ACOL

 St, Mildred’s church. The piece of land containing 47 perches for the site of the School Church was given to the vicar and churchwardens for the parish of Birchington with Acol in 1875 by a Mrs Charlotte Rogers, a widow who once resided at Minster but at that time was residing at Nice in the south of France. The building was designed in the Gothic style of architecture by a Mr C N Beazley of Westgate and built by a Mr L Shrubsole of Faversham at a cost of about £790. The foundation stone was laid on 18 April 1876 by the Dean of Canterbury. The new School Church was formally opened on 5 October 1876 by the Bishop of Dover.

In 1967, the church was in grave danger of collapse. There was serious movement in most of the building and a number of cracks showed this movement. The church was repaired by the putting in of foundations at a cost of nearly £1,200.

St Mildred’s church was built as both a place of worship and a school – hence the huge fireplace opposite the main door! Built in 1879 the diminutive size of the church is increased due to it being cut into the ground on the south side. Dedicated to the area’s own seventh century saint, Mildred, a picture of her dominates the simple interior whose other statues confirm a devout congregation. There is no chancel arch, the sanctuary being defined by a tiny apse containing three rather good windows. Depicting Our Lady, the Crucifixion and St John the Evangelist like the housewifely depiction of Our Lady and the tiny frog and mushrooms at her feet!

St Mildred’s church closed in January 2024 due to health and safety issues over the condition of the roof. Because of challenging financial pressures within the Parish, the Parochial Church Council proposed the closure of St Mildred’s Church. The tiles falling from the roof meant that they were forced for health and safety reasons to close the church. They worked with the Diocese of Canterbury to find a solution because following consultation the PCC still believed that closing the building was needed to help create a sustainable Parish for the future. During this closure period, they were approached by Mr Robin Ling, who, because of his family history with St Mildred’s and Acol, asked if he could purchase the church and retain it as part of the community. After a number of meetings, Robin’s hopes came to fruition and he now is the owner of St Mildred’s.

Although Robin and his family now own St Mildred’s for the future, he is really keen that the building is not only a community hub, but can continue as a place of worship.

Robin intends to bring the building up to the twenty first century. There will be toilet facilities and as well as a kitchenette. The gardens will be landscaped and the Garden of Remembrance maintained.

At the present time it has not been possible for me to access the church, as there are conversion building works going on.  However, I will return when it is fully up and running.