A vicarage has existed in the village since the 14th century. It has taken different forms, but it has not always occupied the same location.
The earliest mention of an Upchurch vicarage is recorded in a document held by All Souls College, Oxford dated 1420 which shows a grant given by King Henry VI which allowed the college to take possession of the priory of New Romney and the rectory of Upchurch. Another record can be viewed in the Patent Rolls dated 1348-1350.
“Presentation of William Michel of Upchirche, chaplain to the vicarage of Upchirche in the diocese of Canterbury, is the King’s gift by means of the priory of Upchirche being in his hands on account of the war with France.”
This gives proof of the existence of a vicarage and also a priory which is believed to have occupied the site of The Crown pub. The monks who lived there would have offered accommodation to pilgrims travelling to see holy places such as the holy well at Holywell or to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury.
The vicarage is believed to have first been located on the site of the present house named Wayside opposite the church in Horsham Lane up to the late 17th century. The layout of the property is the same as a 14th century English vicarage. It has a hallway, a cellar, a large open fireplace which has been dated as late 14th century, stables at the back and a wall would have enclosed the garden. The location is also very close to the church which indicates that the property once had an important connection.
During the reign of Henry VIII when he severed links with the Catholic Church and proclaimed himself as Head of the English Church, another change is believed to have taken place at the vicarage. This is when the King’s officials were sent to persecute priests and to remove valuable items from churches. Because of this, a tunnel is believed to have been constructed under the ground which led from the church to the vicarage cellar. This existed as an escape route for the priest. Tunnels leading from churches to other buildings were common at the time. In recent times a chamber was uncovered under the floor of the children’s play area in the church with evidence of an opening at one end which may have been the tunnel entrance but the church authorities would not allow further investigation.
The vicarage on the Horsham Lane site remained until the late 17th century when it became derelict and had to be demolished. This happened because after the death of village vicar Edmond Drake in 1567 ague, a form of marsh malaria, became so severe in the area that Upchurch vicars preferred to live outside the parish in order to avoid the disease and to travel in to conduct services. The result of this was that the vicarage became derelict and empty for a long period.
The poor condition of the original vicarage in Horsham Lane is indicated in the 1663 catalogue of all the benefices in the diocese of Canterbury.
“Upchirche: a small parish in an unhealthy place… Stephen Allen tenant of ye college for ye parsonage worth a mere 200 a year. A poor vicarage house (if any, for it is in dispute), church much out of repair…”
The vicarage house was demolished during the late 17th century and the present house Wayside replaced it and later served as an inn, a shop and a private residence. The vicarage then occupied a new site where Bradshaw Close is now located, known at the time as Parsonage Farm. The south east part of the vicarage building was originally one of two cottages with a tiled roof and red brick walls constructed during the early 18th century. The south east part of the building which had a slated roof and stock brick walls was constructed in 1827.
Reverend John Woodruff, Wayside and Upchurch Vicarage.
The old part of the house consisted of two attic bedrooms, two first floor bedrooms, a kitchen, a larder, a pantry and a coal cellar below. The newer part of the building on the first floor consisted of a bathroom, two large and one small bedroom and a toilet. On the ground floor was a porch, an entrance hall, a dining room, a drawing room, a small study and a toilet. Reverend Woodruff converted the porch into a small greenhouse in 1848.
The outbuildings at the back of the house also dated from 1827 and consisted of two sheds and a brick building containing a three stall stable, a loft and coach house with brick walls and a slated roof.
Reverend John Woodruff came to the vicarage with his mother in 1834. All Souls College offered him the site and gave him £600 to convert it into an acceptable vicarage. Improvements were made to the building and an extension was built adding a further seven rooms to the existing six. Reverend Woodruff also converted the adjacent ground into an attractive garden with lawns and planted various types of trees in the Paddock to make it appear more attractive. The trees included the Holmoaks, the Cedar of Lebanon and the London Plane. Reverend Woodruff was so pleased with his vicarage that he boasted that Upchurch vicarage was ‘the best in the deanery.’ From about this time the road from the vicarage to The Street became known as Vicarage Lane for a short period.
Upchurch vicarage and the church remained in the hands of All Souls College Oxford until 1921 then these were taken over by the Diocese of Canterbury.
After the passing of Reverend Woodruff a few changes took place at the vicarage such as the construction of a tennis court which Upchurch Lawn Tennis Club used during the 1920s and an extension at the back of the vicarage house which became used as a vaccination and health centre during the 1950s, by the scouts and cubs during the 1960s, and for children’s art exhibitions and the showing of films at the carnival. Apart from these changes the vicarage remained almost unchanged from the time of Reverend Woodruff.
During the mid-19th century, two brick cottages were constructed on the Oak Lane side of the vicarage and these became known as Vicarage Cottages and were built to house workers at the vicarage. These cottages still exist but are now privately owned.
A decision was made to have the vicarage demolished in 1975 because the house and outbuildings had greatly deteriorated. Bradshaw Close was then constructed on the site.
The only part of the old vicarage that remains is the Paddock. However, a new vicarage house was constructed next to Bradshaw Close on the Oak Lane side which became the home of several vicars and curates. The house is at present occupied by recently ordained vicar Simeon Nevell and his family. Simeon is not the Upchurch vicar. He travels to all benefices within the Six to conduct services and to gain experience before moving on to another parish.
Finally, a vicarage has existed in the village since the 14th century on three different locations and will probably continue to do so while the church functions for religious services.
David Wood
