Kent has always been to the forefront in the Christian religion; it was after all to Kent that St. Augustine came, landing near Ebbsfleet and making his way to the King’s Court at Canterbury. Towards the end of 597 A.D. Augustine was consecrated Bishop and on Christmas Day of that year he baptized no fewer than 10.000 people.

Some commentators assess this as almost a quarter of the entire population of Kent at that time and it is therefore quite conceivable that people from the Gillingham area that attended that sermon. Although communications at that time were extremely rudimentary, the bush telegraph worked and this event was certainly the most exciting event of the year and curiosity would of taken a vast number of people to hear 
St. Augustine. I (Ken Wheeler) remember hearing that within two days of President Nehru having died in India, a country today with poor communications, every man, women and child in that vast country, had heard the news. So it was that Augustine’s Christianity exploded on Kent and touched the area that was to become Gillingham.

Of course it must be remembered that Christianity had arrived in Britain in the First Century but had been suppressed by the Romans who actively encouraged pagan worship and there is no doubt that there were a few Christian's in the country until St. Augustine made his famous missionary journey. King Ethelbert was converted immediately and most of his successors subscribed to the Christian faith, despite Danish invasions right up to the time of the Norman Conquest. When William the Conqueror arrived, he wasted no time in assessing his new land holding, and under his self-imposed rules he acquired all land and distributed it to his Knights, who in time became Lord's of the manor.

Gillingham was given to his half-brother, Bishop Odo of Bayeux, the Parish Church at Gillingham was then re-built and an Archbishop’s Palace was constructed on land bordered by Grange Road, the ruins of which could still be seen last century. Gillingham itself, at the time was small hamlet, centred around the Parish Church and surrounded by large farm-holdings, of which St. Mark’s Parish formed part, being part of Brittain Farm.

After the death of Thomas-a-Becket in 1170, Kent became a major tourist attraction to pilgrims from all over the world and Gillingham was a favourite stopping point for travellers. It seems as though they either stopped over at Boxley Abbey, famous for it’s miraculous Rood (which later turned out to be a fake in a major scandal of the time) or else they would come via Gillingham to see the miraculous "Madonna" at the Parish Church, which unfortunately disappeared in the Sixteenth century.

After the disappearance of the "Madonna", Gillingham’s importance began to fade until 1547 when by order of King Henry VIII the Royal Dockyard at Gillingham was founded and grew steadily. Although a few years later the name was changed to Chatham Dockyard, the vast bulk of the development was in Gillingham and indeed at the time of closure, 7/9ths of the Yard were in Gillingham. From a sheltered harbour a Maintenance Depot was built and ship building began.

During the Napoleonic Wars, massive expansion took place and the Barracks were built, "lines" of fortification were constructed and the "lines" bears testimony to this today. Officers houses were built within the confines of the Barracks and at Brompton (Mansion Row, Prospect Row and Garden Street, now forming a conservation area). Labourers were housed in Chatham and Brompton, but even in the early part of the Nineteenth century, land was at a premium and houses had to be close to the place of work as little transport was a available. It was for this reason therefore, that developers cast their eyes towards Gillingham.

They could not build on the Government owned land, the Great Lines, and therefore the first development took place immediately adjacent to it i.e. Medway Road, Mill Road and Marlborough Road and soon ‘spec’ builders moved in and roads like Pagett Street, Saxton Street, Brittain Street, Arden Street and Fox Street etc., were built. It is a matter of historical record that these often bore the name of their developers and the individual building plots sold for 7/6d each. (At the time the law required dog owners to have a dog licence priced 7/6d). The High Street was built and the shopping area moved from Pier Road which was until that time the High Street and the whole of the newly developed area became known as New Brompton, Gillingham being a mile away at The Green.

New Brompton was built for the Dockyard and as the Dockyard enlarged, so the need for labourers grew and more houses were built. The population of the area grew to over 9,000 in the 1850’s and there was no church representation in New Brompton whatsoever. It is this new that filtered back across the Medway Towns to a young Curate at St. Nicholas, Strood, Alfred Willis. Although a very high Churchman, converted during the great Anglo/Catholic Revival following the Oxford Movement in the 2^nd quarter of the last century, Alfred Willis was possessed of a fantastic missionary zeal with an urgent desire to bring the good news of Christ and His Church to all those around him. His first love was obviously the overseas mission field as is well illustrated by a much applauded talk given in early 1860 to the Rochester Church of England Society. There is no doubt that Alfred Willis was the most evangelistic of all the St. Mark’s Vicar’s and this for the first Vicar is no bad thing. In fact one can see God's hand in choosing him for this virgin territory. On the other hand, Willis was far from evangelical. In fact he was at the opposite end of the spectrum, having in 1866 a pamphlet published on the subject of transubstantiation entitled "The Real Presence of Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar - a doctrine agreeable to Holy Scripture".

The Institute Church was a lifeline to the Christian's of New Brompton and it’s success was due as much to their enthusiasm as to the skill and dedication of the Curates allocated to their area.

A fund was started to purchase a Harmonium and this was obtained through the efforts of Reverend Gibson and others including Mr. J. Lock who was to become the donor of the land upon which St. Mark's now stands. Mr. Logan became the organist assisted by Miss Lear and Mr. Steven’s conducted a "small but effective choir".

The Chatham News reported that the Harvest Festival Service in 1861 was "listened to with the utmost attention, not only by the crowd within the rooms but also the crowd without".

The pressure was on therefore, not only because the Institute Church was inadequate for the number of people attending, but also it must be remembered that there was no such thing as House Churches in those days and people did not feel that they were offering true worship to God unless they were in a building set apart for such a purpose.

Correspondence on the subject began to be increasingly prevalent as the lobby for a Church was stepped up. In a letter to the Chatham News published in June 1861 a gentleman signing himself C.T. M. stated
"For some years we have been expecting that a church would be erected for the district; now we hear that no Church can be built this year. Is it not possible to erect a temporary building to be used for a Sunday School in the morning and Divine Service in the evening so that who cannot and others who will not go any distance to Divine Service May have the Services of our Church brought home to them. Anyone viewing our large increasing population will readily allow something needs to be done. 
I have ventured to forward you these few lines in the hope that they May attract attention and that something May be done for us".

Of course what Mr. C.T.M. did not realise was that immense efforts were being mounted through Ecclesiastical and secular means to bring about an early solution to the problem.

The answer was soon forthcoming in an announcement in the December 7^th issue of the Chatham News entitled "Good News for Brompton. The Chatham News has the privilege of being the first to announce the fact that the battle which has been persistently fought at New Brompton for the last few years has ended in a great success.

The Reverend Mr. Willis of Strood is to be the first incumbent of the Parish of New Brompton; this news is the most pleasing as he bears the character of an active, spirited Minister -–one who will make himself quite at home and consequently useful and popular in his new Parish."

Indeed although technically employed by his old Parish in Strood, Alfred Willis threw himself into his new role with characteristic gusto.

While the "friends" of the Institute Church were presenting the Reverend C. H. Gibson with a double inkstand and the organist, Mr. Logan with a copy of the Messiah, Willis was already at work writing numerous letters to the Ecclesiastical Commission to Brasenose College, to various leading local citizens, to builders and architects and a whole host of others impressing upon them the urgency of building and equipping a local church. He immediately put his money where his mouth was by donating one thousand pounds and appealing to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to donate a similar amount together with an endowment. Brasenose College and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners agreed substantial donations. In the same issue of the Chatham News in which the announcement of his appointment was made, Alfred Willis wrote the following:-

"To the inhabitants of New Brompton and all interested in the Spiritual Welfare of the district. Having been nominated by the Vicar of Gillingham to the future incumbency of the Ecclesiastical district of New Brompton for the formation of which out of Gillingham application has already been made to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners I am desirous of making publicly known my plans and of obtaining your hearty co-operation in them. I am anxious to lose no time in beginning the work that lies before me. Yet some time must elapse under the most favourable circumstances before we can hope to assemble in a permanent Church. And it is obvious in the meanwhile if the ministrations of the Church are to be effectual better provision for public worship must immediately be made than at present exists.

I should therefore wish as soon as I enter upon my new charge which I hope will be early in the Spring, at latest, to see a wooden building erected, capable of accommodating at least 300 people in which Divine Service can be celebrated on the Lord’s Day and at other times and schools carried on during the week. Such a building will continue to serve for schools until we are in a position to build more suitable schoolrooms and a school house. I know that I shall not appeal in vain for your liberal support in aid of this first step to supply the urgent need of the district. I can then set to work in earnest to raise funds for the permanent Church. Subscriptions will be received at the Vicarage, Gillingham by Mr. Pepper, Number 6 high Street, New Brompton and by Messrs Clayton and Foster, High Street, Chatham.

Alfred Willis, Incumbent Designate of New Brompton.

Strood, December 5^th 1861."

At the end of January in 1862 C. H. Gibson "who by his urbanity kindness and popular preaching has won for himself the affectionate esteem of his Parishioners" preached his farewell sermon at the Institute Church. As usual he preached to a packed Church and the doors were locked for safety’s sake. (No health and safety then!).

How the problem was sorted out we don’t know. We do know however, that Alfred Willis called a meeting through the local press which was boycotted by his committee who held a meeting of their own the following week. It appears as though the affair was finally patched up in the early part of May and an announcement was made concerning the proposed Church and Schools giving details of the committee and appealing for funds for building the Church and Schools proper.

The argument being lost on the dissenters returned and started work for the "common cause".

Within six months an iron schoolroom was added, and, although of necessity the work was introspective there was a genuine social concern as was indicated in November when a meeting was held with a view to appointing a Fund Raising Committee for the relief of the sufferers of the cotton districts of Lancashire and Cheshire. Mr. A. Finnis, the then High Constable of Gillingham was fully supportive of the move, and a number of local notables agreed on a house to house visitation collecting warm clothing and cash to be forwarded to the distressed areas.

Early in 1863 another tradition was established, that of the Parochial entertainment. For this Willis brought over his old choir from Strood Church who gave a concert in two parts, the first part consisting of sacred pieces, a chorale, anthems and carols with the second part being of a secular nature, part songs, "glees" and a quartet. Prior to the concert there was a tea and tickets for reserved seats were 1/6d and 1/-d for secondary seats both including the price of the tea.

During the year the correspondence mounted with permission having been sought by Brasenose College to temporarily vest their patronage in the Vicar of Gillingham, Reverend I. Page, D. D. and this was finally granted by her Majesty in Council at Windsor on the 25^th September 1863 being duly reported in full in the London Gazette of the 15^th of that month. This very long order was encompassed within the words "that there be constituted a separate district for spiritual purposes and that the same shall be named the district of St. Mark, New Brompton". Its boundaries were delineated by the A2, Rock Avenue, Canterbury Street (or Lane as it was then), virtually in a straight line to the River and incorporating Marlborough, Mill and Medway Roads and that area being a continuation of Victoria Street. It was a vast parish which had considerably grown and was continuing to grow as the two maps, dated 1868 and 1898, clearly indicate.

The highlights of the year were probably, the Anniversary of the opening of the Temporary Church in May and a public meeting held on the 6^th July, chaired by the Bishop of Rochester and to which "all who desire the extension of the Church of England are earnestly requested to attend".

The Bishop of Rochester remarked that this "meeting might be considered the commencement of the work of getting a church – the desire to have a Church now assumed a definite form; it was not a mere desultory wish; this was mere desultory effort on the part of the people and the Pastor. The Pastor had proved that he would not shrink from the task he had undertaken. Mr. Willis has a now good hope of final success". The Bishop thought "he could not more appropriately conclude his visit to this neighbourhood – for ordaining a number of young men for the ministry – than by attending that meeting. He was happy to be present. He had of course been a close observer of the increase of the ministry in this locality and he found that within three years there had been an increase of five or six curates, labouring with great and blessed effect; this was a very desirable increase in the number labourers attached to old established places of worship, but it would be monstrous if they were to neglect so vast a body of people as are gathered together in New Brompton. They could hardly expect the government to come forward to aid them if assistance were not given by the inhabitants themselves.

Governments are slow to move in undertakings of this kind; bodies of men brought together by special Government work might disappear from a particular locality by change of policy. But when an increase of population had continued so long as in this case the demand for further assistance is so very palpable – the whole policy of the country requires that this part of the country should assume a character it has not had before – and no doubt the Government will now move to give aid for the spiritual wants of its work people. "He hoped that" the local movement would be of such a character that the Government could not withhold aid any longer. It should be remembered that the people of New Brompton are surrounded by vast bodies of people who are spiritually but partially provided for at best in the older towns. If an effort be not made the people would become corrupt and a source of corruption to the neighbourhood. It would be impossible to overestimate the importance of supporting the efforts of Mr. Willis. They decide at once that they would have a Church there. At present a large body of people are left to go astray, - to wander from the fold of the Church." He hoped "they would have hereafter to congratulate Mr. Willis on the success of his efforts; May he continue to go forward in the good path he has hitherto pursued!"

The Treasurer, Lieutenant Colonel Collinson R.E., explained how Mr. Willis had been working quietly and steadily; like a ship builder, he had been preparing the materials and appliances for building a ship and now he wrote over his Dockyard gate, "Now then men, come forward and help!"

The speaker remembered this place 24 years ago – where there is now a town there were but green fields. After a long absence he came back to find a great population – but he found also the means of instruction for youth provided – the means of a spiritual education. In this matter Mr. Willis had left in the background, the greatest donor of all, himself! He said nothing about the large sum of money he had spent from his funds for raising the building they were assembled in. Fathers and Mothers could best appreciate the value of what he had done. Mr. Willis had been liberal in every way.

The problems of fund raising were not the only ones that occupied the Vicar’s mind as the year drew to a close because there had been an enormous amount of rain and the streets of New Brompton were notoriously muddy during the winter times and dusty during the summer times.  Alfred Willis offered the use of St. Mark’s school for a meeting presided over by the High Constable to see what could be done for the betterment of the situation. The inevitable Committee was formed and over the ensuing months proved most successful in obtaining a rates reduction form 1/6d to 1/-d and works done on the roads and lighting of the area. For some years more however, St. Mark’s paid for a water cart to damp down the streets in the summer, such was the appalling dust problem.

On the 1^st March 1864 Sir Frederick Smith, M.P., rose in Parliament to ask the reasons why the Admiralty had declined to make a grant, and was told that Willis’ request for £3,000 was "a rather immoderate demand" and that if a smaller sum had been requested then it is probable that it would have been granted.

On Tuesday, 4^th October 1864, the foundation stone of St. Mark’s Church was laid by the Right Honourable Viscount Sydney, G.C.B., the Lord Lieutenant of Kent.

It was a cold day, although sunny, and the flags and pennons on loan from H.M.S. Wellesley, floated "gaily over the church site". The ceremony commenced at noon and there was a full processional, with banners as seen ‘then’ over the great "west" door of the church, white cross on a blue shield, I.H.S. on a crimson shield, St. Andrew’s Cross and St. Georges Cross.

"A glass vessel containing the silver coins of the realm, and a Parchment Scroll, was here deposited in a cavity in the lower stone. A silver trowel was then handed to Viscount Sydney, with which his Lordship spread the mortar. The stone was then lowered into its place. The Lord-Lieutenant assisting the Architect and Builder in adjusting it, and saying "In the Faith of Jesus Christ, we lay the Foundation Stone, In the Name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, Amen".

The Scroll was inscribed with a written inscription in Latin and English, "To the Glory of our Lord Jesus and in memory of St. Mark, the Evangelist. The Right Honourable, the Viscount Sydney, G.C.B., Lord Chamberlain and Lord Lieutenant of the County of Kent laid the Foundation Stone of this Church on the 4^th October in the year in the year of our Lord 1864, the 27^th of Queen Victoria.  Joseph Cotton Wigram D.D. being Bishop of Rochester, John Page, D.D. being Vicar of Gillingham, and Alfred Willis, M.A. Incumbent of New Brompton, Architect, James Pearce, St. Aubyn Esq."

A similar inscription was on the trowel which bore the crest of Arms of Viscount Sydney.

After the ceremony there was a Luncheon with speeches following, and calls upon the Admiralty to donate funds, £150 by now having been received, and this was followed by an Evening Service in the Schoolrooms.

There was no holding back, Alfred Willis in either his evangelistic fervour or his fund raising endeavours, and indeed in April 1865 there was an encouraging report in the local press.

"Few places of worship could boast of larger congregations or heartier services than those in St. Mark’s Church on Good Friday. Morning Prayer with a sermon commenced at 10.30am. At 2.30pm the Litany and the Mediations on the 7 last Words from the Cross, at 6.30pm. Evening Prayer with a sermon brought this Holy Day to a close. When we consider in what light Good Friday is generally looked upon we can but think that the large attendance at these services and the devotional feeling shown by all present, auger well for the future prosperity of the Church in this place.

On Easter day there were celebrations of the Holy Communion at 8.00am and again Morning Prayer a large number being present at both occasions. The last celebration was choral throughout, it was exceedingly well sung in devotional Spirit by the choir and the effect was strikingly beautiful. We believe this to be the first time that the entire Communion Office has been rendered chorally in these towns. It is a source of much thankfulness to those who have the interest of the Church at heart to find with what rapid strides it is advancing in the rising town of New Brompton"

Consecration Day was a beautiful Spring day with a brilliant sun and the Church was adorned with flowers, scrolls on the walls containing passages from scripture, flags were stretched around the surrounding streets, the Church was packed, as were the grounds outside. It was obviously a most moving service when at 11.30 precisely, the Bishop with his Chaplain were received at the door and processed down the north side of the Lord’s table where he was presented with the Deed of Conveyance.

The description of the church then,  which has been used so many times since is as follows:-

"The Church is of the Lancet Period or first half of the 13^th Century and is plain and simple in design. It has as aspidal chancel, 39’ by 24’ wide, 48’ high to the apex of the roof and is lighted with three 2 light windows with a quarter foiled circle over; It is fitted with choir stalls, two steps above the nave, and the sacrarium rises 4 more steps to the altar. The chancel has lean to aisles parted from the chancel with iron grills. There is a second chancel arch at the commencement of the sacrarium, just beyond the stalls.

The nave is 85’ long, 24’ wide, parted from the north and south aisles by arcades of five arches each, which carry the clerestory, pierced with coupled lancet lights over each arch. The arcade arches are 20’ high of two orders, springing from plain moulded caps on round piers.

The aisles are of equal length with the nave, and are 12’ wide with a lean to roof, the side walls being 13’ high, with coupled lancets in each bay, between which there are buttresses. A vestry, and organ chamber over, occupy the north east angle of the building, opposite to the last bay of the north aisle. The Font is at the west end of the nave, and the pulpit against the north pier of the chancel arch. There is a small west door in the nave in addition to that under the steeple. The west front of the nave has a large five light window, about 13’ wide and 21’ high. The east and west ends of the aisles have two light lancet windows reminiscent of the 13^th century, with a circle over.

The building is principally constructed of yellow malm bricks, on the exterior and un-plastered picked stock in the interior. The pillars, arches and dressings of the window being bath stone. The walls on the interior and exterior are relieved by the introduction of lines and devices in red bricks. There are no pews, but the whole floor of the church is covered by a uniform series of open and convenient seats. There is an open timber roof. The effect of the whole building is good. The church will be enclosed with a dwarf wall carrying and iron railing, with handsome gates."

An early innovation within the Church was the Parish Magazine ( you can see a couple of early parish magazine covers on Gallery Five of the Photogallery by clicking here); the earliest surviving edition is December 1866 and this advised that "a banner of lest startling character is in preparation for Christmas and the lion will not leave the guardianship of the vestry on that festival". (Many persons having been distressed that the Lion of St. Mark "has not a more amiable countenance").

Adverts also appeared in the Magazine for St. Mark’s Commercial School with higher division costing 15/-d per quarter or 1/6d per week and the lower division 10/-d per quarter or 1/-d a week. 
Subjects taught included:

Holy Scriptures and Book of Common Prayer, English reading and grammar, writing and book keeping, Arithmetic, Algebra and Euclid, Geography and History, Map-Drawing, Drawing and Vocal Music, Latin and French. (One wonders if educationists today ought to take a leaf out of Alfred Willis’ book).

In January 1871 at a testimonial tea, the Reverend John Bridger, the day after his ordination was called to Guyana. The Church presented him with numerous books, mainly theological including Wordsworth Greek Testament and Scott’s Bible in four volumes.

The Bishop of Guyana was present at the occasion along with his chaplain and endorsed the wish of the congregation of St. Mark’s in saying ‘God Speed’ to Mr. Bridger.

Reverend Bridger was one of three men ordained within St. Mark’s Church, the other two being called to the mission field also, having captured the vision from Alfred Willis. An early Curate at this time Reverend Wilson was presented with a Library Clock in a black marble case inlaid with malachite when he left in January 1870 to go to Tunbridge Wells.

In February 1871 another ceremony, this time laying the corner stone of the new school and being St. Mark’s Day, the fifth anniversary of the Dedication of the Church, was attended by the usual host of dignitaries. Following the laying of the stone the MP, Mr. W. Hart Dyke said, "I am glad to hear that no less than 500 good men and true, in HM Dockyard have put their hands into their pockets and have subscribed to the building of this school. This is a good and healthy sign. It showed that in Chatham where vast iron ships were constructed and sent out to protect our shores and subsequently a great number of men were employed, those men knew the worth of education. It is a good and healthy sign to know that these men have the truth brought home to them and desire that their children and those that come after them shall receive a good education".

By now Alfred Willis was feeling the call overseas himself and a short article entitled "An organ for St. Mark’s Church", in the Magazine of July 1871 is indicative of the fact that he wished to tidy up his affairs prior to leaving the Parish. "The time has now come when it is necessary to make an effort to purchase an organ for St. Mark’s Church. The organ that has been in the Church since it’s consecration and which is in the schoolroom while the Church was building, is one kindly lent to the Vicar for use in the Church until such time as Parishioners being freed from the burden of the erection of the Church should be in a position to purchase one for themselves. We have now enjoyed the use of the organ for eight years and are much indebted to the generosity of the lender that he has permitted us to retain it so long. We cannot expect to be allowed to keep it much longer. At all events it is our duty now to lose no time in creating an organ fund with as little delay as possible. Apart from the wish in which everyone must share that we have an organ which we can call our own, all who are in the habit of worshipping at St. Mark’s must be aware of the need of a larger organ, equal to the requirements of the Church.

Contributions which are earnestly solicited from all the well wishes of St. Mark’s whether Parishioners or not, may be sent to the Reverend A. Willis, St. Mark’s House, New Brompton, Kent., or paid to the account of St. Mark’s organ fund, at the London and Provincial Bank, Rochester.

If any of our readers will assist in collecting contributions for this fund they can have copies of the above appeal and collection cards, by applying to the Vicar. The sum required is from £250 to £300.

Alfred Willis didn’t stay around long enough to see the organ installed, but he would no doubt have heard it played in 1897 when he visited St. Mark’s when he was on home leave and preached on ‘the fields are white unto harvest - but the labourers are few’.

St. Mark's Organ

September 9^th '99 sees the opening of the new school on St. Mary's Island - built in partnership between the Medway Education Authority and the Church of England.  John Saunders is the chair of Governors - and Ernie Mann and Dr. Mary Sanderson  are