A flush bracket, S0690, at the south west angle of the entrance to St Michael's church, Sittingbourne.
"As there is no documentary, archaeological or architectural evidence of an early church, it can only be speculation that it was constructed between 1100 and 1130. In 1175 the church was conveyed to the Nunnery of St. Mary, Clerkenwell; an Augustinian establishment, under a grant by Henry II. This grant is recorded in a 13th. Century cartulary of the priory. Further confirmation of the priory’s rights is given under a second charter issued by Richard I on 20th. March 1190.
After the martyrdom of Beckett in 1173, a chapel was established at a hamlet at the west end of the town, (Schamel), where the priest in charge; Samuel, ensured that pilgrims took their rest in the shelters of the hermitage. As a result St. Michael’s did not enjoy the revenue they would have expected to receive from passing pilgrims. In 1271 the priest of the chapel; one Sylvester, died. This gave the priest of St. Michael’s, Simon de Shordich, the opportunity to appropriate the marble altar and altar bell. The next priest, Boniface, who demolished the hermitage buildings, continued the destruction
After Henry VIII’s Act of Supremacy in 1534 and the reformation and dissolution that followed in 1538, St. Michael’s returned to the possession of the crown. It was not until the 18th. Century that one of the most significant events in the church’s history occurred.
On Saturday, 17th. July 1762, workmen were repairing the lead on the roof of the church which necessitated having a burning brazier in place to work the lead. At about mid-day they broke for dinner. As a result of the warm yet windy day and the lit brazier the roof of the church was set ablaze. Within an hour the building was in ruins with only the outer walls and the central pillars remaining. Sittingbourne was now devoid of its parish church.
After much discussion it was decided to repair the remains of the existing church and not proceed with building a new church. It is interesting to note that the committee charged with the restoration appeared to struggle to find a suitable venue having met at The Bull, The Ship, The Rose, The Red Lion, The White Hart, The Three Kings, The George, The Lyon and eventually at the church. In March 1763 it was agreed to commence work on rebuilding the roof over the nave and chancel. In order to proceed with services, the side aisles were partitioned off and on the 17th October the churchwardens were ordered to write to the vicar; the Rev. Bland, to inform him ‘that the church would be ready for Divine Service on Sunday 23rd. instant and that he be requested to perform it accordingly’. The repair of the church continued for another 3 years, before it was completed.
In 1822 the first organ appears to have been installed in the church in the gallery, which had been installed at the west end of the nave. On the occasion of the Archdeacon’s visitation in 1871 and on the advice of Ewan Christian the architect the gallery was removed
In 1812 the Vestry Committee agreed to make arrangements for a school at the church for the children of Sittingbourne parish. This was accomplished by partitioning off the south transept from the rest of the church and using the round-headed door (now blocked), in the western wall. It would appear that it was not until 1844 that the church was restored to something like its former grandeur, although the Vestry Minutes for 1816 go on to mention the provision of a new schoolroom at ‘The Butts’.
The original Norman plan would have been of a simple arch and chancel. The earlies traces of Romanesque, or late Norman exist as subsequent additions in the 12th. Century to the initial plan as the eastern and western walls of the transept. These are distinct from their counterparts being thicker and made up of large, roughly knapped flints; notably this construction is not repeated anywhere else on the church.
It would appear that the first substantial and lasting development of the church was underway into the 13th. Century, beginning with the extension of the east end of the chancel in more carefully worked flint, to its current termination. Two lancets were also created; and can still be seen in the north wall. In the late 13th to early 14th. Centuries the north and south aisles were constructed. At least the north aisle appears to have been built first as is suggested by the mixed and roughly knapped flints, whereas the south wall is constructed of neatly dressed flint. The nave walls were rebuilt, rather than being pierced. Into the 15th Century the Romanesque transept was developed southwards, the Perpendicular five-light window inserted and a contemporary piscine installed. Larger windows were added to the aisle walls. The tower was also completed with its north and east walls rebuilt and refurbished in ragstone. Aside from the major repairs after the fire of 1762 works to the church after the 16th Century were more modest and involved repair and re-furnishing as opposed to major building."
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