St Paul Church, Canterbury TR 1530
5770
CANTERBURY
DIOCESE: HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Tim Tatton-Brown's Survey 1991
LOCATION:
Immediately outside the Burgate on the east side of Canterbury, it is
situated on the south side of Church Street between Burgate and the
cemetery gate of St. Augustine's Abbey.
DESCRIPTION:
Until the mid 19th century, the church consisted of a nave and chancel
on the north, with a separate tower to the west, and a large south
aisle and chapel (wider than the nave) which was probably dedicated to
St. John the Baptist. It served, perhaps from the beginning as Hamo
Doges chantry chapel (though his house in Chantry Lane was also part
of the Chantry). By the later 15th century, this south chapel is
called, in wills, the chancel of St. Mary. An altar of All Saints is
also mentioned in a 1498 will, as well as of St. John the Evangelist
(1480) and various lights. In 1490, a new pair of Organs was bought
'to serve God in the church' - see Testamenta Cantiana (E. Kent,
1987), 61-2.
There is no evidence from the remaining fabric, of
anything here earlier than about the middle of the 13th century, and
it is clear that the church was extensively rebuilt at this time. It
seems highly likely that this was during Hamo Doge's time as Rector,
when he was handing over the Patronage to St. Augustine's Abbey, and
was endowing a new vicarage (in the 1260). He was also creating for
himself and this friend Abbot Roger of Chichester) a chantry here. We
also have documentary evidence for the rebuilding of the north wall of
the church 3½ feet further north (into the street) in 1264.
Permission was given for a 60ft. long new wall, and the present N.
wall is c. 69ft. long. Though this has been rebuilt (in knapped flint)
at its east end (c. 1847-8), there can be little doubt that the rest
of the wall is of c. 1264 with flint, local sandstone, etc. The one
original window here is probably a little later in date (c. 1300+)
with two lights with ogee trefoil heads. Above is a cusped quatrefoil
with an external two centred hood mould. The pre-restoration drawing
of the N. wall of the church shows two slightly earlier (later 13th
century) windows west of it in the nave (now with new tracery). To the
east of it a slim 2-light window (now removed and filled in) and
another late 13th century. 2 light window. Two new windows were put in
here in the old chancel after the rebuilding of c. 1847-8.
The two east windows with their fine examples of
'decorated' tracery must also date to the later 13th century, and
could be of the 1270s (ie at the end of Hamo Doge's life).
Inside the church the original arcade with 3 shafts and
moulded capitals and bases must date to Doge's time of rebuilding
(1260s). The eastern shaft (between the two churches is more
elaborately moulded and made entirely of Purbeck Marble. The arches
above are simple two centred affairs with chamfered edges.
In the north wall between the old chancel/nave divisions
is a trefoil-headed piscina (late 13th century also) which must mark
the site of an altar (but ? not the high altar).
The lowest part of the tower has simple openings to E and
S with stopped chamfers having bulbous stops (also c. 13th century).
The quatrefoil window on the N. side is perhaps of the late 14th
century (cf. the windows at the top of the nave aisle walls at the
Cathedral).
By the late 15th century there was clearly a rood screen
across both chancels (see wills in Test. Cant. (E. Kent 1907)
61-2) and each screen clearly had a cross above it. For example,
Richard Berne's will of 1461 requests that he is "buried in the
church of St. Paul in the yle before the Cross in the south part of
the church". He gave money to the two lights of the cross, the
small cross and the cross on the south part of the church." Many
other lights and images are mentioned.
A very major restoration was carried out under G. G.
Scott between 1847 and 1856, when the church was reconsecrated by the
archbishop. This was done under the Revd. William Chesshyre (1842-58)
and much of the earlier work was at his own expense. In 1847 work
started on the rebuilding of the N.E. side of the church (N wall of
the original chancel). Then the upper stage of the tower was rebuilt
(earlier it was of stuccoed brickwork), with a new flint face. Because
the population of the parish was increasing, it was decided to build a
new south aisle and vestry) and to extend the original S. aisle (now
the nave) westwards. The old south and west walls were demolished and
a new arcade matching the north one, was created. The whole of the
west wall was rebuilt (including a refacing of the west wall of the
tower) and a pointed roof was put on the tower. Almost all the window
jambs, tracery etc were renewed, and only the two east windows and one
in the N wall of the church are largely original. New pews and other
fittings were then installed and then in 1880 the sanctuary was
refurbished with mosaic work, tiles, reredos, etc (the reredos was
removed a few years ago). A new organ was installed in the N.E. corner
of the church in 1900. New stained glass was also added at various
later dates, and all the roofs have been reconstructed.
The old font (with a square bowl panelled, with trefoiled
arches, on a square pedestal with angles cut off - see Glynne, p. 134
- description of 1846) was replaced. During the bombing of the last
war much damage was done in the surrounding area and the glass was
blown in. New east and west window glass was installed in 1951.
BUILDING MATERIALS (Incl. old plaster, paintings, glass, tiles etc.):
Only on the N. side of the nave (and lower part of tower), and in the
E. wall is there original fabric of flint, local sandstone (some
Pydocke holes), etc.
Somner (1640) mentions glass in the windows to Hamo Doge and other
later 15th century/early 16th parishioners, now all gone.
EXCEPTIONAL MONUMENTS IN CHURCH
A leger with the brass of Edmund Hovynden (Vicar, ob. 1498) was
originally (see Somner and Hasted) against a pillar, and another brass
to George Wyndbourne (ob. 1532) and his wife Katherine is on the N.
nave aisle wall.
Brass to John Twyne (ob. 1581) on S. side of chancel.
CHURCHYARD AND ENVIRONS:
Site: c. 165ft. (E.W.) by c. 130ft (N.S.) Post medieval detached
churchyard (bought 1591) c. 300 yards E.S.E. of church on S. side of
Longport. There was possibly a small, earlier graveyard, just S. of
the church, but the parishioners mostly must have used St. Augustine's
lay cemetery. In 1690 Sir Edward Master gave £5 towards the
purchasing of ground for the enlargement of the churchyard (see Hasted
XI, 280).
Shape: Rectangular
Condition: Good
Present burial: closed - All grave stones have been removed to the E.
and S. walls for east of maintenance.
Boundary walls: Brick boundary walls - that on the W. now demolished.
Earthworks: adjacent: St. Augustine's Bell Tower mound on other side
of road to N.E.
Building in churchyard or on boundary: none, but a house adjoining to
the N. (E. of main gateway).
HISTORICAL RECORD (where known):
Earliest ref. to church: In existence by c. 1200 (Urry)
Late med. status (rectory/vicarage/appropriation): Rectors eg William
de Sandwich (in 1252) and Hamo Doge (Last one) until in 1268 the
latter created a vicarage, and then gave the Patronage to St.
Augustine's who appropriated it. Virgil de Alkham (from 1268) was the
first vicar)
Patron: St. Augustine's Abbey, till 1538 then to King and given to
Dean and Chapter of Canterbury in 1542. In 1681, this vicarage was
united to the Rectory of St. Martins.
Other documentary sources: Altar of St. John Baptist mentioned for
Doge's Chantry (mid 13th century). In 1264 the church was allowed to
encroach on the street on the north by 60ft. in length and 3½ft. in
width Cal. Pat. Rolls. (1258-66), 380; Somner, Antiquities
of Cant. (1640) 337 tells us that 'In the chancel windows foot is
this remembrance of Mr Hamon Doge, in ancient character or letter' ie.
in the stained glass. Other details of south chancel of St. Mary and
altars of All Saints and St. John the Evangelist and various lights in
Test. Cant. (E. Kent 1907) 61-2.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORD
Finds within 0.5km: St. Augustine's Abbey is to the east, and the
Roman road out of Burgate runs immediately to the north.
SURVIVAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL DEPOSITS:
Inside present church: ? quite good - ground level raised.
Outside present church: ? good (ground level in street raised).
RECENT DISTURBANCES\ALTERATIONS:
To floors: - but nave altar platform built and some heating pipes in
trenches around here.
To graveyard: Boundary wall partly rebuilt after October 1987 storm.
QUINQUENNIAL INSPECTION (date\architect): 1989 Andrew Clague
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL ASSESSMENT:
The church and churchyard: This church has useful documentary evidence
relating to a major later 13th century rebuilding, which can be
associated with surviving work.
The wider context: One of St. Augustine's surviving churches in
Canterbury.
REFERENCES: ed. M Sparks The Parish of St. Martin and St. Paul,
Canterbury (1980) and Guidebook (see below).
Guidebook: 1975 by Revd. Christopher Donaldson (Vicar) with plan by
Michael Stace.
Plans and drawings: Early 19th century drawing (view from N). Drawing
of the church in 1759 and drawing and plan with proposed
alterations/additions in 1847 and 1854.
DATES VISITED: 24th December
1991
REPORT BY: Tim Tatton-Brown