About Us
ABOUT US
Appointment of Cathedral Dean
On Low Sunday (the Sunday after Easter) 27th April 2025, The Parish was pleased to welcome The Very Revd Canon Jonathan Munn as Dean and Priest in Charge. Father Munn, who previously served as Dean of the Northern Deanery in the Diocese, (and who also serves as Secretary to the Diocesan Board of Ministry and Education) relocated back to his native Kent , to take up a teaching position at a school in a nearby town. Now safely moved into his new home in Faversham.
Bishop Mead, St Augustine’s founding Rector, will be able to relinquish his duties as Rector and focus on his role as Diocesan Bishop through this appointment. The Venerable Raymond Thompson, Archdeacon and Honorary Assistant Priest at St Augustine’s, will continue to provide his invaluable assistance.
Consecration to the Glory of God
On Saturday 6th July 2024 our Church building, being debt free and otherwise without impediment, was solemnly consecrated to God and dedicated to our Patron Saint, St Augustine of Canterbury, during a Pontifical High Mass. The Bishop also confirmed that St Augustine’s is henceforth the Cathedral Church of the Diocese. A wonderful celebration to the glory of Almighty God and in appreciation and gratitude for His blessing on the faithful devotion of our small congregation, of the generosity of our benefactors and many years of hard work.
With grateful thanks to:
Celebrant & Consecrator: The Right Reverend Damien Mead
Deacon: The Very Revd Andrew Scurr
Subdeacon: The Revd Mark Morgan
Master of Ceremonies: The Venerable Raymond Thompson
Crucifer: Mr David Yates
Thurifer: Dr Roy Hipkiss
Boat Boy: Aiden
Organist: Mr Louis Collins
Cantor: Mr Barnabas Sharp
After Mass Nikki Thompson facilitated refreshments of sandwiches and cakes in the Fyfe-Graham Parish Room.
Celebrating 150 Years
On the Sunday After Ascension, 21st May 2023, we welcomed The Most Reverend Mark Haverland, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Original Province and Acting Primate of the Anglican Catholic Church, to celebrate Mass and preach on the occasion of our the joyful celebration of the 150th anniversary of the foundation of our Church building, the former Whitehill Methodist Church and Champion Hall.
The Churchwardens escorted the Archbishop into Church at the beginning of the service and Bishop Damien Mead welcomed everyone. The Mass was preceded with an act of celebration and thanksgiving for the anniversary. In the presence of Her Worship the Mayor of Swale, Cllr Sarah Stephen, on her first public engagement as Mayor, and her consort Mr Paul Stephen, invited guests,
Canon and Mrs Jonathan Foggin, who had accompanied the Archbishop from the USA, and some newcomers, joined the regular congregation to fill the Church.
It was especially pleasing to have with us Mr David Simmons, whose great-grandfather had purchased Whitehill House, the home of Evangeline Bing Byng, whose generosity enabled the building of the Church in 1873, from the Byng Family’s estate in the late 1890s. We are grateful that he attended, and we felt we had a direct connection through him to Evangeline.
During the devotions, there was a moment of reflection at which a special choral piece was composed and sung by Barnabas Sharp, St Augustine’s Cantor. Barnabas had been inspired by the line from Scripture inscribed on Evangeline Byng’s memorial beside the Altar in Church, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts” (Which is taken from Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.“)
After Mass we gathered in the Fyfe-Graham Parish Room and enjoyed sandwiches and a delicious celebratory cake (which Madam Mayor kindly made the first cut).
The Bishop wishes to thank everyone who attended and those who worked hard on the day and behind the scenes in the days before to make the occasion as success.
The Mass was recorded and has been uploaded to Bishop Damien’s YouTube channel.
Our History
In the beginning …
The Anglican Catholic Church of St Augustine was formed in May 2005. Originally meeting at Canterbury City Cemetery Chapel. (Pictured below left)
On Low Sunday, 15th April 2007, Bishop Rommie Starks, Episcopal Visitor to the Diocese of the United Kingdom, formally blessed and dedicated a Chapel in the City Centre (within sight of Canterbury Cathedral) – just off the High Street. (Pictured above middle and right) in Best Lane. A former non conformist place of worship reclaimed from secular use and dedicated to our patron, St Augustine – the first Archbishop of Canterbury. This was a lease hold property which we were to occupy for the next ten years.
Elevation to Pro-Cathedral
Our Parish received a great honour in 2008 when our Priest in Charge, Father Damien Mead, was consecrated on 20th September as the Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of the United Kingdom. Remaining as Rector of our Parish meant that our little Church became the Pro-Cathedral of our Diocese.
What is a pro-cathedral? In the briefest of explanations it is a church used as a cathedral by a bishop until a more permanent or suitable church is built. Its rights and privileges are identical with those of a cathedral. It is not unusual. In London for example, the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Kensington, London, was the pro-cathedral of the Archdiocese of Westminster for nearly thirty-six years until Westminster Cathedral in London was opened in 1903.
But aren’t you too small? Sometimes describing our tiny little church building as a pro-cathedral elicits laughter or confusion. Strictly speaking a cathedral is simply the building within which one finds the bishops ‘cathedra’ – his chair or throne. Here at St Augustine’s you will find bishop Damien’s cathedra in the Sanctuary, on the Gospel side of the Altar (that is the left had side, as you look towards the Altar).
In the photo on the right you can see Bishop’s Damien’s old dog, Toby, sitting in the place of honour!
Blessed Elizabeth Barton
Also in 2008 Bishop Mead commissioned an Icon of a local Kentish Saint, Blessed Elizabeth Barton, known as the ‘Maid of Kent’ or “Nun of Kent” who was a Benedictine nun at St. Sepulchre’s Convent in Canterbury (the area is now known as Nunnery Fields).
Blessed Elizabeth had visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary and was martyred on the orders of Henry VIII on 21st of April, 1534. The Icon and its story has been featured in Local Newspapers and on BBC Radio Kent. We believe it to be the only such depiction of Blessed Elizabeth Barton in the world. Bishop Starks (mentioned above) blessed the Icon on Easter Day 2008.
Relic of the Veil of the Blessed Virgin Mary
On the Feast of the Assumption, 15th August 2009, Bishop Mead blessed the Relic House within which he placed the Relic of the Veil of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
This relic had been gifted to the parish and originates from a closed convent in Belgium. It was accompanied by a document of authentication dated 1909. On Sunday, 2nd February 2020, the Bishop blessed the installation of our Relic of the Veil of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a new reliquary. Hand-carved in the Ukraine from oak and fashioned as an icon of The Protection of the Theotokos, we now have a suitable holder for veneration of the relic.
A New Home
In October 2017, following a lengthy process, the congregation completed the purchase of our very own building. The former Whitehill Methodist Church & Champion Hall, in the village of Painters Forstal, Near Faversham. This New building is 15 minutes drive from Canterbury.
Services in the Chapel in Best Lane, Canterbury, ceased on the last Sunday in November 2018.
The purchase of the building was made possible by a generous legacy and by the determination and commitment of our small congregation. Extensive work was undertaken in converting the new building.
Service of Blessing and Dedication
On Saturday 26th May 2018 the Pro Cathedral Church of Saint Augustine, Painters Forstal, Faversham, had our Patronal celebration. Before Mass we asked Gods blessing upon the Church and formally dedicated it to our Patron, St Augustine of Canterbury, on this his Feast Day. We welcomed members, friends and guests.
The Bishop Damien celebrated Mass and after a buffet lunch in the Fyfe-Graham Room the Archdeacon, Fr Raymond Thompson, officiated at Benediction, at which the Bishop gave a devotional address on the Eucharist.
