The Changing External Appearance

We can only guess what the Norman or Saxon Church building might have been like. The Norman or Saxon nave is believe to have been destroyed in the 1838 rebuild must have mostly been lost from the external view over the centuries, first as the chancel was added to the east (c.14th century) and then as the north and south aisles were added (the square windows are typical of the late 15th century).

We do though have a fair idea what St. Mary's of the appearance of St. Mary's for the past 500 years or so.

Early C19th

The church as it appeared in 1829, and would have for a couple of hundred years before this.

one of the drawings by John Buckler, June 1829, now in the British Library

Before Victorian times the tower extended well into the nave, limiting the space available for worshippers, as can be clearly seen on the picture here. (If you know Gillingham you may find the windows of the nave look familiar - they can now be found in the Vicarage Schoolroom!) There is also an elevation plan the north side of the church before the rebuild - but in mirror image!

Prior to 1618 most of the building would have looked much as it still did in 1829; the porch had been rebuilt in 1617, but the most significant change to the exterior around this time was the raising of the tower by 21 feet - remembering the present tower is 66 feet in height, indicates the magnitude of this change and the effect it must have had on the overall impression given by the building.

Hide / show description of changes

On the wall of the belfry or ringing loft of the old church was this memorandum:

The porch new built, the lead thereof new cast, the church and vestry repaired, 1617. The tower raised 21 feet, the dial, ringing loft and the King's arms made, by the gift of several 1618.

(Hutchins, 1868, vol iii, p.642)

The heightened tower was probably the first significant change since the aisles were added.

Deane's rebuild

The industrious Vicar of Gillingham for fifty years from 1832, Henry Deane, was responsible for the rebuilding of much of the church, including moving the tower back by 20 feet, in around 1838. A plaque on the wall records that this rebuilding created space for 1157 people - far more suited to the needs of the town than the previous building had been.

Some of the funding for the rebuild came from the Incorporated Church Building Society which was founded in 1818 to provide funds for the building and enlargement of Anglican churches throughout England and Wales. It was the principal voluntary Society for promoting the building and restoration of churches throughout the most active period of church building since the Middle Ages.

photo from Mate's "Illustrated Guide to Dorsetshire", published in 1900

The nave is now much higher than the chancel and with a clerestory. These days this gives an airy atmosphere, but at the Easter Vestry meeting in 1907 after a sub-committee had been formed "Instructions were also given to the sub-committee to consider the question of defective ventilation and in especial the proposal to have the clerestory windows made capable of being opened." (from the minutes)

Re-cycling

The rebuilding of the Church building did not mean the throwing away of everything from the past. The other history pages describe many fittings included in the rebuilt nave which predate the rebuild. And as well as the windows being used in the Vicarage Schoolroom the three stone cottages on Church walk to the north of the Church were built with stone salvaged from the church. Church Cottage, the most westerly, even incorporates an old gargoyle and door or window stones around the door.

Tower alteration

The tower was then further remodelled in 1908 and "raised to a height of 66 feet" by the architect C.E. Ponting. Comparing pre and post 1908 pictures the height does not appear to have changed much - possibly only increased by taller pinnacles - but it certainly enhanced in attractiveness the somewhat plain 1838 building.

It appears that this picture was drawn after the tower enhancements.

This was the appearance for only a few years - from 1908 to the building of the Good Shepherd Chapel.

The Good Shepherd Chapel added

A photo taken in 2008: the external appearance has changed little since the building of the chapel in 1921 (though growth in the yew tree makes it harder to get similar views).

The style and stonework of the Good Shepherd blends so well the much older chancel that it can be difficult to imagine it is such a relatively recent addition.