Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1066 to 1899. St Mary of Charity is a large, fourteenth and fifteenth century church, largely rebuilt in the eighteenth century and restored in the nineteenth century. The nave of 1754-5 was by George Dance senior in classical style and the west tower replaced by Beazley with an openwork model in 1799. Scott reworked the nave and transspte in 1873-5. The west bay of the nave is the earliest surviving part.

Monument Types

• MINSTER (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 600 AD? to 700 AD)
• CHURCH (Medieval to Modern - 1300 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TR 06 SW 20:
[TR 0181 6153] St. Mary's Church [NAT] (1) The Church of St. Mary of Charity, Faversham, is 14th and 15th century, restored in the 19th century. (2) In normal use. (3) Parish Church of St. Mary of Charity, Grade A, Church Road. A Cruciform church of 14th - 15th century, restored in the 19th century.But in 1755 the interior of the nave was pulled down and replaced by George Dance in classical style. (For full description see list.) (4) The Church of St. Mary of Charity, Faversham, must have been a grand church before the central tower collapsed. The chancel and transepts were rebuilt after an attack on the church by townspeople in 1301. There is now a nave of 1754-5 by George Dance senior. The tower was replaced at the west end by Charles Beazley in 1799. In 1858 restoration began, with the casing of the tower in flint and Bath stone. In 1873-5 Scott reworked the nave and transepts while Christian restored the chancel. So the walls are all of knapped flints and every stone of the window tracery renewed. The west bay of the nave is the earliest part, with a round-headed clerestory window and a round-headed blocked arch north and south. The heads of these turned in brick suggest a 17th century remodelling,one would say, rather than that this is the remains of a grandly scaled Saxon church. (5) Short history, plate of church showing north-east view, and two plans.(6) Formerly TR 06 SW 52

In 2006 Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company carried out a programme of work in the churchyard. Numerous burials were located. Records indicate the separate chapels stood in the churchyard in the medieval period. Possible traces of these were found during these works. (9)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
FAVERSHAM
THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST MARY OF CHARITY
29.07.1950 I
Cruciform church of C14-C15, restored in the C19. But in 1755 the interior of the nave was pulled down and replaced by George Dance in classical style. This has Doric columns, a triglyph frieze with swags and branches in the metopes and semi-circular openings framing the medieval clerestory windows outside. The central medieval tower was likewise pulled down in 1797 and an openwork spire of brick built at the west end of the church which was encased in stone in 1855 by George Gilbert Scott who also reworked the nave and transepts [1873-1875]. 659/1/98 CHURCH ROAD TR 0161 NE PARISH CHURCH OF ST MARY OF CHARITY 29/7/50 I
Listing NGR: TR0182461540 (10)

Photograph (11)

<1> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<2> MHLG (1103/11/A June 1949) 7 (OS Card Reference). SKE46913.

<3> F1 ASP 02-AUG-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE41890.

<4> DOE (HHR) Boro of Faversham Kent Aug 1972 25 (OS Card Reference). SKE39841.

<5> The Buildings of England (ed N Pevsner) NE and E Kent 1983 314-317 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE50167.

<6> Hist of Faversham 1774 39-52 (E Jacob) (OS Card Reference). SKE43922.

<7> KARU Site no 527 (OS Card Reference). SKE45600.

<8> Field report for monument TR 06 SW 20 - August, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5295.

<9> Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2007, Archaeological Evaluation, Excavation and Watching Brief at the Church of St Mary of Charity, Faversham, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE18023.

<10> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<11> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11404.

Sources and further reading