
Contact Details
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