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St
Peter's Church, Bredhurst is a small rural church, which is situated
approximately 1/4 mile east of the village, high on the North Downs. The original building dates from the 12th
century with one document suggesting it existed in 1120 and another proposing
a date between 1135 and 1154. The
South Chapel (now the vestry) was built along with the old nave in 1230. The whole church was restored and enlarged
during the Mid-Victorian period, 1864-66 with the nave, chancel arch and roof
being completely replaced. There
are some interesting features in and around the church and this guide may
suggest points to look for. Churchyard Materials
used for building ancient churches usually came from the immediate vicinity
and harmonised with the local landscape. The obvious choice for St Peter's
was flint, the downland locally consisting of flint and clay. The
construction, therefore, was of half flints with stone flanking. The
churchyard was commonly known as God's Acre. Earliest graves were
traditionally on the south side of a church because, as ancient churches were
always built facing east, that side was sunnier and, strangely enough, often
higher. The north side was usually shaded and thought to belong to the devil!
However, in time, graves eventually had to extend right round the church. It
is thought that the yew tree outside the South Porch is at is at least 500
years old. Yews were usually planted in pairs and, if this is the case, its partner
may be that on the south west edge of the churchyard. Windows Stained
glass windows have been used for hundreds of years to help teach the people
about their religion in the days when most could not read. The separate
pieces of glass each have their own colour and are set into strips of lead.
The individual colours in early stained glass had their own meanings, for
example, red meant divine love, white meant divine wisdom, and yellow meant
faith. Later craftsmen painted directly onto the glass, this is called
'enamelling' and the end result looks rather like oil painting. The
lancet windows around the Church reflect the original l2th century ones in
the South Chapel. Prior to the 1300's the Early English style of windows
changed from rounded to long, pointed lancets which became increasingly
common. The hood moulds are individual to each window precluding the need for
decorative tracery. The
windows at the east and west ends are geometrical and the west window is of a
typical Victorian pseudo Gothic style.
If stained or painted glass appears silvery from the outside it is an
indication that the glass is probably original. Standing back from the west
window it is possible to see the patches of glass that have been replaced -it
almost looks as if the pieces are missing. The
stained glass windows in the nave depict various prophets and are dedicated
to members of the Day and Winch families. Mr T H Day was a Chatham magistrate
and his son Rev Charles Hermitage Day was responsible for the restoration of
the Church (architect Ewan Christian), Bredhurst School building and the
vicarage which was on the site now occupied by Fir Tree Grove. The South
Chapel windows are all given in memory of the Charles Hermitage Day’s
children. His family are buried
outside the Chapel door. He became a
noted theologian and moved from Bredhurst but was later buried with
them. The Winch family were Kentish
brewers. On
the north wall of the chancel are four small windows, one of which is
considerably lower than the others. These low windows were sometimes,
erroneously, called leper windows. There is considerable controversy
concerning the use of these windows but it is most popularly believed that a
small hand bell was rung from them at the Sanctus and at the Consecration of
the Elements during the time that Roman Catholic services and sacraments were
celebrated at St Peter's. The
windows in the chancel may have come from another church years ago. The east window depicts Christ in Majesty,
flanked by Petrus (Peter) and Paulus (Paul). It is believed that the colours
of Christ's robes in stained glass windows were chosen to show the period of
His life depicted in the picture. Bell Gable There
is no weather vane on St Peter's, a common feature on rural churches, but
there is a decorative wrought iron cross on the stone bell gable on the
chancel roof. The gable houses the two
original bells, which were recast in London in 1864 prior to the restoration.
These are still rung every Sunday. The gable is in the style of the late 13th
century gothic. South Chapel Roof It is possible to see feint marks at the top of the
eaves on the South Chapel showing the original line of the roof. It was
altered during the restoration to a more pointed, vernacular style. Porch The
South porch, by which the Church is entered, has beautifully carved barge
boards and elaborate carved tracery around the side openings. There is also a
decorative wrought iron cross on the gable. Font The
stone, lead lined font is symbolically placed near the entrance to the Church
to represent the start, or entry, to the Christian life. Traditionally the
font is placed upon an octagonal plinth to symbolize the seven days and the
Day of Resurrection. The base of the font at Bredhurst is octagonal, however,
the plinth is an odd hexagonal shape -half octagonal and half square. The
font is decorated with geometric designs and daffodils and inscribed
"Suffer little children to come unto to me and forbid them not for of
such is the Kingdom of Heaven." Holy Water Stoup To
the west (left) of the main door is the original stone stoup which was
discovered and replaced by Rev. J.A. Finch after the restoration about
1914. A stoup is a small niche
containing a recessed basin, usually inside the church, which contained Holy
Water. It was for use by worshippers entering the Church; they would dip a
finger in the water and make the sign of the cross on their foreheads to
remind themselves of their baptism and the need to be cleansed from sin. Northwode Memorial In
the far south west corner of the Church is the remains of the brass memorial
of William Northwode, Knight, Lord of the Manor of Bredhurst who died in
1397. It was originally in the South Chapel and had engraved brass on it now
missing. The stone was, for many years, used as the step to the vestry, but
it was brought to its present position in the early part of the 20th century. Pews The
fixed pews are of pitch pine and were placed there during the restoration.
They have carved ends showing the Star of David and flowers. North Windows High
in the north roof are double windows allowing light into the nave. It would be an overstatement to call this a
clerestory. Pulpit The
fine octagonal pulpit stands on a stone plinth and has elaborate carved
tracery in pitch pine. Lectern On
the west side of the Church is the carved pine lectern in the form of an
eagle. The eagle is the symbol of St John the Evangelist whose Gospel and
Revelation are considered to be the most spiritual parts of the Bible. The
globe on which the eagle stands represents the world, to the corners of which
the Gospel on the eagle's back is being carried. |
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The font during a wedding
festival
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Chancel Arch The
moulding on the chancel arch is supported by vine leaves on the capitals. Roof The
single beam frame of the roof is sometimes thought to represent an upturned boat;
perhaps from the lake of Galilee? St Peter has always been regarded as the
Rock on which the Church was built. He
was a fisherman and his boat could, allegorically, be seen as ferrying people
across the stormy seas of life. Stalls The
choir stalls are carved pitch pine. Altar The
altar, the most sacred part of the church, stands in front of Victorian
coloured, patterned tiles, with traditional motifs and "Do this in"
remembrance of me" written above the altar. The wooden altar table stands on a plinth
covered with matching tiles. The use
of candles today is to remind Christians of the Church's past sufferings -the
days when they were persecuted and had to worship in Roman catacombs. They
are also a reminder that Christ is the Light of the World. The two altar
candles are often thought of as symbols of the two sides of Christ -the human
and the divine. The
hangings on the altar reflect specific times of the Church year: Violet, the colour of repentance is used during
Advent and Lent White/gold, the festival colour is used for at
Christmas, Easter and Ascentiontide. Red, the colour of fire and blood is used at
Whitsuntide and some Saints Days to symbolise the coming of the Holy Spirit
in tongues of fire. Green, the colour of nature used is during the seasons
of Epiphany and Trinity. The
altar rails were painted in glowing colours after the restoration and their
faded glory can still be seen on close inspection. Altar rails were gradually
introduced after the Reformation to protect the altar when altar screens were
becoming less common. Organ The
organ is electric and only in recent years replaced a Positive pipe organ
given to the Parish by Rev Collett in 1905. |
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South Chapel The
wall to the South Chapel was opened up to the main body of the Church during
the restoration and the original Norman pillar and Early English arches are now
clearly visible. In the South Chapel,
Early English fresco painting can still be seen high up above the windows on
the south and east walls. The Chapel was in a sorry state of repair prior to
the restoration and was open to the elements since there was no glass in the
windows. It is said that a vicar, long ago, of course, used to stable his
horse in there whilst he officiated at the service! In
the north west corner of the South Chapel, which is now in common use as the
Vestry, can be found the memorial stone for Rev. Richard Tray who died in
1664. It is currently under the large parish chest. It was originally in the
centre of the chancel but was moved during the restoration. With patience,
and the right light, much of the inscription can still be made out. The
vestry was completely re-ordered in 2008 with a soundproof glass screen
providing a versatile sacred space. Plaques There
are various memorial plaques around the Church dedicated to servants of the
Church. A particularly striking example is a marble tablet surrounded by a
gilt mosaic border to the memory of those in the Parish who fell in the Great
War 1914-18. Linda Brown, 1997 Slight amendments Graham
Lewis, 2008 |
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The
Normans, under King Stephen, 1135-1154, built many churches and following a
period of boundary changes the Prior of Christchurch retained 600 acres on
which he built a Roman Catholic chapel dedicated to St Peter. It was constructed from half flints and had
pointed arch doors, glassless lancet windows and a north door. The internal
walls were of white plaster with fresco paintings; that is, pigment applied
to wet plaster. Some of these paintings may still be seen in the South
Chapel, which now serves as the vestry. There was a large crucifix over the
chancel or High Rood and candles were lit for statues dedicated to Blessed
Mary, St John the Baptist, the Holy Cross, St Nicholas and St Peter. There
was initially one aisle, and the chancel, chancel tower and steeple were
added later. A
historian writing in 1820 noted that "in the books of presentation and
introduction in the prerogative office in Canterbury and in several wills of
the incumbents of it registered there, they constantly style themselves
Vicars of Bredhurst." The first mention of a specific Vicar of Bredhurst
is in the old records at Canterbury and is dated approximately 1400. It is
written in Latin and reads "Master Adam, Vicar of Bredhurst was executor
of the aforesaid Richard or Thomas or John Wakehurst." The next
reference is to a Parson of Hollingbourne and Bredhurst, William Leef, a Man
of God and also a criminal. On 12 August 1440 Leef was indicted for stealing
crops to the value of £12 from Thomas Sprynget of Sittingbourne after
breaking into his property. He had no goods or chattels which could be held
as surety for attendance at court and was arrested on 15 September 1450 for
failing to appear before the magistrates at Rochester. In
1536 Henry VIII caused the split from the Church of Rome and the Church of
England began its auspicious rise. New forms of service were used but the
orthodox 'Amen' was retained at the end of prayers and the old Saints' days
were still observed. However, the Reformation caused the closure of many
religious institutions and their possessions were seized by the Crown. This
was the time when St Peter's Church at Bredhurst became Church of England. It
was in this climate that it is rumoured the incumbent of Bredhurst and his
parishioners buried the Church treasure somewhere in the area of the Church
and old village. It has never been found... Bredhurst
and Mierscourt were sold to Lord Cheney and Boxley Abbey was demolished in
1538. John Dobbes, the Abbott of Boxle~., became Vicar of St Mary Hoo and one
of his monks, William Lorkyng, possibly became curate at Bredhurst where he
died in 1551. Archbishop Parker visited the Church in 1573 and noted that
there had been no sermon there for over a year! In 1579 the register shows
that there was only an average of 1 burial, 1 marriage and 4 baptisms a year.
The
first and most controversial Vicar of Bredhurst about whom there is much
information is Richard Tray, who was Vicar of St Mary Hoo, Lidsing and
Bredhurst. He became Curate at Bredhurst in 1605 and registers show that
eight of his children were baptised there, two of who, Richard and William,
went on to attend Westminster School and University. He became a considerable
landowner in the area of Bredhurst. Tray preferred Bredhurst to his other
livings and in 1635 obtained dispensation to live in the village "for 5
years and no more" on the grounds that he claimed St Mary Hoo "is a
damp spot near the Thames." In 1640 the parishioners of his other
livings presented a petition to the House of Commons stating that
"Richard Tray, living at Boxley, was Rector and Vicar of St Mary Hoo and
also Parson and Vicar of Lidsing, but neither he nor any other curate had
administered sacrament there for the-space of three years last and upwards,
and by the space of 20 weeks together have had neither sermon nor divine
service." They also complained that he frequently imposed
excommunication, often for very trivial reasons. Bredhurst alone was not
mentioned which possibly meant that he had been holding services here whilst
neglecting his other parishes. The registers do, indeed, show that large
numbers of weddings, baptisms and burials had taken place in the Parish of
Bredhurst during that time. A petition was signed complaining that Tray was
guilty of violent and abusive behaviour in that he had "reviled Matthew
Hutsford in Maidstone market" and also that he had assaulted the
Bredhurst Parish Clerk, Moses Long. This accusation was signed, amongst
others, by William Kemsley, Churchwarden 1634-40, when he was "incapably
drunk". Moses Long and John Paine were also persuaded to sign whilst
under the influence of drink in an ale-house. Mr Tray defended himself
against the charge of fighting by stating "the Clerk was drunk during a
service and snored so loudly that he shook him in order to wake him up!"
The records show that "Mr Richard Tray, Vicar of Broadhurst was buried
June 19th, 1655" and also later on July lst, 1659! His wife, Mary, was
also buried with him in Bredhurst. One of his sons, also Richard, became
Rector of Murston, although he still regarded Bredhurst as home and had
several of his children baptised there. The Hearth Tax of 1662 showed that he
lived at Abbotts Court Farm. He and his wife were buried at Bredhurst -the
register states "Mr Richard Tray, Rector of Murston, was buried in
Bredhurst Chancell, October ye 26th, 1664." It is very likely that they
died of a further outbreak of the Plague. According to a later Vicar,
Reverend H.C. Day, " the stone over the grave of Richard Tray was in the
centre of the chancel and was moved [during the Victorian restoration] into
the South Chapel". The tablet is in the north-west corner and can still
be read in part. Hasted
described the Church, at the end of the eighteenth century, as follows
"...small mean building consisting of one aisle, one chancel and a low
pointed steeple in which hang two bells; adjoining it on the south side there
is a chapel, now shut out from the Church, on the pavement of which are two
gravestones, which have long since been robbed of their brasses; and are said
to have been placed in memory of the Kemsleys of Kemsley Street before
mentioned, the whole of it now in a ruinous state, without doors or windows
and the pavement is falling into the vault underneath, and covered with filth
and nastiness." He went on to say that in 1786 there were eight people
receiving parish relief and the books show that Isaac Pemble, buried in the
Churchyard, paid Ild in levies at the rate of 1/3d in £. The
Congregationalist Chapel was built in The Street in 1827. It was at that time
that a plea for more money was made on behalf of St Peter's Church. In 1839
an allowance of £150 was paid to the incumbent. Edward
Winch, the brewer, bought most of the Earl of Aylesford's estate, which
included a large part of Bredhurst, in 1861. Rev C.H. Day, son of the Chatham
magistrate Mr T.H. Day was appointed Vicar of Bredhurst. Rev Day commissioned
a new Vicarage in 1863 and it was built by Mr Stump of Rochester. He was also
responsible for the provision of the village school in 1865 and the
restoration and enlargement of St Peter's Church during 1864-6. These
projects were largely subscribed by the Day family and the first stone of the
school was laid by Mr Frank Day of The Vines, Rochester. There
are two accounts of the church prior to its restoration. One account is that
given by Hasted earlier in this history and the other is given by Hussey in
his publication "Churches in Kent" where he describes it as
follows: "On the south side of the Church is a small chapel of very good
early English workmanship. It is separated from the Church, and the door kept
locked, but the windows are open to the birds and weather. The windows appear
not to have been intended to receive glass, but to have had shutters on the
inside." Ewan Christian, a leading Victorian church architect, was commissioned to "thoroughly restore" the Church. Gilbert Scott, the famous architect, was said to have gone into a church restored by Christian and "knelt down and wept." The old St Peter's had many interesting features which have been lost, no doubt modern architects would have been more sympathetic and tried to preserve the ancient flavour. However, it should be remembered that the structure was unsound and severe measures had to be taken. Ewan Christian's pictures of the interior and exterior show clearly some of the major changes wrought in the restoration. The floor level of the chancel was lower than the nave and there was a st | ||
