Our History
There were almost certainly Christians in Gillingham before St. Augustine and St. Paulinus arrived in Kent in about 600 A.D. to Christianise King Ethelbert. The first Catholic church now St. Mary Magdalen on The Green was built by the Normans in the early 13th century and according to local historian, the late Rev Arthur Porter, it was originally dedicated to Our Lady of Gillingham. A small statue over the west door was covered with jewels and precious metals funded by sea captains who saluted the shrine as they arrived safely home from sometimes hazardous journeys.
After the reformation when Henry 8th became head of the church in England, the reference to Our Lady in church names was dropped. In Gillingham, St. Mary the Virgin became St. Mary Magdalen.
Mass was not allowed to be celebrated during the penal times under Queen Elizabeth 1, until the second Catholic Relief Act of 1793 was passed.
The government, which was unable to recruit sufficient manpower, sent agents to Ireland to recruit for the navy and army. The first effort was made in Connaught where a regiment of marines was made. Because these mainly catholic Irish marines refused take the oath acknowledging the King as head of the church in England an “Irish Oath” was substituted.
The new recruits were sent for training to Brompton, (Near Gillingham).
Eventually, because there were hundreds of Irish soldiers in training in Brompton, a property in Mansion Row was purchased and the magistrates at the Maidstone Assize Court were persuaded to license it for services. This allowed Catholic services to be celebrated, provided the doors were left open. The first mass to be celebrated in Medway since the reformation was on 11th January 1795.
Eventually, as the population in New Brompton, (Now Gillingham), grew, two wealthy catholic families, Arathoon and Faulds, arranged for a newly ordained priest Fr. McMahon to take over the area to form a parish.
As was usual in those days Catholics found it difficult to obtain land, but a kindly Freemason felt sorry for the young priest and suggested he buy the two ponds at the bottom of the hill. These ponds were filled with hardcore, and the first building the presbytery, was built.
The first church, now the parish hall, was built in 1890 costing £115. This became a school during the day and a hive of social activity during the evening. A child named William Brown was the first to be baptized using an enamel bowl for a font.
In 1895 a meeting was held, and it was agreed to build a more fitting church and the current church building was consecrated by Bishop Bourne on 12th May 1896.
12 years later Father MacMahon was still raising money to pay off the remaining debt.
Once again, we had a church named Our Lady of Gillingham.
The Domesday book mentions a church in Gyllingham although it is probable there was also a chapel in Saxon times. It seems that from the beginning of Christian times the existing church on The Green was dedicated to Our Lady and a shrine statue was over the main west door which would have been destroyed at the reformation. The church then being renamed St. Mary Magdalene.