Church of King Charles the Martyr, Royal Tunbridge Wells facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of King Charles the Martyr |
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| Church of King Charles the Martyr | |
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| 51°07′36″N 0°15′33″E / 51.1268°N 0.2593°E | |
| Location | Royal Tunbridge Wells |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | parish church |
| Founded | 1676 |
| Dedication | King Charles the Martyr |
| Cult(s) present | King Charles the Martyr |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Architect(s) | Thomas Neale |
| Architectural type | Chapel |
| Completed | 1676 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Red brick |
| Administration | |
| Parish | King Charles the Martyr |
| Deanery | Tunbridge Wells |
| Diocese | Rochester |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of King Charles the Martyr is a special Church of England church. It is located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. This church is a very important historical building, known as a Grade I listed building.
Contents
History of the Church
Back in the 1670s, Royal Tunbridge Wells was a growing town. Important people, including the Royal Family, started visiting. This church was built in 1676 by Thomas Neale. It was meant to be a handy place for visitors to worship. This type of smaller church for a bigger area was called a chapel of ease.
It was named after King Charles the Martyr. This name honors King Charles I, who was executed in 1649. His son, King Charles II, later became king in 1660. This event was called the English Restoration.
At first, the church served three nearby areas: Frant, Speldhurst, and Tonbridge. It was the first big building constructed in Tunbridge Wells. For many years, it did not have its own full-time vicar. Visiting clergymen would come to lead services.
As Tunbridge Wells grew, so did the church. New church areas, called parishes, were created for the expanding town. The church eventually became its own parish church in 1889. It has a surprisingly small local area that it serves. The young Queen Victoria visited the church with her mother, the Duchess of Kent. A special plaque was put on the pew where they sat to remember their visit.
Church Design and Features
The church was built using red bricks. Inside, the ceilings are made of plaster. They have five domes and were designed in 1678 by John Wetherell. In 1688, Henry Doogood, a famous plasterer who worked for Sir Christopher Wren, made the ceilings even bigger.
In 1846, a vestry (a room for clergy robes) and a schoolroom were added. Later, in 1882, Ewan Christian changed the church's layout. He added a chancel, which is the area around the altar. He also made the church stronger with steel.
The decorative panels on either side of the altar came from another church. This church, called St. Antholin, Budge Row, was designed by Christopher Wren. It was located in the City of London but was later taken down.
Important Stone Outside
Outside the church, you can find a stone set into the pavement. This stone used to mark the old boundaries of the parishes of Speldhurst, Tonbridge, and Frant. It also showed where the counties of Kent and Sussex met. The county boundaries have since been changed.
Stained Glass Window
In 1969, an artist named Lawrence Lee created a beautiful stained glass window for the church. It is called The Ruth Window. This window has two parts. One part shows the figure of Ruth, a character from the Bible. The other part shows her working, gathering leftover crops in the fields.
See also
