St. Catherine’s is said to be the only remaining complete Anglican Church designed by Edward Welty Pugin (1834-1875) who was a Roman Catholic. The parish had 96 inhabitants in 1865 when the church was built. It’s benefactor was Thomas Pemberton-Leigh the first and only Lord Kingsdown. Whilst many other churches were restored this was rebuilt. The builder was Mr. Smith of Ramsgate.
The chancel has a red glow from the deep red of the glass in the north and south windows. They are Victorian glass and when the light comes through they create not only a glow but patterns on the floor.
The surrounding graveyard contains less than fifty marked graves and is the final resting place for County Court Judge and author Henry Cecil Leon and his artist wife Lettice (Apperly) Leon.
Above the entrance is a statue of St. Catherine which was restored in 1968 in memory of Alice Ann Russell of Bond’s Cottage, Kingsdown who died at Rochester on 22nd January 1961 and of John Edward Gwyer of Kingsdown House who died on 19th January 1956 aged eighteen months and who rests in the graveyard.
The church is Grade II listed and cared for by The Churches Conservation Trust, the national charity protecting historic churches at risk. Although no longer used for regular worship it remains consecrated and open to the public.
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