Welcome to All Saints Church

Celebrating 100 Years of Ministry in Hempstead

1911 - 2011

All Saints Church is one of four churches that is part of the Parish of South Gillingham in the Diocese of Rochester; with St Matthew's Wigmore, St Paul's Parkwood and St Peter's Bredhurst. We are part of the Church of England.

We are situated in the heart of the old village in Hempstead Road, Gillingham Kent, and can seat up to 120 people.

We have a team of ministers; both lay and ordained, that share in the daily mission and outreach of the churches.

All Saints Church
169 Hempstead Road
Hempstead
Gillingham
Kent
ME7 3QG

We have a number of church services to suit all age groups and worship styles.

Click here for a PDF document 'Welcome to All Saints Church'

Welcome to All Saints Church

Celebrating 100 Years of Ministry in Hempstead

1911 - 2011

All Saints Church is one of four churches that is part of the Parish of South Gillingham in the Diocese of Rochester; with St Matthew's Wigmore, St Paul's Parkwood and St Peter's Bredhurst. We are part of the Church of England.

We are situated in the heart of the old village in Hempstead Road, Gillingham Kent, and can seat up to 120 people.

We have a team of ministers; both lay and ordained, that share in the daily mission and outreach of the churches.

All Saints Church
169 Hempstead Road
Hempstead
Gillingham
Kent
ME7 3QG

We have a number of church services to suit all age groups and worship styles.

Click here for a PDF document 'Welcome to All Saints Church'

Our Mission

'I want to build my church at All Saints...'

Mission is about building a community and seeking to meet people at their point of need and brokeness and allow their story to touch us, and for us to be changed by that encounter. We need to recognise that each of us is called to be like Jesus and be Jesus in the world. We need to begin from a place and be aware of our own sin, brokeness and inadequacy in which we meet with Jesus.

Our Mission

'I want to build my church at All Saints...'

Mission is about building a community and seeking to meet people at their point of need and brokeness and allow their story to touch us, and for us to be changed by that encounter. We need to recognise that each of us is called to be like Jesus and be Jesus in the world. We need to begin from a place and be aware of our own sin, brokeness and inadequacy in which we meet with Jesus.

All Saints Church Inside

All Saints Church Inside

Our Team Rector

Reverend Bonnie Appleton
The Rectory
4 Drewery Drive
Wigmore
Gillingham
Kent
ME8 ONX

Telephone: 01634 -231071

E Mail: bonnie@babusinessconsultancy.co.uk

Wardens: Peter Fillier 01634 375151  Julia Dimmick 01634 780790
Pastoral Assistant: Betty Hill 01634 232271

click here for directions to All Saints Church

Our Team Rector

Reverend Bonnie Appleton
The Rectory
4 Drewery Drive
Wigmore
Gillingham
Kent
ME8 ONX

Telephone: 01634 -231071

E Mail: bonnie@babusinessconsultancy.co.uk

Wardens: Peter Fillier 01634 375151  Julia Dimmick 01634 780790
Pastoral Assistant: Betty Hill 01634 232271

click here for directions to All Saints Church

A Brief History of the Church 

All Saints Church was built in 1911 as a Mission Church and its design is cross shaped. The Village, or Hamlet as it was known then, was beginning to grow into a larger community, approximately 69 families. It was becoming more and more frustrating for the people to walk to the nearest church, especially the elderly and therefore the locals felt strongly about building a church in Hempstead. It took time and dedication to the cause, even writing to the Bishop in hope that their persistance would eventually enable them to build a church.

Raising money was also a challenge. House-to-house collections were started and a bank account set up refered to as the building fund. 'A BIG NIGHT' in Hempstead was organised to generate funds. A huge marquee was erected with bucket lamps, flags and lanterns, musicians played and various singers performed. By August 1911 plans were drawn up; for a temporary building! 

Building work commenced in September and on All Saints Day,1st November 1911, the foundation stone was laid by Lady Lonsdale, the sister-in-law of Canon Robins, Vicar and Rural Dean. The Dedication service took place on December 13th 1911.

All Saints was not officially recognised by the Diocese of Rochester until after the Second World War. 

A Brief History of the Church 

All Saints Church was built in 1911 as a Mission Church and its design is cross shaped. The Village, or Hamlet as it was known then, was beginning to grow into a larger community, approximately 69 families. It was becoming more and more frustrating for the people to walk to the nearest church, especially the elderly and therefore the locals felt strongly about building a church in Hempstead. It took time and dedication to the cause, even writing to the Bishop in hope that their persistance would eventually enable them to build a church.

Raising money was also a challenge. House-to-house collections were started and a bank account set up refered to as the building fund. 'A BIG NIGHT' in Hempstead was organised to generate funds. A huge marquee was erected with bucket lamps, flags and lanterns, musicians played and various singers performed. By August 1911 plans were drawn up; for a temporary building! 

Building work commenced in September and on All Saints Day,1st November 1911, the foundation stone was laid by Lady Lonsdale, the sister-in-law of Canon Robins, Vicar and Rural Dean. The Dedication service took place on December 13th 1911.

All Saints was not officially recognised by the Diocese of Rochester until after the Second World War. 

The Community of Hempstead

Hempstead prior to the 1960’s remained a small village with houses clustered round their village centre and small local shops, a close knit community. Huge growth has followed since then with the building of several estates of mostly large detached houses and the Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre, one of the first out of town shopping centres, with a large Sainsbury, Marks & Spencer, BHS and Boots and several other smaller shops. This draws people in from much further afield, though in recent years it has faced competition from Bluewater Shopping Centre in Greenhithe and the Dockside Outlet Centre in Chatham.

Hempstead has an Infant and Junior school, both of which are excellent, a library, The Flying Saucer Pub, a Co-op, The Bayleaf Indian Restaurant, Wyvale Garden Centre, two doctors’ surgeries with a pharmacy adjacent, two nursing homes and a sheltered housing complex with a warden.

The Community of Hempstead

Hempstead prior to the 1960’s remained a small village with houses clustered round their village centre and small local shops, a close knit community. Huge growth has followed since then with the building of several estates of mostly large detached houses and the Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre, one of the first out of town shopping centres, with a large Sainsbury, Marks & Spencer, BHS and Boots and several other smaller shops. This draws people in from much further afield, though in recent years it has faced competition from Bluewater Shopping Centre in Greenhithe and the Dockside Outlet Centre in Chatham.

Hempstead has an Infant and Junior school, both of which are excellent, a library, The Flying Saucer Pub, a Co-op, The Bayleaf Indian Restaurant, Wyvale Garden Centre, two doctors’ surgeries with a pharmacy adjacent, two nursing homes and a sheltered housing complex with a warden.