St Katharine's Church, Knockholt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Katharine, Knockholt |
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St Katharine's Church, Knockholt
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| 51°18′37″N 0°6′16″E / 51.31028°N 0.10444°E | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | knockholtandhalsteadchurches.org |
| History | |
| Dedication | Katharine the Virgin |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Knockholt |
| Deanery | Sevenoaks |
| Archdeaconry | Kent |
| Diocese | Rochester |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Katharine's Church is a special church in the village of Knockholt. It belongs to the Church of England. Since 1983, it has worked closely with St Margaret's Church. They share one priest and often have services together. The church is also a very important historical building. It is officially known as a Grade B listed building.
Contents
When Was St Katharine's Church Built?
The story of St Katharine's Church and the village of Knockholt began a long time ago. We know this from a document found in 1849. This old paper tells us that in the 1200s, a man named Ralph Scot bought land in a place called Ocolte. He then built a new home there.
Ralph Scot and his neighbors lived far from their main church in Orpington. It was hard for them to travel there, and they worried about their souls. So, Ralph Scot and others decided to build a new church. They built a small chapel in a forest clearing using their own money.
They also built a house for a chaplain (a priest) and provided land to support him. The main church in Orpington was not happy about losing some of its power and money. They even complained to Rome about it!
The Church's Dedication
Despite the complaints, the new building was officially opened. It was dedicated to St Katharine the Virgin on May 9, 1281. The priest from Orpington still had the right to choose the chaplain for the new church. This chaplain became like a permanent priest for Knockholt.
What Does St Katharine's Church Look Like?
Much of the church you see today is very old. The simple rectangular walls are likely from the original building. There is no separate area for the altar, which is unusual for churches.
Changes Over the Years
In 1596, an old map showed that the church had a spire. A drawing from 1801 showed a short tower with a pointed roof. In 1840, this pointed roof was replaced with a clock tower.
The current tower might be in a different spot than the original one. This change could have happened after a fire in 1858. It might also have been during repairs in 1863. A big addition was made in 1881. This is when the north aisle, a long section on the side, was built.
A Difficult Time During World War II
In March 1944, during The Blitz (a time when bombs were dropped on Britain), a bomb hit the church's rectory. The rectory was the house where the priest lived. The building was badly damaged, and the priest, Charles Hobley, sadly died. There is a special plaque inside the church to remember him.
In 1998, glass screens were added inside the church. These screens created a separate area at the west end of the north aisle. This space can now be used for different activities.
See also
