St Mary's Church, Ide Hill, Kent

St Mary's Church, Ide Hill Church

Image Source: John Vigar

The church of St. Mary the Virgin at Ide Hill is the highest parish church in Kent. The present building dates from 1865-66 and replaced a small chapel that had been erected in 1807 under the supervision of the Bishop of London, Beilby Porteus. The Bishop, who was a pioneer in the anti-slavery movement, lived locally and was concerned that the residents of this hilltop village had no church. The present church, designed by architect C.H. Cooke, was built on the same site as the original chapel, overlooking the large village green. It is constructed from galleted blocks of squared rubble and distinguished by its slender north-eastern tower and spire. It is built to a cruciform pattern with a pair of small transepts. The dignified interior has rows of leaf corbels supporting an arch-braced nave roof, while the chancel ceiling was redesigned in 1964 as a thanksgiving from a local American family to commemorate the church holding a memorial service for John F. Kennedy in 1963. The interior furnishings reflect the overall wealth of the area. Many prosperous families from large estate houses have paid for the upkeep and maintenance of the church. The Americans, Philip S.P. and Elisabeth Fell, lived at Quorndon; but in the early days the benefactors were connected to the Emmetts and Everlands estates. A plaque in the nave records that Edith Maud Rycroft of Everlands provided the funding in 1881 to install the heating apparatus, improved the chancel and enlarged the vestry. She also built and maintained a Mission Room in the nearby hamlet of Goathurst Common in 1885. The church has an impressive array of 19th century stained-glass all designed by Alexander Gibbs. The original east window was destroyed in the Second World War and was replaced in 1946 by a colourful modern design of the Nativity by John Baker. The chancel is accessed via a set of steps where the carved stone pulpit extends forward under the chancel arch, overlooked by a pair of angels carrying blank shields. The lectern, fixed into the floor at the south side of the crossing, is made of alabaster, with the stem carved with four figures representing the Four Evangelists. The church is open daily and well worth seeking out. Text by Rob Baker.

1851 Census Details

Seating Capacity: 160

Morning Attendance: 143

Afternoon Attendance: 172

Evening Attendance: No service

Architecture Details

Original Build Date/Architect: Cooke 1865

Restoration:

Second Restoration:

Notes

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