St Paul's Church, Swanley , Kent

St Paul's Church, Swanley Church

Image Source: Rob Baker

This beautiful Victorian church is reached by driving between two buildings that belong to the local primary school. Between the churchyard and the school is a small playing field that looks as though it belongs to the school, but is in fact a tiny village green. The church, designed by Ewan Christian between 1860-61, is built from stone rubble, decorated with yellow and red bricked polychrome bands. It is a simple two-cell design consisting of a nave and apsed chancel with a south porch and a west tower that was added between 1862-65. The first Reverend, M. S. Edgell, was responsible for the interior design. This was carried out by his brothers in law - John and William Eastwood, who also added the tower to Christian's original design. The apse is simply breathaking and is extravagently resplendent in colour. Mosaics and frescoes adorn every available wall space. The ceiling has a painting of Christ surrounded by angels. The Italianate design looks more like something than would be seen in Rome rather than in an Anglican church in rural North Kent! The stained-glass windows in the chancel were designed by practitioners Schrigley and Hunt from Lancaster. Text by Rob Baker

1851 Census Details

Seating Capacity: Not built

Morning Attendance: Not built

Afternoon Attendance: Not built

Evening Attendance: Not built

Architecture Details

Original Build Date/Architect: Ewan Christian 1860

Restoration:

Second Restoration:

Notes

Website

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