The story of the formation of the ‘Friends of Penshurst Church’ began as a consequence of a series of events at the church that highlighted some important facts!
Please click on the headings below to open and close and read more...
Please click on the headings below to open and close and read more...
What makes the Church Building so special!
Outside, the building remains in its original mediaeval setting - with the cluster of Penshurst Place; a 15th century church house, now called the Guild House and one of the few surviving in the country; and the old rectory, parts of which also date back to the 12th century.
Inside can be found more of Penshurst's history than anywhere else in the village.
Traces of the first church building in the 12th century
Effigy of the first owner of Penshurst Place
Mediaeval 'dole' table from which the poor were fed on Feast Days
Stubs of roof truss decorations, sawn off by Cromwell's troops
Bronze of Pawle Yden, his wife and daughter dated 1514
Burial plaque of Thomas Boleyn, brother of Anne Boleyn - dated 1520
Tomb of Sir Willian Sidney, the first member of the family, who were given Penshurst Place by King Edward VI in 1552
Sidney family crypt containing, among many others,the body and executed head of AlgernonSidney, alleged conspirator of the Rye House Plot to assassinate King Charles II
Memorial, part carved by the famous sculpture Grinling Gibbons, to Sir William Coventry, Naval Commisioner in the 17th century while Samuel Pepys was secretary
Worl War memorial designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott the designer of the red telephone kiosk and Bank-side Power Station (now Tate Modern)
Stained glass window commemorating the visit of Thomas Beckett in 1170 - his last public duty before his murder in Canterbury Cathedral.
Inside can be found more of Penshurst's history than anywhere else in the village.
Traces of the first church building in the 12th century
Effigy of the first owner of Penshurst Place
Mediaeval 'dole' table from which the poor were fed on Feast Days
Stubs of roof truss decorations, sawn off by Cromwell's troops
Bronze of Pawle Yden, his wife and daughter dated 1514
Burial plaque of Thomas Boleyn, brother of Anne Boleyn - dated 1520
Tomb of Sir Willian Sidney, the first member of the family, who were given Penshurst Place by King Edward VI in 1552
Sidney family crypt containing, among many others,the body and executed head of AlgernonSidney, alleged conspirator of the Rye House Plot to assassinate King Charles II
Memorial, part carved by the famous sculpture Grinling Gibbons, to Sir William Coventry, Naval Commisioner in the 17th century while Samuel Pepys was secretary
Worl War memorial designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott the designer of the red telephone kiosk and Bank-side Power Station (now Tate Modern)
Stained glass window commemorating the visit of Thomas Beckett in 1170 - his last public duty before his murder in Canterbury Cathedral.
Initial Reaction to a Cold November Day
The church’s central heating was woefully poor and ‘not fit for purpose. The ancient heating system failed completely just before a packed concert on a freezing cold November's day and the singers shivered and the orchestra's fingers froze. Despite the building's fine musical acoustic, the performers politely declined to return during winter months until the problem was solved.
This was the single moment when it became clear that the congregation, over the years, have been stoical in their support throughout the winter months and they deserved more! Money had to be spent to ensure that the nearly 900 year old church remained a living building during the 21st century. The last hundred years, with its distractions of two World Wars and its growth in materialism, was only the second century in the church's history when little money was spent on adapting its structure to more contemporary requirements. The costs of this gap have now come home to roost.
This was the single moment when it became clear that the congregation, over the years, have been stoical in their support throughout the winter months and they deserved more! Money had to be spent to ensure that the nearly 900 year old church remained a living building during the 21st century. The last hundred years, with its distractions of two World Wars and its growth in materialism, was only the second century in the church's history when little money was spent on adapting its structure to more contemporary requirements. The costs of this gap have now come home to roost.
The Bigger Picture
The first reaction may have been to remedy the heating problem in isolation, but on closer inspection it became clear that what was needed was a much broader approach to the building and its future place in the village community. The church was making a loss each year and its financial reserves were rapidly dwindling – something needed to be done. Most people in Penshurst knew nothing about how churches in general are funded or about the pressing financial difficulties of their own church.
The proposition presented to both the church and wider village communities was that a combined effort was needed to ensure this iconic building at the heart of the village, its history and identity. The church group needed first to increase its annual contributions so that it could fund all costs associated with worship - this has now been achieved. The wider village should be prepared to help fund the updating of the building, on the basis so that it would not just be preserved but made fit for wider use by the community. An experienced church architect's report on how this might be achieved was commissioned and presented to villagers in mid 2009. The broad vision was overwhelmingly supported at the meetings and in a detailed survey of village opinions. Click Here to see the results of the general questionnaire.
The proposition presented to both the church and wider village communities was that a combined effort was needed to ensure this iconic building at the heart of the village, its history and identity. The church group needed first to increase its annual contributions so that it could fund all costs associated with worship - this has now been achieved. The wider village should be prepared to help fund the updating of the building, on the basis so that it would not just be preserved but made fit for wider use by the community. An experienced church architect's report on how this might be achieved was commissioned and presented to villagers in mid 2009. The broad vision was overwhelmingly supported at the meetings and in a detailed survey of village opinions. Click Here to see the results of the general questionnaire.
The Plan
The plan was that the village's help should be channelled through a new charity, the Friends of Penshurst Church. It would work closely with the Parochial Church Council (PCC) but have its own set of independent trustees. It would raise awareness of the church building's needs among the village community and raise funds, but only toward the fabric of the building, not its religious activities.
The Friends of Penshurst Church was approved as a charity by the Charity Commission late in 2009 and is now working closely with the PCC to draw up detailed plans to for major work to update Penshurst church for the 21st century - installing modern heating, lighting, kitchen and toilet facilities, for example. These plans, and their costs, are expected to be ready during the spring of 2010. Meanwhile, we are building up our membership and support for the journey ahead. Please do join us by completing the 'Have Your Say'… request which you can find by clicking here.
Click here for a copy of the Friends of Penshurst Church Constitution
The Friends of Penshurst Church was approved as a charity by the Charity Commission late in 2009 and is now working closely with the PCC to draw up detailed plans to for major work to update Penshurst church for the 21st century - installing modern heating, lighting, kitchen and toilet facilities, for example. These plans, and their costs, are expected to be ready during the spring of 2010. Meanwhile, we are building up our membership and support for the journey ahead. Please do join us by completing the 'Have Your Say'… request which you can find by clicking here.
Click here for a copy of the Friends of Penshurst Church Constitution
Has the Plan Worked?
Yes, in part! We have been fortunate in the the majority of the villagers have approved of the campaign - 'Saving Penshurst Church'. Many have generously contributed to the cause as have our sponsors and the various charitable funds we have approached. To date the amount raised is in the region of £425,000 - a very significant sum in the light of the current economic climate.
The overall picture is positive but like most projects of this nature, especially in a village such as Penshurst, some aspects of the project have not met with full approval and this is a great pity because this project was not entered into lightly. In fact all church goers and villagers were invited by letter, email and through the Penshurst News to learn about what was planned and get approval for the manner in which the projected was to be carried out.
Through a number of open events in the church as well as voting questionnaires a very high percentage of the community agreed with what the Friends of Penshurst Church were trying to achieve.
To see the results of our questionnaire please click here.
The overall picture is positive but like most projects of this nature, especially in a village such as Penshurst, some aspects of the project have not met with full approval and this is a great pity because this project was not entered into lightly. In fact all church goers and villagers were invited by letter, email and through the Penshurst News to learn about what was planned and get approval for the manner in which the projected was to be carried out.
Through a number of open events in the church as well as voting questionnaires a very high percentage of the community agreed with what the Friends of Penshurst Church were trying to achieve.
To see the results of our questionnaire please click here.
