Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1170 to 1867. Church Of The Holy Cross

Monument Types

• CHURCH (Medieval to Modern - 1170 AD to 2050 AD)

Associated Finds

• BUCKLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD? to 1900 AD?)

Full description

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The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 5273 HOATH
Church of the Holy Cross TR 2064 34/394 30.1.67
II*
2. Built of flint and stone rubble with tile roof. Nave and lower chancel with north aisle, south porch and bell turret at the west end of the nave surmounted by a broached shingled spirelet.probably dating from 1842. Originally a Chapel of Ease to Reculver. Early English, restored in 1867 by Clark, the interior dating almost wholly from the C19. In the west gable is an inscription "Built 1303, repared 1842" south porch with stoup and early English corbel heads. Two small brasses C15 and C16. The churchyard contains some C18 skull and cherub motif headstones and an oval bodystone.
Listing NGR: TR2030864190
(7)

Description from record TR 26 SW 19:
[TR 2031 6418] Ch [NAT] (1) The Church of the Holy Cross, Hoath, is Early English, restored in 1867. An inscription in the W gable reads, "Built 1303, Repaired 1842". (2) In normal use. (3) Church of Holy Cross. Grade II*. Built of flint and stone rubble with tile roof. Nave and lower chancel with N aisle, S porch and bell turret at the W end of the nave surmounted by a broached shingled spirelet, probably dating from 1842. Originally a Chapel of Ease to Reculver. Early English, restored in 1867 by Clark, the interior dating almost wholly from the C19. In the W gable is an inscription "Built 1303, repared 1842" S porch with stoup and Early English corbelheads. (For full description see list). (4) Additional bibliography. (5)

This church unfortunately underwent major restorations in 1842 and 1866-7, but despite this, something of the medieval fabric of this ancient chapel to Reculver still survives.

The nave perhaps dates from the 12th century, as suggested by its north-west and south-west Caenstone quoins, while the chancel is probably of the 13th century, and has some iron-cemented gravel stone in its south wall (cf. churches at Chislet, Westbere, Sturry and also 13th century buildings in Canterbury). It has a pair of lancets in its east wall with a plain round window above (all restored externally). Glynne says there was a piscina with a shelf above. The chancel arch was also c. late 13th century, as were the south door to the nave and the windows on either side. The north nave doorway, of similar date, had its head reset in the north aisle wall in 1867.

In the early 14th century, a three-light west window was made, as well as three two-light windows in the chancel (two on the north, one on the south-east). In the later 15th century two two-light square-headed (under hood-moulds) Perpendicular windows were put into the south side of the church. That on the south side of the nave has a triangular opening under it, possibly a piscina. All these windows have, however, been heavily restored in the 19th century. The Perpendicular windows mentioned above are on either side of where the Rood-screen would have been, and may relate to various activities at the church in the late 15th-early 16th century, including a porch 'pewing' in 1495, gifts to the roodloft (1509-19), etc. All are mentioned in wills, which also tell us of the buying of new bells in 1499. This may be the date when the small bell-turret over the west end of the nave was made (or rebuilt). It was, however, heavily restored along with the west gable (date stone) in 1842, and is now covered in shingles. Above it is a slender spire, also covered in shingles. There are three bells here, one of c. 1500 (see above) and two of 1696.

In 1866-7 the church was heavily restored by Joseph Clarke, and a new north aisle was added. New roofs were made and a new north arcade, as well as completely new fittings including a font and pulpit. The Incorporated Church Building Society gave a grant of £30 for 109 new seats (no doubt the present pews - some now removed). A new porch was also made on the south side of the nave (it has a stoup in it on the east side of the nave doorway). (6)

In 2008 a new drainage trench was dug across the churchyard. Three inhumations were exposed. A copper alloy belt buckle with a heraldic device of the Collett family was found near one of the burials. No instances of that name are recorded in the parish records and so it may be a casual loss in the churchyard. (1)

<1> OS 6" 1960 (OS Card Reference). SKE48367.

<2> MHLG (1953/11/A, Dec 1960), 37 (OS Card Reference). SKE46897.

<3> F1 ASP 11-OCT-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42059.

<4> DOE (HHR) Dist of the City of Canterbury, 1980, 112 (OS Card Reference). SKE40369.

<5> Field report for monument TR 26 SW 19 - October, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5902.

<6> Diocese of Canterbury (Tim Tatton-Brown), 1994, Church Survey - Holy Cross Church, Hoath. (Unpublished document). SKE7596.

<7> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<8> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2009, Archaeological watching brief at Holy Cross Church, Church Road, Hoath (Unpublished document). SKE17922.

Sources and further reading