The royal arms of George III (dated 1810) on a painted board at the west end of St Michael's church, Hernhill.
King George's Chaplain at the time was Dr Burney, Vicar of Hernhill [Ref. (
visit link) ]and whose sister, Fanny, was a celebrated Court diarist [Ref. (
visit link) ].
"George III was the third Hanoverian king of Great Britain. During his reign, Britain lost its American colonies but emerged as a leading power in Europe. He suffered from recurrent fits of madness and after 1810, his son acted as regent.
George III was born on 4 June 1738 in London, son of Frederick, Prince of Wales and Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. He became heir to the throne when his father died in 1751, succeeding his grandfather George II in 1760. He was the first Hanoverian monarch to use English as his first language. In 1761, George married Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and they enjoyed a happy marriage, with 15 children.
George chose his mentor the Earl of Bute as his first chief minister. He was a poor choice, isolating George from senior politicians. Effective government became almost impossible, and George was increasingly vilified. The instability following Bute's resignation in 1763 did little to solve the crown's financial difficulties, made worse by the Seven Years' War. In 1770, George appointed Lord North as his first minister. Although an effective administrator, North's government was dominated by disagreements with the American colonists over British attempts to levy taxes on them. War began in 1775 and was prolonged in 1779, at the king's insistence, to prevent copycat protests elsewhere. The British defeat in 1781 prompted North to resign.
In 1783, North and the prominent Whig politician Fox formed a coalition government. Their plans to reform the East India Company gave George the chance to regain popularity. He forced the bill's defeat in Parliament, and the two resigned. In their place George appointed William Pitt the Younger. The combination of Pitt's skill and war with France in 1793 strengthened George's position, but disagreements over emancipation of the Catholics - Pitt was in favour and George vehemently opposed - led to Pitt's resignation in 1801.
The American war, its political aftermath and family quarrels put great strain on George. After serious bouts of illness in 1788 - 1789 and 1801, thought now to be caused by porphyria, he became permanently deranged in 1810. The Prince of Wales (later George IV) became regent.
George remained ill until his death at Windsor Castle on 29 January 1820. In 1801, under the Act of Union Great Britain and Ireland were united into a single nation - the United Kingdom. George was thus the first king of the new nation."
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"St Michael's is a classic Kentish church overlooking Hernhill village green.
The church is run as a combined benefice with Boughton and Graveney, with services in all three churches every Sunday, and joint activities also taking place at the parish centre of St Barnabas, in the centre of Boughton village, including the monthly "Messy Church". For more information see "boughton-hernhill-graveney-churches.com"
The church is situated on the top of a hill in the centre of the village. Looking north-east the coast and sea are visible whilst south-east the beautiful landscape across the orchards towards Blean Woods can be enjoyed.
There has been a Christian church in Hernhill since Saxon times. The Saxon wooden structure was replaced in 1120 by a stone-and-wood church dedicated to St Stephen. Masonry from the original 12th century building is still identifiable today in the south wall.
The present stone and flint church, dedicated to St Michael, was constructed on the site in about 1450. It is an excellent example of a purpose built 15th century church and is one of a few wholly Perpendicular churches in Kent. The main door and the bell tower door are fine examples of 15th century joinery and the rood screen a good example of 16th century workmanship.
The interior was restored in the 19th century and consequently much of the furniture dates from this period. Like many other churches, St Michael's has been subjected to additions and alterations throughout its history and the most recent extension, to create the Lady Chapel was carried out in 1928. The bell tower houses eight bells refurbished in 1997 and rung by a dedicated band of campanologists."
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