Churches of the British Isles

Its congregation now met at the United Church building on Mortimer Street (see 'related links'). The organ, which was first played in the church in 1896, was dismantled, catalogued, and shipped to a European buyer. The pews were also sold off. The chapel remained worryingly empty and increasingly derelict until it was sold in 2012 to be converted into apartments, with a small retail space in the basement. The conditions included leaving unchanged the building's exterior.

Herne Bay Baptist Church is on the High Street just east of the old Methodist Church (see above). It was opened in 1879 as the Baptist chapel. As with Christ Church (below), it is a simple brown-brick construction with its street elevation given a Classical dressing. That assemblage of motifs on the street gable, carried out in plain render, has been accused of being gauche, but this part of the building still makes a very valuable contribution to the town's character.

The former William Street Mission Room is a classic Victorian 'tin chapel' of the type which was being erected all over the country as the opening salvo before a brick structure could replace it. Few survive, although Faversham's St Saviour's Church (see links) is a notable exception. This one was probably used in advance of Christ Church being built across the road. It is located on Hanover Square (formerly Victoria Recreation Ground), on the western side of William Street.

Christ Church is the main parish church for Herne Bay, standing on the eastern side of William Street, just south of the High Street. Herne Bay was late to be developed, initially being little more that an outpost for fishermen from the village of Herne, two kilometres inland (see links). Sir Henry Oxenden was a local landowner. He donated the tract of land which was to be the site of the town's first church. Christ Church opened in 1834, probably to a design by A G Clayton.

Initially, it was a nonconformist chapel, but it was purchased by the Church of England in 1840. The transepts and chancel were built in 1868. Its west front was altered - and visually damaged (see previous photo) - in 1878. Either side of the church are two square single storey buildings which date from 1839. These extensions housed schoolrooms and a Sunday school and have quirky octagonal buttresses terminating in pinnacles. Bells were added to the church in 1895.

All photos on this page by P L Kessler.