There is no graveyard here, but you will need to enter the
churchyard, which, of course, is not public property so we ask you
to be respectful of anyone using the church or the church hall. No
dogs are allowed in the churchyard. Although the cache is not far
from the path, it is not accessible for wheelchair users.
This district was originally known as Tivoli after some tea
gardens near where the Silverhill traffic lights are now. An
important event to occur in the Tivoli district in 1860 was the
erection of St. Matthew's Church by a builder from Luton, but to
the design of the well-known local architect, G Voysey of St.
Leonards. This was not the present church, which came twenty-five
years later. The original St. Matthew's was built on the site of
the present church hall in London Road.
It was quite small as churches go, fifty-five feet by
twenty-five feet, seating some 300 worshippers. Its founder was
John Cumberlege, a retired clergyman, who had come down here from
Bedfordshire for the sake of his health. He built the new church at
his own expense, and donated the land on which it stood. He also
provided a school building which stood south of the church. This
was the first building used by St. Matthew's Day Schools. The
second school building, in Strood Road, was very badly damaged in
WWII and demolished eventually.
The first St. Matthew's was a country church, so perhaps the
Rector was not surprised when a farm labourer, coming to be married
one day, produced a dirty handkerchief containing, wrapped up in
it, enough money to pay the wedding fees, but all in farthings.
The foundation stone was laid on St Matthew's day, 21 September
1860; the church opened 16 May 1861 and was consecrated by the
Bishop of Chichester in 1869. The parish of St Matthew Silverhill
was created from the parish of St Leonards in 1870. In the same
year, following Cumberlege's death, his widow Mary Cumberlege
transferred the patronage of the church to the Simeon Trustees. A
new church, designed by JL Pearson, opened in 1885 to meet the
requirements of a growing congregation. Construction of this new
church was funded by public subscription, in a campaign led by Revd
Francis Edward Newton, rector of St. Matthew's church from 1882
until his death in 1891. The church was consecrated by Revd Richard
Durnford, Bishop of Chichester, 25 November 1885.
Other church property included St Matthew's CE School, which opened
in 1878 but was destroyed by enemy action in 1943; a mission hall
1912-1959; and the original church building used as a parish room
from 1888. A rectory, designed by Arthur Colpoys, was built in
1886, again funded by public subscription. That building was later
sold and a new rectory, designed by Wylson and Cox, built in
1964.
Elsie Bowerman (1889-1973), a local suffragette and Titanic
survivor, erected choir-stalls in her father's memory in this
church and a commemorative brass plaque is still there today.
The photo shows the present church with the old church before it
was replaced with the present church hall. In the foreground is a
plant nursery, which was demolished to accommodate the Michelle
Close development.
target="_blank">