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The History of Knockholt Church

During the Thirteenth Century there seems to have been an increase in settlement along the ridge of the North Downs, for a number of churches there date from the latter years of the period.

The ownership of lands in Ockholte, latinised Acolta, is recorded in various deeds from 1197 onwards. (Twenty-six different spellings are known.) But we are able to date the building of the church and the emergence of Knockholt as an independent parish from the evidence of a document of 1350, rediscovered in Reigate library in 1849. This records how Ralph Scot of Chelsfield bought land in Ocolte and moved to his newly built hall there in the times of Henry III, which must have been before 1272). He and his people "wandering to Chevening and elsewhere in all directions from their Parish Church of Orpington, and because through the distance of the place from the said Parish Church many perils of souls befell" a meeting of all the laity was held, and under the leadership of Ralph Scot, Harvey Goldsmith, and others a chapel was built in a clearing in the woodlands 'out of their own goods'. A house for a chaplain, tithebarn, and giebeland for his support, were provided to be possessed in perpetual alms.

The Rector of Orpington objected to his loss of dignity and income, and appealed to Rome. Such appeals abroad on anything which could be considered ecclesiastical matters were a constant source of trouble and expense for many centuries, until Henry VIII by the Statute of Praemunire forbad "the carrying of causes out of the realm'. However, it has come back with a vengeance in recent years. In spite of this appeal, on May 9th. 1281, by licence from Robert Kilwardely, Archbishop of Canterbury, the building was consecrated and dedicated to St. Katharine the Virgin. The Rector of Orpington had the right of choosing the chaplain, who became a 'perpetual curate', with the same rights as a rector; that one third of the tithes still went to Orpington. Not until 1866 did Knockholt became a Rectory in its own right; the patronage (nomination of a new rector) went to the Dean and Chapter of Rochester.

Much of the original building probably still exists in the simple rectangular walls, with no separate chancel, in a map of 1596 a spire was indicated, and a squat tower and broached steeple is shown in a drawing of 1801. In 1840 the steeple was replaced by a clock tower. If the early drawing is accurate the present tower is further west than the original, where a porch was shown, although there are no obvious traces of the change to be seen now. if this occurred it could have been during repairs after a fire in 1858, or in 1863. A significant enlargement was made when the North Aisle was added in 1881. In 1998 glass screens were put in so that an area at the west end of this aisle coufd be used separately when required.

The Churchyard

The yew tree beside the road is of considerable age. In recent years it has recovered from the damage of the Great Storm of 1987 and the subsequent attentions of tree-pruners clearing the highway; later, a car which caught fire travelling along the road was brought to a halt immediately beneath its branches as the occupants leapt out. Popular belief has been that it was growing in the original clearing when the church was built. A certificate signed by Professor David Bellamy estmates the tree to be at least 700 years old.

A change of level indicates a substantial extension of the original churchyard to the west. From the far end there is an attractive view back to the church and its rural surroundings, with no other building in sight.

In the old part of the churchyard (not far from the main door and near a maple tree with a memorial plaque to Douglas Bailey) there is an interesting headstone to Mr.George Moore who for nearly 40 years at Ide Hill Brasted and Knockholt faithfully preached God's free and sovereign grace to saints and sinners sold under sin." He died in 1884 aged 87, and is buried here with his first and second wives, who died before him at the ages of 83 and 79.

It is pleasing to see that no sectarian feeling prevented this tribute to such an independent character. There is a companion inscription witnessing to Christian fellowship inside the church. On the wall at the right hand of the altar is a bronze plate with the following inscription: