Holy Trinity, Twydall, Kent

Holy Trinity, Twydall Church

Image Source: Rob Baker

This Grade II listed church in the planned post-war housing estate of Twydall, next to Gillingham is a local landmark - but sadly has become structurally unsound and is now disused. The church began life in 1954 in a functional hall type building - albeit one opened by the celebrated actress Dame Sybil Thorndike - which is still located next to the main building. In 1964 the congregation moved to the new structure with the original church being used as a church hall. In 2009 the church had to move back to the hall, as the modernist church was deemed to be unsafe to use. Much wrangling between the Diocese of Rochester, Medway Council, English Heritage and the 20th Century Society has taken place. It survived a demolition order due to its Grade II listing, but whether it can ever be restored to its original glory remains to be seen. Various figures have been banned about, but it is likely that upwards of one million pounds will be needed to effect this. Inspired by Finnish ecclesiastical architecture and designed to represent a ship's prow, the church was designed by architect Arthur Bailey in partnership with William Henry Ansell. Ansell died before construction began, with the consultant engineers being Messrs. Redpath & Brown. The total cost was £47,000 with £17,000 raised by the Parish - a colossal sum in those days. The church has also been likened to resembling the whale in the Old Testament Book of Jonah - a plausible theory when looking at the building from one particular angle, but other contemporary (and non-theological) descriptions have compared it to a Witches Hat, or even the Sorting Hat from Harry Potter! Construction began in 1963 and was completed in 1964. The influence of the Liturgical Movement in bringing the congregation closer to the altar was evident, with the Holy Table taking a central position reminiscent of a "theatre in the round." It has capacity for 300 people. The interior is one storeyed, with the roof girders constructed of steel with a zinc coating. Acoustic tiles line the interior with the external roof being made from cedar wood shingle tiles. Sadly these tiles have not withstood the rigours of time and many are now missing or broken. The south west extension annexe had seen better days. This was intended to provide a vestry, choir vestry and toilets, but the poor quality 1960s building materials used in the interior have resulted in near dilapidation of this part of the church. The main worship area retains its original fixtures, fittings and furniture. The egg shaped font and the altar are cast in-situ and cannot be removed. Christenings since 2009 in the original church hall have had to be conducted using a brass bowl. The pulpit and adjoining reading lectern, choir stalls and benches are all made from utile hardwood, as is the large cross suspended above the altar. The organ - suspended in mid-air behind the cross- was added in 1975. It came from the church at Hever where it was no longer needed. Amidst these forlorn and currently unused furnishings; long outdated hymn books, items donated in the memory of former stalwarts of the church, and flags and banners belonging to now defunct associations; I found a very odd discovery - a set of wooden stocks, positioned in one of the many brick recesses in the inner walls of the church. Quite what these stocks would have been used for is a complete mystery - maybe a preacher whose sermon overran the allotted time, or a church secretary who spent too long on the notices, perhaps?! 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: Ansell and Bailey 1963

Restoration:

Second Restoration:

Notes

Website

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