All Saints Church, Whitstable facts for kids

All Saints Church is a Church of England church located in Whitstable, Kent. It is one of five Church of England churches that work together in the Whitstable area.

There has been a church building on this spot for over 800 years! Imagine, that's a really long time. The first church was quite simple. It had a main hall, called a nave, and a special area for the altar, called a chancel.

The Church's Long Story

Building Through the Centuries

In the early 1200s, a new church was built. It kept the same simple shape but was made in a style called Early English Gothic. A tall tower was also added around this time.

Later, in the 1400s, a new section was built on the north side. This was called the north aisle. It added more space to the church.

Big Changes and New Additions

By the 1870s, parts of the church were getting old and unsafe. So, the church was almost completely rebuilt! The chancel area was made bigger, and a vestry (a room for clergy and church items) was added.

In 1962, the church's design was finished. A new south aisle and a west porch were added. The old south wall of the nave was carefully taken down. It was then rebuilt to become the wall of the new aisle. The original stained glass windows were kept in their places. New arches and pillars were built to match the old ones from the 1400s on the north side.

Interesting Discoveries Inside

At the east end of the Nave Aisle, there is a stone slab on the floor. A brass plate used to be on it, but it's gone now. You can still clearly see the outline of a chalice (a special cup used in church services). This shows it was the tomb of a priest.

This tomb is very special because it only shows the chalice, not a communion wafer (a small piece of bread used in services). Only two other similar examples exist, both in north Kent.

On the south wall, you can find the oldest brass in the church. It's a memorial tablet for Thomas Brede, who passed away in 1444.

A Special Tomb Outside

In the churchyard, there is a tomb that is a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historical structure that needs to be protected. This tomb belongs to Wynn Ellis.

It was designed by Charles Barry Junior, a famous architect, and built in 1875. The Mausolea and Monuments Trust helps to look after this special tomb.

Images for kids

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  All Saints Church

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  Interior