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Parliament donates original Pugin tiles to St Augustines, Ramsgate


Laura Sandys MP with Pugin tile

Laura Sandys MP with Pugin tile

Original Pugin-designed tiles from the floor of the Houses of Parliament were presented as a gift to St Augustine’s church at a Parliamentary reception for supporters of the proposed Pugin & St Augustine Education, Research and Visitor Centre for St Augustine’s church in Ramsgate.

The presentation was made on behalf of Parliament by Laura Sandys MP at a reception in the State Rooms of the Speaker’s House. The reception, hosted by South Thanet MP Laura Sandys, with the kind permission of the Speaker, Rt Hon John Bercow MP, heard speakers support for St Augustine’s church bid to received Heritage Lottery Funding for its proposed Centre.

Many local supporters and community leaders were joined by the Archbishop of Southwark, the Most Rev Peter Smith, clergy, MPs, and Peers to show support for the Ramsgate project.

Supporters were also joined by national newscaster, Alastair Stewart, who is a Patron of the Friends of St Augustine’s church and supports many of its events; he spent his secondary school years at St Augustine’s College and regularly used the church. Lord (Tom) Pendry, President of Ramsgate Football Club, was present and has supported St Augustine’s in its work, having been a regular attender at the church in his youth.

Guests from the Pugin Society were present along with the Ramsgate Society, Friends of Kent churches, English Heritage, and the National Churches Trust, who have all supported St Augustine’s in the last three years.

Speeches thanking Volunteers and supporters were given by Alastair Stewart, Laura Sandys MP, Robert Pugin Purcell (the great great grandson of Augustus Welby Pugin), and Fr Marcus Holden (Rector of St Augustine’s church) who has led the project.

Guests also heard from Paul Hudson, the Chair of the South East Committee of the Heritage Lottery Fund who are supporting the proposed centre and have so far funded preparation of the final bid for delivering the project. The final bid will be submitted in March 2015.

The reception was held in the State Rooms of the Speaker’s House at the House of Commons and is one of the best examples of Pugin’s work in the Palace of Westminster. The rooms include the State bed designed in Pugin’s style and supposed to be used by Monarchs on the eve of their coronation, although it is not thought it has ever been used for this purpose. The rooms were described as “Pugin on wheels.”

Since opening its doors every day for the first time in April this year, St Augustine’s has welcomed over 7,000 visitors and is on target to hit 10,000 visitors this year.

Laura Sandys MP said: “Ramsgate has come to Parliament, and now Parliament has come to Ramsgate. Pugin’s designs are such an asset to the nation, and we have prime examples here in Ramsgate on the Westcliff. Ramsgate is home to this internationally-important site, and we need to show it to the world.

“The tiles – which come from the floors of the Houses of Parliament – will really add to the new Education, Research, and Visitor Centre at St Augustine’s. This project needs every support, and I am so pleased to have welcomed so many supporters to Parliament in aid of our Ramsgate project.”

Alastair Stewart said: “This is a really good project for Ramsgate. Great progress so far by St Augustine’s. Good and growing support from so many people and organisations. Outside Pugin’s own creation of St Augustine’s church in Ramsgate, there could be no better place to hold a reception like this than in these wonderful rooms in Parliament. On behalf of St Augustine’s in Ramsgate I would like to thank Laura Sandys MP and Mr Speaker, John Bercow, for hosting and allowing us to have this wonderful gathering in the Speaker’s House – and for the gift to St Augustine’s church from Parliament of the original Pugin tiles.”

Catriona Blaker of the Pugin Society said: “All supporters of the proposed Pugin and St Augustine Education, Research and Visitor Centre, and in particular representatives of the Pugin Society, were most impressed to be at the State Rooms of the Speaker's House, House of Commons. What more illustrious or fitting venue could there possibly be for such an event? This was the final rallying call before the second round funding submission next March to the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Pugin Society is a hundred per cent behind this exciting project, which would so greatly advance knowledge of Pugin and St Augustine, and increase awareness of the remarkable heritage of the Isle of Thanet. Particular thanks should be given to the strong support of Thanet South MP Laura Sandys and Patron of the Friends of St Augustine, Alistair Stewart.

Fr Marcus Holden, Rector of St Augustine’s, said: “Further support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and our Friends will make St Augustine’s a great place for the community, for tourists, for the whole of Ramsgate. I thank everyone who has already supported us in so many ways, and encourage everyone to come and visit this magnificent church. I would particularly like to thank all the volunteers from Ramsgate and elsewhere in Thanet who have given their time an expertise to get us this far. It has been a tremendous effort and we are making tremendous progress.”

He added “Our project is creating an experience of Pugin and St Augustine for everyone.”

St Augustine’s is open every day, 10am – 4pm. A team of 30 volunteers make this possible.

Mass is celebrated every day at 12 noon, with Saturday being a special Pilgrims’ Mass. The Shrine’s prayer book is available on site or by contacting the office.

For more information see: www.augustinefriends.co.uk

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