The Nave
The centenary of the nave was celebrated on 22nd July, 2001,
at the 10.00 am Sung Eucharist, during which seven people were confirmed by
Bishop Michael Gear.
At the start of the service, the following message from
George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, was read:
One hundred years ago my predecessor, Archbishop Frederick
Temple, consecrated the nave and transepts of St. John's Church. That was an
important moment in the history of St. John's and it is good to reflect on
God's goodness and faithfulness in the years since this.
May God bless you all at St. John's, keeping you faithful in
worship and dedicated in service of all your neighbours.
(signed) George Cantuar
This letter was accompanied by a signed photograph of the
Archbishop, under which he had written:
With every blessing as you celebrate 100 years' service
since the consecration of nave and transepts.
The following gives the history of the laying of the
foundation stone and consecration of the Nave.
The Nave was designed by George Fellowes-Prynne F. R. I. B.
A., who also designed other parts of the church. The foundation stone was laid
on 18th November, 1899, by the Rev. Canon Francis Murray, Rector of
Chislehurst, who remembered being present with his father, George Murray,
Bishop of Rochester, when the latter consecrated the first church 55 years
earlier.
The following description of the laying of the foundation
stone is taken from the Parish Magazine of December 1899:
Having proceeded to the site, he (Canon Murray) deftly used
the Silver Trowel presented to him for the occasion, and after a little effort
the stone was squarely laid as a cube, perfect and complete, in the Name and to
the Glory of the Blessed Trinity in Unity.
Under the stone new silver and copper coins of the realm
were deposited in sealed bottles, with the "Times", the "Church
Times", the "District Times" and the "Parish
Magazine", together with a card containing the names of the Hon. Secretary
of the Building Fund (B. Allen, Esq.), the Architect (Geo. Fellowes-Prynne,
Esq., F. R. I. B. A.) and the Builders (Messrs. Goddard and Sons).
The collection amounted to the handsome sum of £76 9s. 6d.
owing in a great measure to a generous donor who did not care to have her name
known.
The Nave and transepts were consecrated by Frederick Temple,
Archbishop of Canterbury, on 13th July, 1901.
The cost of the Nave was approximately £11,500.