St Saviour's, Walmer facts for kids
St Saviour's Church is a historic church located right by the sea in Walmer, Kent, United Kingdom. It has been an important part of the Walmer community for many years.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
Building a New Church in Walmer
The story of St Saviour's Church began on August 15, 1848. A special ceremony was held to lay the first stone. Many people gathered for this exciting event. The day was sunny and festive, with lots of carriages and happy faces.
The church was officially opened on July 2, 1849. The Archbishop of Canterbury, a very important church leader, came for the opening. He even had lunch when he arrived.
A Special Feast for the Community
After the opening, something special happened. Around 500 local people who were less fortunate were invited to a big meal. They enjoyed roast beef and plum pudding. A German brass band played music for everyone.
A kind person named J.T. Bridges paid for this feast. He also paid for most of the church's construction. The Archbishop even attended the meal. He said grace and spoke kindly to the guests. People were very grateful for his words.
Who Designed St Saviour's?
The church building was designed by I. Johnson FSA. William Denne was the builder. St Saviour's is not named after a specific saint. Instead, it is dedicated directly to the Holy Saviour.
The church was built in 1848. It features the Neo-Gothic architectural style. This style looks like older Gothic churches. It was built as a "chapel of ease." This meant it was a smaller church meant to help the main parish church, Old St Mary's.
Why Was St Saviour's Built?
St Saviour's was built for a few reasons. One main reason was to serve the local boatmen. In the past, these boatmen would take supplies to ships anchored in the Downs. The new church gave them a place to worship. It also helped reduce the number of people going to Old St Mary's.
The Church and the Lifeboat Station
About 23 years after St Saviour's was built, the Walmer Lifeboat House was constructed nearby. It was built in a similar Neo-Gothic style. This helped the two buildings look like they belonged together.
Images for kids
-
Steeple with open bellchamber, before World War I
-
Steeple with enclosed bell chamber, 1920s
-
St Saviour's (left) with no steeple, 1940s
.jpg)
See also
- St. George's Episcopal Memorial Church, a church in the US with a stained glass window containing pieces of glass from St Saviour's Church. These pieces were collected after St Saviour's was damaged during World War II.
