Church of St Mary the Virgin, Reculver facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary the Virgin, Reculver |
|
|---|---|
The church viewed from the north-west in 2008
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| OS grid reference | TR 212 680 |
| Location | Reculver Lane, Hillborough, Kent |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | United Benefice of St. Mary the Virgin, Reculver, St. Bartholomew, Herne Bay & Holy Cross, Hoath |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | St Mary |
| Consecrated | 12 June 1878 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 14 May 1975 |
| Architect(s) | Joseph Clarke |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1878 |
| Construction cost | £1,400 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 150 |
| Materials | Knapped flint with limestone dressings Red clay tiled roof |
| Bells | 1 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Reculver |
| Diocese | Canterbury |
The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Reculver, is an Anglican church located in Hillborough, a village in Kent, England. This church was built between 1876 and 1878. It is the second church on this spot. The first church here was built in 1813. It replaced an even older church of St Mary. That very old church was founded in 669. It stood inside the remains of a Roman fort at Reculver. Most of it was taken down in 1809.
The first church built at Hillborough was not very strong. So, it was replaced by the church you see today. Joseph Clarke designed it in the Gothic Revival style. Parts of the old Roman fort church were used to build it. The baptismal font inside might be from a medieval church called All Saints' Church, Shuart. This church is listed as a Grade II listed building in the National Heritage List for England. This means it is an important historical building.
The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Reculver, is still an active parish church. It is part of the diocese of Canterbury. It works together with St Bartholomew in Herne Bay and Holy Cross in Hoath.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Story
The Church of St Mary the Virgin in Reculver is the third church named after the mother of Jesus to serve this area.
The First Church (669 AD)
The very first church was built in 669 AD. It was located inside the old Roman fort called Regulbium. This church stood for about 1,150 years! Over time, it grew bigger and more beautiful.
However, by the early 1800s, the sea was eroding the coast. The church was in danger of falling into the sea. In 1809, much of this ancient church was taken down. This was done to save parts of it from the sea. The village it served had also shrunk because of the sea. People had moved to Hillborough, about 1.25 miles (2 km) away.
The Second Church (1813 AD)
A second church for the area was built in Hillborough. It was built on land bought for £30. Some materials from the old Roman fort church were used in its construction. This new church was officially opened on 13 April 1813.
But this church was not very good. In 1856, people called it a "miserable little church." Its roof leaked, and it was falling apart by 1874. Everyone hoped for a better church.
The Current Church (1878 AD)
R. H. Blakey, the vicar, worked hard to raise money for a new church. This is the church that stands today. Building started in 1876. Joseph Clarke, the surveyor for the diocese of Canterbury, designed it.
The new church cost £1,400 to build. It was officially opened on 12 June 1878. On 14 May 1975, this building was listed as a Grade II listed building. This means it is important because of its design and history. It also contains parts from the old Roman fort church and a medieval baptismal font.
What the Church Looks Like
The Church of St Mary the Virgin is built in the Gothic Revival style.
Outside the Church
The outside walls are made of knapped flint. This is a type of stone. It has limestone details around the windows and at the corners. There are strong supports called buttresses at each corner. One buttress also supports the middle of the west wall.
At the top of the west wall is a stone bellcote. It holds one bell. The original bell was made in 1635 for the old Roman fort church. It was used here until 1970, when it was stolen. The roof is covered with red clay tiles. It goes all the way along the chancel and nave. A small part of the roof extends down to cover a room for the organ.
Inside the Church
You enter the church through a porch on the south side. The doorway is from the 13th century. It came from the old Roman fort church. You can also see other stone pieces from the old church inside. Some 17th-century memorials are set into the floor.
The baptismal font is at the west end of the nave. It is older than this church. It probably came from the medieval All Saints' Church, Shuart. This church has not existed since at least 1630. The font was saved and given to this church. It is octagonal (eight-sided) and from the 14th or 15th century.
The inside walls are painted white. The chancel (the area near the altar) is a little narrower than the nave (where the people sit). The ceiling in the nave shows the roof's shape. It has exposed wooden beams. In the chancel, the ceiling is curved like a barrel. It has blue wooden panels with white trim.
A small room called a vestry was added to the south side of the chancel in 1963.
Church Items and Features
The church has special silver items used for Communion. These include a cup, a plate, and a jug from 1684. They were a gift from John Hills in 1685.
The stained glass in the windows is all new. None of the old stained glass from the Roman fort church survived. An organ was built in 1955. It is in the north wall of the chancel. Next to the organ is a pulpit. There are also choir stalls on both sides of the chancel.
People sit on pews along both sides of the nave. When it was new, the church could hold 150 people. The church is surrounded by a graveyard. At the northern edge of the graveyard, there is a war memorial. It was put up in 1919. It lists the names of 27 people from the area who died in the First World War and the Second World War.
The Church Today
The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Reculver, is still an active Anglican church. It is part of the diocese of Canterbury. It continues to serve the local community. Its parish works together with St Bartholomew in Herne Bay and Holy Cross in Hoath.
