St Peter's Hextable and St Paul's Swanley Village

St. Paul's Church, Swanley Village, nestling amid the trees at the foot of Gilden Hill, has the appearance of an ancient Church though actually it dates from 1861. It was designed by Ewen Christian, the well known Victorian architect, and it is easily one of his most inspired.

Fortunately the first Vicar, the Rev. M. S. Edgell, set to work to transform it into a beautiful Church. He replaced the cheap

choir stalls, reredos, etc. by well designed and well proportioned ones. His brother-in-law, Mr. John Eastwood, improved the exterior by adding the picturesque tower, another brother-in-law, Mr. William Eastwood, had the interior decorated richly but quietly, using symbols to express the Christian faith. The chancel arch bears the emblems of Christ's Passion, thus performing the work of a rood screen. The chancel roof is painted with Christ being worshipped in Heaven, and mosaics between the sanctuary windows symbolize the worship of Christ on earth.

The sanctuary also has the sacred monograms: I H S (the first three letters of the name Jesus) and (the first three letters of Christ) and the Alpha and Omega (Revelation XXII 13).The other furnishings, particularly the pulpit, have just the right proportions for the Church, indicating the thought and attention lavished on the Church. As a consequence St.Paul's Church has always evoked a deep love from the parishioners.

On 29th October 1861, Dr. Bird Sumner, Archbishop of Canterbury, dedicated St. Paul's Church, Swanley, and it was claimed he had dedicated more Churches than any of his predecessors. Before that date Swanley people had to walk to Sutton-at-Hone to worship in their parish Church.

In 1890 Mr. William Eastwood died and his widow gave a fine organ as a memorial to him and their daughter gave a second vestry as the organ occupied a large part of the original vestry. Since then parishioners have endeavoured to make St. Paul's a Church which invites people to worship and feel that they are in a House of God.

St. Paul's is a popular location for weddings.