Sole Street originally was just a Railway station a mile or so from the Village of Cobham near Gravesend. The station was built in 1861 at the insistence of the Earl of Darnley for his use, as recompense for the London Chatham and Dover Railway passing through his land. Housing soon sprang up around the station and now Sole Street has a greater population than its parent village of Cobham.
In 1888, to cater for the growing community, a smallish prefabricated Church Meeting Room, was delivered and erected near to the station in Sole Street. It, St. Mary's Church Meeting Room, remains the only community facility in the Village. It is in desperate need of modernisation and almost a complete rebuild, as the original construction is 100 years past its (25year) life expectancy. It is one of a very few of these buildings left. There is another in Hythe, the Luddesdown one has gone recently, as has the one in Cuxton (now in a museum in Maidstone). Look on Wikipedia to see more - click here for the link.
The Room was opened on Thursday 14 March 1889. The Vicar at that time was the Revd Arthur H Berger - brother of the owner of the paint company of the same name!
The hall has fallen into disrepair, now needing the reconstruction of an asset to make it durable, compliant and safe to provide a community hub for physical, mental and spiritual health, improving our village to be a better place to live.
When restored the present village blackspot will help build the community, especially those with special needs and isolation. The church will grow spiritually and numerically.
Project budget
Capital cost: £200,767.89p + VAT
Grants promised:
Friends of Kent Churches £10,000
Rochester Missional Properties: £10,000
National Churches Cornerstone £15,000
Community fund raising £58,025, 72
Forthcoming Fund Raising:
Community Coffee Mornings on the second Thursday of each month from 10.30 - 12.00 commencing on 9th March 2023
Coronation Garden Safari - 7th May – to be confirmed
Village Sale Trail - 20th August – to be confirmed
Contact Su Rowe 07557 990944 surowe42@gmail.com
Thank you for your support