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Saint Peter’s Church Folkestone |
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A
Forward in Faith Parish Under the Pastoral Care of the Bishop of Richborough History
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History In an imposing position on
the East Cliff, overlooking the Straight of Dover, lies the Forward in Faith
parish church of St Peter, Folkestone. Designed by the Victorian
Architect R C Hussey, the church was originally built as a chapel of ease to
the old parish church of SS Mary & Eanswythe, to serve the fishing
community. St Peter’s was opened for
worship in 1862, and was greatly enlarged in 1870, the same year that
vestments were worn there for the first time. Fr Ridsdale (the Parish Priest) was an extremely high
churchman, influenced by the Oxford Movement and the Camden Society. Practices at the church came to the
attention of the Archbishop, with the result that Fr Ridsdale promised not to
elevate the Host or to mix water with wine at the Offertory. In 1874, the Public Worship Regulations
Act was passed by the government in an attempt to curb the growing ritualism
within the Church of England. In
1876, Fr. Ridsdale was arraigned by Archbishop Archibald Tait, for failing to
abide by the Act in continuing to use ritualistic forms of worship. The case became known as “The Folkestone
Ritual Case”. (From “Forward Plus”, Winter 2002) Notable dates in the history of St Peter’s Church 1862 St Peter’s Church
built as a Chapel-of-ease for the Parish church, Primarily for the
Harbour Community 1868 St Peter’s
consecrated and becomes an independent Parish Church 1877 Prosecution of
parish priest, Fr C J Ridsdale, under the Public Worship
Regulation Act 1874, for the use of lighted candles, Vestments and incense 1898 The present bell (7
cwt) installed 1946 Closure of St
Andrew’s Convent and Home. Erection of West
Gallery for 1896 organ from Convent Chapel 1996 Arson attack on 28th
July. The unsafe building
was temporarily closed, but all services continued in
temporary premises 1998 Solemn Mass of
Rededication on 29th June 2007 Earthquake of 4.3
on the Richter scale hits Folkesotne.
Gable-end of south transept collapes. Parish Priests 1862 Fr C Ridsdale 1923 Fr F W
Pickburn 1947 Fr V R Bartlett 1957 Fr H J L
Stephens 1970 Fr H F Capener 1990 Fr M Houghton 2000 Fr J A B
Paddock 2004 Fr Stephen
Bould |
