Bookings are now open for tours at St George’s Church this Spring.
Ramsgate’s civic church in the town centre parish of St George’s has Major Church status. It has remained in continuous ecclesiastical use throughout its history.
Completed in 1827, the church was designed in the Georgian Gothic style and is coming up to its 200th anniversary. An outstanding feature of the church is its octagonal stone lantern, which served as a daytime navigational aid for shipping in the Channel and is currently lit at night all year-round.
The church also has a wealth of more recent history, particularly from the Second World War. The Lady Chapel is known as the Victory or Dunkirk Chapel. A highlight for visitors during the upcoming 85th anniversary commemorations of Operation Dynamo will be the stained-glass window showing the flotilla of Little Ships sailing from Ramsgate’s Royal Harbour, evacuating troops from Dunkirk. A casket of Dunkirk sand is situated beneath the window.
St George’s is now taking bookings for tours of both the Tower and Crypt. For those with a head for heights, the first part is a tour of the St. George’s lantern tower.
This takes you up through the various rooms in the tower with a talk about the history of the building. View the church from the balcony, check out the workings of the church clock, see the old tubular bells, unique carvings, old parish magazines and the inside of the main roof structure.
Finally, climb up a tall 55 step open staircase and through a hatch to the inside of the lantern for spectacular views of the town. You will get the best views of Ramsgate and sometimes even see France.
Following your descent from the tower you can discover the fascinating history hidden in the Crypt under the St. George’s church building. See the family vaults and coffins, check out where people worshipped during the war and soak up the atmosphere of this amazing underground space.
There will be more tours during the summer but book early to avoid disappointment on the dates in May and June.
Booking for the tours can be accessed via the St George’s website and cost £5 each
https://stgeorgechurchramsgate.uk/crypt-and-tower-tours/
Dates – 17th and 24th May and 14th June
Tower Tour – 45 mins – 11am and 1pm
Crypt Tour – 30/45 mins – 11.45am and 1.45pm
Bookings can be made for both tours or for the Tower or Crypt individually.
St George’s Church, Church Hill, Ramsgate, CT11 8RA
Wow , now this is really worth doing , tower and crypt.
The tower tour, absolutely amazing. Just do it.