Last Updated On: 31/08/2010
St Peter And St Pauls Church
Minnis Lane
River
Dover
01304-821831
The 18th Century
As the years went by, River, with its beautiful situation, began to attract some of the wealthier citizens of Dover who preferred to live outside the town. Flour and paper mills along the course of the river also helped to encourage the growth of a thriving village community.
On 23rd February 1829, a meeting was held to consider enlarging the existing church. It was agreed to take down part of the church and rebuild it on a considerably larger scale. In order to meet the costs of this, the churchwardens were given permission to borrow a sum of £300 from the church rates, to appeal for subscriptions from interested persons in the parish and to approach The Incorporated Society, which promoted schemes for enlarging churches, for a giant. A special committee was set up, meeting each Friday lunchtime at the Dublin man O’ War which at that time stood opposite the church in Minnis Lane and was frequently used for important meetings. A vestry meeting held on 29th April 1831, resolved that the churchwardens be authorised to borrow a further £100 and that the proposed alterations be implemented immediately. The newly extended church was dedicated at the end of 1831.
In February 1876 plans were approved at a parish meeting ordering the re-seating of the church and the construction of an apse and a porch. The new pews and the apse were complete by the end of the year. A plaque over the north door states that the porch was erected in 1897 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
Various precautions were taken during the Second World War (1939-1945) as the parish was well within shelling range from France and along the route of enemy bombers raiding this country. An air raid shelter was erected on the grass by the church hall and the vicar announced that in the event of an evacuation of the village the church at River would be closed. Sunday evening services were brought forward to 3.30pm in winter months because of blackout regulations after dark. Insurance coverage was increased under War Damage Act. The stained glass windows were take down and removed to the vicarage for safety, these being replaced with plain glass. Church Minutes recorded that the stained glass windows were replaced by 1947. In 1952 a new vestry, to become the vicar’s vestry, was built on the north west corner of the church in memory of R. J. Barwick, a former churchwarden and in 1953, as a thanksgiving to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, a choir vestry was built on the south-west corner of the church to replace the former tower vestry. In 1965 a decision was made to spend £400 to install electrical heating in the church. 1985-1986 was a period of much refurbishing in the church new lighting was installed as a memorial to Robert Barwick, churchwardens for forty-two years, and he church was completely redecorated. This extensive work was made possible by gifts in his memory and two large legacies received from the late Mrs. R. Hopper and the late Mrs Ida Luck. In addition generous giving made it possible to re-carpet the church in the nave and chancel.
In 1974 the Parochial Church Council was informed that St. Peter’s Church has been given a Grade II listing by the Department of the Environment, as a building of historical and architectural interest, thus protecting from demolition.
Throughout the centuries the parish has had close links with both Temple Ewell and Guston. They have from time to time been combined benefices. On 16th March 1960, by Order in Council, River became a separate living and with the extensive growth of the parish in recent years it seems likely that it will remain so. The only other period of such dramatic and influential change must have been during the mid 19th century. With the coming of London, Chatham and Dover railway, the tranquillity of the village was much affected, the railway line separating it from the main London Road. In October 1860 the Church meeting was notified of the proposed “cropping and diverting” of various roads and footpaths in the village due to the building of the railway. In 1861 the London, Chatham and Dover railway was formally opened. Three years later there was fresh concern with the rumour of “locomotive engines travelling on the highway.” They were opposed to vehicles of this type travelling on the roads during hours of daylight and stated that unless vehicles were animal-powered they should only be permitted to travel between the hours of midnight and 6.00 am. Shortly afterwards, the Dover-Barham turnpike was abolished, imposing upon the village the financial burden of the upkeep and maintenance of the main road taking traffic to and from the docks.