Stour Vale Churches

Gillingham Local History Lecture – April 2004

Most of the eight Stour Vale churches in villages near Gillingham had links with the 13^th and 14^th centuries and some had Saxon origins, Gillingham Local History Society was told on 21 April.

With slides and drawings West Stour residents Brian Harper and his wife Jo gave detailed descriptions and histories of the churches from their researches.

Traces of Saxon origin exist at St Andrew’s, Todber, though rebuilt in 1879, funded by the Marchioness of Westminster after being ruinous and disused for many years.

A Saxon church was probably on the site of St Michael’s, Stour Provost, replaced in 1302 and altered and partly rebuilt over the centuries.

At Fifehead Magdalen earliest mention of a church there is in the 12^th century in Bristol Cathedral records.  The present church, St Mary Magdalen dates from the 14^th century.  Exceptionally among the eight, it is substantially unchanged except for the 18^th century north chapel.  Major restoration was in 1904 -05.

The foundation date of St John the Baptist, Buckhorn Weston, is unknown but must be well before 13^th century when the incumbent list starts.  It was mainly restored and enlarged by Sir Francis Stapleton in 1870.

First reference to All Saints, Kington Magna, was in 1253 when the clergy patron was lord of the manor.  In Victorian rebuilding a Norman arch was said to have been replaced.  Owing to decay the church was rebuilt in 1862 except for the massive 15^th century tower.

Mostly 13^th century is St Mary’s, West Stour, though nave and south tower were built in 1840 by the Rev Henry Deane, vicar of St Mary’s, Gillingham.

Deane built as well Christ Church, East Stour, in 1842, though it appears Roman or Norman.

While Gillingham vicar 1832-1882, he also completely rebuilt St Mary’s, Gillingham, enlarged Bourton church, rebuilt totally Motcombe church, built new churches at Enmore Green and Milton on Stour and encouraged building and development of schools in the area.

At Stour Row, All Saints was built in the 19^th century as a chapel of ease.

To reorganise the Gillingham team ministry of which they are part, the eight were called as serving Stour Vale parish in 2002 with one priest.  The other two, Gillingham and Milton on Stour, have two priests, with the Gillingham rector team high priest.

Ralph Allman