A memorial to Rear Admiral Beaufort, Hydrographer of the Navy, who invented the scale for measuring wind speed.
St Andrew’s is the result of a wish by the Vicar of Holy Trinity, Canon CER Robinson, to have a church serving those people living in old hulks on the river and those on passing emigrant ships going to Australia and New Zealand. One third of an old riverside Public House the “Spread Eagle” was demolished and
St Andrew’s built in its place. The remainder of the pub now called “The Mission House” is a private residence. Canon Robinson contacted a London Church newspaper and Miss Beaufort, daughter of Rear Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort KCB, offered to build a church, provided a base was laid. The foundation stone was laid in 1870 and consecrated on St Andrew’s day 1871 “to the glory of God and in memory of rear Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort KCB”

There are a number of fine details to be noted in the building. The roof of pitch pine is in the shape of an upturned boat. The steps and raised sanctuary floor are tiled, and rare Italian tiles are set either side of the altar. Above the altar is a striking mosaic reredos erected by Italian craftsman depicting Christ Calming the Tempest. The magnificent stained glass windows are all original from the studios of Clayton and Bell. The window overlooking the river was stabilised in 2007, while the other windows were found to be in good order. There are a number of brass commemoration plaques, the most important of which is a memorial to some of the crew of the Erebus and Terror, lost trying to discover the North West Passage. There is a unique one manual organ, badged as J Halmshaw but thought to be G M Holdich, which is still working but badly in need of restoration. A stage has been erected over the sanctuary steps and altar, which remain intact underneath. A new wooden floor was installed in 199?, suspended over the original, damaged by the floods of 1953.

The building was purchased by Gravesham Borough Council in 1975 after being closed by the Diocese of Rochester because of unaffordable maintenance costs, and leased to Gravesham Arts Council in 1975 and became St Andrew’s Arts Centre. The Arts Council members run the Centre on a voluntary basis. It is used virtually every day by a number of organisations for meetings, rehearsals, concerts and exhibitions. The Centre is particularly suitable for visual art exhibitions and is well provided with display boards and additional lighting.

To find out more, phone
01474 326140 or 01474 814554.