Navigation

 

 

 

Link To Our Site

We have a graphical thumbnail that you can use to link to our site.

Read More

More Information

If you wish to enquire about Sunday services, Baptisms (Christenings), Weddings or Funerals then please contact us.

Click here to see details of how to contact us.

St. Katharine's Church

Extracts from Professor David Smither's "History Of Knockholt".

In 1849, Mr Albert Way discovered some documents in a library by the church in Reigate. They were inscribed in Latin, reading in English as:

One of the books of the Public Library of Reigate, in the County of Surrey. The gift of Will Jordan, of Gatwick Esq. 7th June 1701.

They had been compiled by Stephen Birchington, a monk of Canterbury, about 1350. This was a finding of great significance for among the entries was one relating to the foundation of Knockholt Church by Ralph Scot, called "a chapel at Ocolte". This wonderful record, made only 70 years after the event, was reported by The Rev Arthur Hussey in his book Churches of Kent, Sussex and Surrey (1852), he gave both the Latin and an English translation. He wrote that:

The writing of the MS having partially become very indistinct. In one instance the baptismal name of a person introduced is too much defaced to be ascertained.

His translation ran as follows:

FOUNDING OF KNOCKHOLT CHURCH.

In the times of the King of the English, Henry III., son of King John who reigned in England fifty six years and twenty days, there was a certain Ralph Soct abiding in the parish of Chelsfield near the royal highway lying between Farnborough and Halsted, where is the cross called Scot's Crouch. Which Ralph indeed removed himself from that place to Ocolte, by buying there lands and sundry possessions, and by constructing there a certain mansion, called The Hall. On which account that place is called Scots Ocolte. And because the aforesaid Ralph and others inhabiting the said place for hearing divine services 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 befel there, they and Ralph Scot and a certain Her...Goldsmyth, inspired by God, as is believed, in a green space at Ocolte called Hareleap, whereon festivals took place a common assemblage of laity by those inhabiting the said place, caused to be erected out of their own goods a certain chapel in honour of St Katharine, virgin; the first stone being laid by the said Ralph in the foundation of his own chapel. And after the completion of the said chapel, this Ralph Scot, out of the lands he had acquired, out of a moderate sized close near the cemetery for the house of the chaplain there, and also out of a certain croft of his, situate opposite the said chapel for the erection of buildings for the collection of tithes to be stored therein, freely endowed the same chapel, and gave to be possessed in perpetual alms. Afterwards the same Ralph Scot (procured) the said chapel, on the ninth day of May AD. 1281 (9 of K Ed ward I) in the time of brother Robert Kilwardely, then Archbishop of Canterbury, by his licence to be consecrated and dedicated to the honour of St Katharine the Virgin, notwithstanding the appeal of the Rector of Orpington interposed in this matter to the apostolic see as he alleges.

In 1929 Dick Birchenough, who ran the Estate Office at Chevening for Lord Stanhope, sent a copy of a poem with no author's name on it to Eva Smithers. This poem entitled Knockkolt Church is as follows:-

T''was in the time of Henry Third The son of bad King John, That one Ralph Scot did mount his horse And ride from Orpington For Ralph had quite made up his mind, To seek another place Where he a mansion might set up, So trotted at fair pace. And up, and up, the road did wind, For sure some hundred feet, But as he reached the top he found The place he hoped to meet. It was a cutting in a wood, And Ocolte rightly named, As truly oaks in plenty grew, For beeches t'is now famed. So Ralph did here put up his Hall, And friends, and followers too, A home did make in Ocolte woods, And this they ne'er did rue. But poor Ralph Scot was sore perplexed, For Church there ne'er was one, The people strayed to Chevening far, Or down to Orpington. So Ralph, with friends a Chapel built Way down on Hareleap Green, T'was where the festivals were held, And sport was often seen. The good Rector of Orpington, This did not greatly please, But Ralph did ne'er his anger fear, If he his mind could ease. So Ocolte Church and Chaplin's house, with glebe just o'er the way, By good Ralph Scot were free endowed, And stand there till this day.