Church letter

March 2026

Click for the church letter from February 2026

Restore, Renew, Rejoice: the physical work has started

Some ten years ago the idea of a possible refurbishment of St George’s Church was first mooted (the last major undertaking of work in our parish church was in Victorian times - about 150 years ago). After many design iterations, meetings with planning authorities, the Diocesan Advisory Committee, architects, contractors, and many setbacks, the work has finally started.

Our last service, using the nave, took place on 18 January and we then moved everything that was moveable in the church out for safe storage (huge thanks to everyone who helped). Worship continues: the 8am services in the Chancel, and the 10am services in the primary school. All seems to be going well with these alternative worship arrangements.

On 19 January, our appointed contractors, B W May, started to move onto site and the serious work of storing the pews and lifting the wooden floor and tiles began a week later and is progressing well.

With the exception of the west end, the wooden plinths, floorboards and joists have been removed, as have most of the Victorian tiles. These have been upcycled where possible. It has been interesting to see the construction of the large ducts for the old warm-air heating system. The work has also uncovered two large memorials that we knew nothing about, under the wooden floor on the south side of the church. All this work is taking place under the careful supervision of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust and we now have a digital record of previously unknown memorial tablets. The trust are recording all historical details and advising what should be preserved for the future.

Thank you to everyone supporting this exciting journey of restoration. The physical work of the Restore, Renew, Rejoice project is underway. (Health and Safety notice: no one should enter the main church site without permission and appropriate supervision.)

Revd David Commander, Rector and Area Dean