TOP HERITAGE FUNDERS VISIT THANET - ST AUGUSTINE'S, RAMSGATE

Ramsgate’s tourism industry received a great endorsement last week when top officials from the National Churches Trust and the Friends of Kent Churches visited St Augustine’s, Ramsgate. A flagship project in the town, St Augustine’s is undergoing restoration and plans to open an Education, Research, and Visitor Centre in 2015/16. The National Churches Trust is the country’s the only national, independent, charity dedicated to promoting and supporting church buildings of historic, architectural and community value across the UK, and one of the largest funders of such projects. The Friends of Kent Churches makes grants to churches to repair their fabric, and runs the annual Kentish ‘Ride and Stride’ in which St Augustine’s will be taking part on 13th September. The delegation received an extensive private tour of St Augustine’s, led by the Rector, Fr Marcus Holden, and the Architect, Paul Sharrock, of Thomas Ford and Partners. They were shown the impressive amount of work that has been done over the last four years – and is ongoing – that is securing the site for future generations. They also saw the impressive font and cover, as well as the stained glass and numerous other features. Also on display were collections of published material and press cuttings about St Augustine’s collated since this project began three years ago – now running to six large volumes. Tiles, old stonework, and window lead sections were available to view, as well as materials being replaced by the latest phase of restoration. Each delegate had a copy of the Annual Report of Activities. Lunch was held in the Cartoon Room of The Grange, next door, with various Pugin Society, Ramsgate Society, members and volunteers joining the delegates. A presentation was given by Andrew Sharp on the plans for St Augustine’s and the associated fundraising, which was an excellent summary of St Augustine’s purpose and vision. This was followed by questions to the Architect and Rector in a vibrant and jolly atmosphere. The National Churches Trust and the Friends of Kent Churches gave a vote of thanks, and spoke of their appreciation at seeing such progress in Ramsgate on such an important building. Afterwards, Georgina Rogerson of the National Churches Trust, said, “We were all deeply impressed and indeed inspired by our visit, and were thrilled to see a church doing all the right things, with such a fantastic team working so hard (and so well) to support it, and clearly thriving.” Fr Marcus Holden, Rector, said, “It was tremendous to have the National Churches Trust and the Friends of Kent Churches visit us, who have been so generous and enabled St Augustine’s really to begin to prosper. As we build on what has already been achieved, all the support we receive is as important as ever.” Andrew Sharp, part of the project team, said, “It is thanks to the Friends of Kent Churches, and the National Churches Trust, as well as other bodies and volunteers, that we have been able to open St Augustine’s and welcome Ramsgate’s residents and visitors into this most important building. To have them visit us, amongst all the many projects that they fund, has made this a really great day.” St Augustine’s is open to the public – free – every day between 10am and 4pm. St Augustine’s is undergoing a major restoration and expansion programme. Currently under way is Phase 3, which is repairing the roof of the Schoolroom and Library as well as restoring the East Window, windows in the West Cloister, and various stonework. This has received significant funding from English Heritage. St Augustine’s is open from 10am to 4pm every day. Entrance is free, and donations are welcome. The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded St Augustine’s £82,000 in November to fund a Development Phase towards a full grant of almost a million pounds. This will enable the creation of an Education, Research and Visitor Centre which will be a focus of exhibitions, studies, and access to Pugin and St Augustine. Already attracting groups from across the country and the world, the planned centre will make Ramsgate an even greater point on the map. Fundraising for approximately £90,000 is underway, which must be raised by Spring 2015, in order to qualify for the full grant. For more information, contact the Friends of St Augustine at office@augustineshrine.co.uk or write to 72, Hereson Road, Ramsgate, Kent, CT11 7DS.

ST AUGUSTINE WEEK IN RAMSGATE: PROGRAMME LAUNCHED

St Augustine Week, Ramsgate’s premier annual week of history and culture, will run 25^th – 31^st May. Hosted by Pugin’s church of St Augustine’s – built by the man most famous for his designs at the Houses of Parliament – the week celebrates St Augustine, who brought Christianity to England in 597, and English history and culture.

Held during the half term week, all the family is welcome to take part in the events. A youth event on Saturday 31^st evening, 6pm-9pm, will be held at Minster Abbey in Minster. There will be indoor and outdoor events suitable to many age groups held at St Augustine's and St Ethelbert's, Ramsgate.

This annual festival offers something for everyone in Thanet and beyond. It features extraordinary arts from live music to historic lectures; it is enticing as you can see St Augustine’s used for its principle purpose of worship (this year with Bishop Athanasius Schneider from Kazakhstan); it is expeditionary as you walk around significant sites in Ramsgate or take the coach trip around east Kent and see how important our corner of the country is.

This annual festival features spectacular music, walking tours, wonderful liturgies, a coach trip, lectures, and more. Some highlights are: Friday 30^th at 2pm, Pugin expert Catriona Blaker will guide people around Ramsgate, showing Pugin’s influence and legacy; on Saturday 31^st at 2.30pm, everyone is encouraged to join the procession from the Hugin Viking Ship to St Augustine’s Cross at Ebbsfleet to commemorate the famous landing in 597. On Monday 26^th there is the rare chance to see Bishop Athanasius Schneider of Kazakhstan in procession along Ramsgate’s Westcliff followed by a beautiful Mass in St Augustine’s. On Sunday 25^th at 7pm there will be a concert in St Augustine’s which will be an excellent evening of music.

This year St Augustine Week will feature a brand new icon, made by a local artist, of St Augustine. It is a beautiful creation. It will be processed along Ramsgate’s Westcliff after being blessed by Bishop Schneider on Monday 26^th at 11am.

Rector of St Augustine’s, Fr. Marcus Holden, said, “This festival is a marvellous celebration of local talent, enthusiasm, and community spirit as well as the wonderful legacy of St Augustine. We look forward to welcoming the people of Thanet and beyond to mark the feast day of St Augustine – our local international hero!”

Birthday concert series for Pugin at St. Augustine’s Ramsgate

•       Saturday 22nd February  8.15pm  – Quodlibet: “Dangerous Candlelight,” and explanatory lecture

•       Saturday 8th March 7pm  – Victoria Consort: “Allegri Miserere by Candlelight; Passiontide Music”

•       Saturday 15th March  7.30pm  – Thames Chamber Choir: “O Magnum Mysterium: sacred music from the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries”

o       Tickets may be purchased by ringing 01843 850829, or in person at St. Augustine’s and St. Ethelbert’s churches in Ramsgate, or on the door. Tickets for the last concert may also be purchased at tccramsgate.eventbrite.co.uk

o       Prices for the concerts are all £10 per person, with £7.50 concessions for the last concert.

A series of three concerts will be held at the church be built in Ramsgate to mark Augustus Pugin’s birthday. Over three Saturdays from the end of February to the middle of March a diverse range of choral music will be performed by choirs from Kent and further afield.

The concerts will be entertaining evenings. Rector of St. Augustine’s, Fr. Marcus Holden, said, “These promise to be excellent concerts, taking place in such an atmospheric building as St. Augustine’s. Pugin built this church to be a special place, and these concerts will fill it with special music.” The first concert, by Quodlibet, will begin with an explanatory lecture to set their music in its historical and cultural context.

St. Augustine’s is a major Ramsgate site, developing as a shrine to St. Augustine, a centre of Pugin studies and enthusiasm, and as a tourist attraction, as well as a concert venue. It has previously hosted concerts by Jesus College, Cambridge, the Merry Opera Company, and Thomas Bowes. It attracts many people with interest in Pugin’s work, as well as religious pilgrims, school groups and tourists.

Augustus Pugin was born in 1812 and died in Ramsgate aged 40, having built his house, The Grange, and his own church, St. Augustine’s, next door. He was one of the most prolific and influential architects of the nineteenth century, driving the Gothic Revival which shifted architecture away from the symmetrical Regency style, designing many significant buildings and parts of the Houses of Parliament, and he has even been credited with foreshadowing designs of famous modern structures such as the Lloyd’s Building in the City of London.