Recognising Tonbridge Recognised

There were a few correct answers on this Recognising Tonbridge post. Welcome back to Shaun who is a man who knows the Tonbridge spots well, and who I have rarely been able to outwit.

There were also a number of correct sitings via Twitter including Peter @greenhares who also tends to regularly recognise where I am, and a few vague guesses came through that it had to be one of the churches in the town.

Methodist Church - East Street

It is in fact the large arched window on the former Methodist Church in East Street. The stunning window can easily be missed when walking down the narrow pavements and street.  The upper part is a rose window with five trefoil arches and is flashed below by lancets with trefoil heads either side.  Trefoil is a graphic form composed in outline of three overlapping rings, and this pattern is visible on the sides of the window. This ornate feature was often used in Victorian architecture and Christian symbolism referring to The Trinity.

Rose detail in window and trefoil design

 The sculpted images of two male heads that sit on either side of the window and are of Charles and John Wesley who are known to be the founders of Methodism. I am not sure who is who, but if anyone has that information please let me know.

The first Methodist meetings started in Tonbridge in 1802 and took place in 5 various buidlings and locations until the New Wesleyan Chapel was opened is Swan Lane (now East Street) in 1872. In this year the church was reconstructed in East Street at a cost of £2,000. This was the sixth place of worship that Methodists had in Tonbridge.

Memorial Stone laid on June 4 1872

This is a Grade II listed building. So stop next time you pass through East Street, it is certainly worth standing on the opposite pavement to the church and taking a look up at this generally unnoticed spot. I am sure you will be surprised at the beauty of the architecture that is above you.