Parish Church The Annunciation Of Blessed Virgin Mary

The Annunciation of Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Chislehurst was built between 1868 and 1870, designed by James Brooks. It is constructed of ragstone with ashlar dressings, covered by a slate roof. The church is rectangular in plan, featuring a tall, four-bay nave with a clerestory and small, lean-to side aisles. It also includes a chancel with a lower roofline, a bellcote at the southeast corner, a Lady Chapel, and a vestry distinguished by a prominent chimney. The architectural style is Gothic Revival, notably incorporating a singular flying buttress at the northeast corner. Most windows have plate tracery, with a circular "wheel" window in the west gable and a five-light east window with three roundels and bar tracery. The churchyard walls are also constructed of ragstone with ashlar dressings.

Inside, the nave has a high timber roof with pierced ties. A four-bay arcade with pointed arches is marked by moulded strings above, supported by squat piers which are round on the south arcade and square on the north arcade, topped with square carved vine-leaf capitals. A font of pink and green marble on a stone base is covered by a flat, carved wooden cover. The pulpit is crafted from carved wood on a base of pink marble and stone. Original radiators and draft lobby screens are located at the west end of the nave. The chancel is richly decorated, featuring a reredos of 1877 by Brooks, executed by Westlake, with a gabled centre flanked by tiers of roundels. A chancel screen, initially designed by Brooks in 1877 with apostle figures by Westlake, was subsequently completed in 1928. Wall paintings from 1882 and 1892 were also executed by Westlake. A mosaic above the chancel arch, designed by Westlake and crafted by Salviati in 1890, is also present. Stained glass windows in the east and west windows date from 1870, designed by Hardman to Brooks’ specifications. Original Gothic Revival carved wood pews and patterned encaustic tile pavement are also present, along with an ornate wrought-iron screen to the Lady Chapel, designed by Brooks. A detached, Norman-shaped tower was also built in 1870.