St. John the Evangelist Church, Kingsdown
Upper Street, Kingsdown, Kent, CT14 8BJ
St John’s church was not the first place of worship to be built in the village. An old chapel, probably Wesleyan, dated from about 1800. The village of Kingsdown had begun to grow in the mid-19th century, and the new parish of St John the Evangelist was created out of the original parish of Ringwould. William and Elizabeth Curling, prominent landowners, who had already founded a local school (now the village hall) and built the parsonage, agreed to pay for a church which was finished in 1850.
The single cell church, designed by John Hay of Liverpool and built of local ragstone on a splendid site overlooking the sea, is one of East Kent's undiscovered gems.
Several members of the Curling family are either buried or are remembered on memorials in the church, including Elizabeth and two of William’s brothers. The memorial to William and Elizabeth can be seen on the north side of the chancel, near to the east end of the church, and reads ‘this church will ever form his noblest monument'.
Inside the church are some fine examples of stained glass, including a two-light window by Charles Eamer Kempe and a window made by James Powell & Sons and designed by Gerald Smith.
Timings & Tours
- Saturday 14 September:
- 10:00 - 16:00
Location & directions
Upper Street, Kingsdown, Kent, CT14 8BJ
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
