St Martin's Church, Maidstone , Kent

St Martin's Church, Maidstone Church

Image Source: Rob Baker

This large red brick church in the centre of the Shepway housing estate is one of Kent's finest examples of a church built in the 20th century. Built in 1957 to designs by Brighton based architect John L. Denman, it was consecrated in 1960. It is built to a traditional liturgical design, with the repetetive roof arches drawing one's eyes towards the sanctuary at the east end, overlooked by three stained-glass lancet windows designed by Francis Spear. Spear also designed the three lancet windows in the apsed baptistry at the west end. There is a small chapel to the north of the chancel dedicated to St. Hilary, who has also been the patron saint of the original church hall and a later 1980s Mission Church in the Senacre housing estate. This quiet chapel contains enchanting stained-glass windows by F. W. (Frederick William) Cole. The present building is the fourth church built to serve Maidstone's rapidly expanding southern suburbs. The first was built in 1928 on the nearby Mangravet estate; but by 1934 the church had moved to a new site opposite. The original building, which was sold in the late 1950s, still remains as St. Hilary's Hall and is today used as a nursery. The second church was built of timber and asbestos and didn't last long. It was soon demolished and now a parade of fast food outlets now stands on the site. The Shepway estate was built shortly after the Second World War and in 1953 a new church was built in Northumberland Avenue. This sturdy red-bricked structure with a separate chancel and an arch braced nave roof - possibly also designed by Denman - proved to be too small and is now the Church Hall, albeit an impressively large one! The fourth (and current) church was built immediately next to it. Today St. Martin's manages to combine a modern style of church worship in a traditionally designed building. With over 28,000 people, the parish is one of the most populated in England. There are pockets of severe deprivation and throughout the coronavirus pandemic and recent economic downturn the church has managed to maintain a very visible presence in the community. Text by Rob Baker.

1851 Census Details

Seating Capacity: Not built

Morning Attendance: not built

Afternoon Attendance: Not built

Evening Attendance: Not built

Architecture Details

Original Build Date/Architect: John L Denman 1957

Restoration:

Second Restoration:

Notes

Website

http://

Queries Relating to this Church

To contact this church, please try: A Church Near You

This Kent Churches website is provided to you for free, running at a loss in order to remain advert-free. If you are enjoying using the site and would like to make a small contribution towards our expenses, it would be most gratefully received. You can donate via Paypal.