Our Church History
With evidence to suggest a church has existed on this site since Saxon Times, we are proud to be following in the footsteps of Christians throughout the ages in this historic place of worship.
St Martin's underwent major alterations in 1865 and 1866, uncovering further evidence of how the mediaeval church might have been developed between the late twelfth and late fourteenth centuries.
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The earliest recorded rector of St Martin's is listed as Edmund de Mepham in 1313. He would be followed by many notable rectors including John Longland, Thomas Bayley and William Hodge Mill.
The much-needed restoration of St Martin's begun in 1865 with works continuing on to include the completion of the bell tower in 1881.
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The church's place in the heart of the community was noticeable in the extensive fund-raising throughout this time as was the commitment to seeing St Martin's return from a state of dilapidation to one of excellent repair with double the capacity for our congregation.
Twentieth Century
As the twentieth century dawned, the tradition of improvements to St Martin's continued, as did the community's care and sense of pride in their church.
In 1906 a Nicholson organ was installed, donated by Frank Williams the then resident of Brasted Hall, and 1913 saw the installation of the long-awaited south tower clock which had been gifted to the church by Mrs Durtnell in memory of her late husband Richard T Durtnell.
Following the First World War an anonymous benefactor purchased The Stocket Chapel as a memorial to Brasted's fallen servicemen. The pews were replaced, local residents working hard to provide new decorations while the rector donated, and frequently played, an American Organ. The chapel, with its' distinctive oak panelling recording the names of those servicemen killed in the First World War on the West and North walls, was dedicated by the Bishop of Rochester in 1919. The names of the fallen from the Second World War would later be added to the East wall.
In 1944, a V1 flying bomb landed in the glebe field to the east of St Martin's causing extensive damage including shattering most of the windows and cracking the foundations of the church. Once again, the support of parishioners saw the damaged windows replaced with their design intentionally letting more light into the church. The new window over the Stocket Chapel's altar was an exact copy of the original which had been installed in memory of Lieutenant Lord Wall.
The 4th November 1989 is a date well remembered by the congregants and residents of Brasted as the south-eastern area of our beloved church was gutted by fire destroying the organ, chancel furnishings, pulpit and windows, and most of the roof. Thanks to the timely actions of of the firefighters, the Stocket Chapel was less severely affected and the tower remained undamaged.
Following the fire. the church was temporarily relocated to the High Street building which had once housed Brasted School until its closure in 1988. Local architects and contractors, Peake Short and Partners and Durtnell and Sons Ltd, were appointed to rebuild the church with work starting in February 1991 and being completed in 1992. Our church community were able to attend the first service in our newly rebuilt church on Maundy Thursday 16th April. The East window and organ would be installed over the coming months with our refurbished building being rededicated by the Bishop of Rochester on 15th November 1992.
St Martin's Church today
As the story of our rural church home continues, so has the process of renewal and restoration.
In 2003 an appeal was launched to restore our historic bell frame, dating originally from around 1580 which had been added to in 1730. By 2005 the existing bells had been removed, retuned and rehung with the old frame having been adapted to take eight bells in works undertaken by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry.
For more information on St Martin's church bells and the restoration project
Bell Restoration Photos: Frank Lewis, Mar 2003
We commemorated the centenary of the end of the First World War by restoring the Stocket Chapel's oak panels and adding additional names of fallen serviceman who had been ommitted from the original memorial.
For more information about the history of St Martin's Church guide books are available to purchase.
Copies cost £4 with all proceeds going to the church. - Please contact our church wardens on: stmartinsbrastedchurchwardens@gmail.com
