This is not a Ramsgate Society event but we are very happy to facilitate booking for what will be a fascinating architectural heritage tour between 11am and 4pm on June 28th.
The tour is joined at the historic church of St Laurence-in-Thanet, the mother church of the St Laurence Team Ministry. Records show that it was founded as early as 1062 and is the oldest church in Ramsgate. The St Laurence churchyard covers three and a half acres and contains over 1,400 graves dating back as far as 1656. As well as providing an insight into the social history of the Parish, the churchyard is managed for the benefit of wildlife and is an oasis for flora and fauna. Refreshments will be served on arrival and after a tour of the church and graveyard we will head down the hill further into the town.
The second stop brings us to Ramsgate’s civic church of St George’s. It was designed in the Georgian Gothic style in 1823-24 as the population of Ramsgate outgrew St Laurence-in- Thanet. An outstanding feature of the church is its octagonal stone lantern, which served as a daytime navigational aid for shipping in the Channel and is now lit at night-time year-round.
The church has a wealth of more recent history, particularly from WW2. The Lady chapel is known as the Victory or Dunkirk Chapel, a highlight of which is the stained-glass window showing the flotilla of Little Ships sailing from Ramsgate’s Royal Harbour, evacuating troops from Dunkirk. The tour will include a climb to the top of the 136-foot tower, as well as an exploration of the Crypt. Lunch will be available in St George’s Church, supplied by the Community Soup team.
Photos from St George’s Church of visitors at the Octagonal Lantern
The third and final leg of the tour will take us through Ramsgate’s Royal Harbour past the Sailors Church and on to the Shrine of St Augustine. The benefactor and builder of the church, Augustus Pugin, had a great devotion to St Augustine as his patron saint. He wrote in a letter that this church was near where “Blessed Austin landed nearby,” and he dedicated his church to St Augustine. Pugin began its construction in 1844, after he moved into his Ramsgate home, The Grange, next door and it is often described as the home of the Gothic Revival. Refreshments will be available at the end of the tour.
The tour costs £15 and there are a maximum of 20 places so book early to avoid disappointment.
Click Here to book https://bit.ly/ThreeChurchesTour