St Andrew's Church, Tonbridge , Kent

St Andrew's Church, Tonbridge Church

Image Source: Rob Baker

Formerly known as the Fish Hall Mission Church, it was originally provided in 1911 for the farm labourers of the Fish Hall estate; Fish Hall being a large manor house at Hadlow Stair. It is now on the northern outskirts of Tonbridge, but at the beginning of the 20th century it was a rural area lying midway between Tonbridge and Hadlow. The owner of Fish Hall, Albert Peter, was a committed Christian, and in 1901 his four-year old daughter Gertrude was skating on a frozen lake and fell through the ice. She was rescued - possibly by some farm labourers - although some historical sources state that Albert himself dived into the frozen waters and pulled her out himself. Fortunately, she survived and made a full recovery. In 1908, due to his wife's failing health, Albert Peter and his family moved to Brighton, as being by the seaside was thought to be healthier than living inland. In Brighton he purchased a disused "tin tabernacle" and had it dismantled and transported to Fish Hall for the benefit of his workers, in gratitude for their saving of his daughter Gertrude's life. In 1911 it was officially opened as the independent Fish Hall Mission Church, although the Vicar of St. Mary's at Hadlow, in whose parish it lay, regularly used to visit to take services. It was damaged during the Second World War in 1944 when a doodlebug landed in the fields nearby; but by 1947 it had been repaired and was dedicated as an Anglican Church by the Bishop of Rochester. It remains in Anglican use today and in 1990-91 it was dedicated to St. Andrew. The interior is beautifully panelled and insulated, and comfortable chairs have replaced hard wooden benches from the pre-war era. In 2019 a brand new kitchenette and toilet facilities were installed which provided this historic Mission Church with running water for the first time in its history! 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: 1911 secondhand from Brighton

Restoration: -

Second Restoration: -

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