Our Church

As a Church of England academy school, Chiddingstone enjoys close links with the local church. The rector, Reverned Lisa Cornell, who is also a governor, visits the school regularly to take Acts of Worship and to meet with the staff over breaktime. She often comes in to answer Q&A sessions with pupils in RE and will meet with the Leading Lights regularly.

"Both parents and pupils value the strong sense of 'community'.  One parent referred to the bond between school and church by saying, 'It is very easy to assume that one is an extension of the other'."

Parents are invited to Friday Acts of Worship in the Church as well as Festival services, class Acts of Worship and Prayer Station activities. The children enjoy dancing, singing and drama as part of these celebrations.  

Upcoming services 

Sunday 6 October

1000   Holy Communion (Harvest) at St John the Baptist, Penshurst

1000   Holy Communion (Harvest) at St Luke's, Chiddingstone Causeway

1800   Pet service at All Souls, Poundsbridge

Sunday 13 October

0800   Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst

1000   Holy Communion (Harvest) at St Peter's, Fordcombe

To find out more, then please look at their website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/

History of the church

The parish church, dedicated to St Mary, is thought to be the  fourth built on that site.

A church has been recorded on the present day site since 1287. It was rebuilt during the 14th century by Sir Bartholomew Burghersh and the North Chapel, called ‘Bore Place Chapel’  was built by Sir Robert Rede in 1516. The roof was lowered in Tudor times.

The church was almost destroyed by a lightning fire in 1624. It did so much damage that it took five years to repair the damage. The South porch was added to the church in 1626 (the date on the sundial).