Church Micro 2132…Dunton Green Traditional Geocache
Church Micro 2132…Dunton Green
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Size: 
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The Cache itself has been placed with the permission of the owners of Vets. how now own the church.
the owner of the vets had sugested where it is hidden at GZ.
====== St Johns Church Dunton Green ======
Until Dunton Green became a separate parish in 1890, the Village Church at Otford was used by the local community. Dunton green in those days was renowned for being a bit of a law unto itself proving to be a thorn in the side for the Vicars of Otford.
Samuel Wreford the Lord of the Manor of Dunton Green lived in Broughton House, which is still there and lived in today, but not by the Wreford family. Samuel wanted to realise his dream and provide the residents of Dunton Green with its own Parish Church, so in 1889 after raising the grand amount of £5000 needed for the cost of building the Church, a lot of the money being his own donation, the Church was built.
The foundation Stone was laid by Mrs Wreford in the East wall of the Church in 1889 and the Church was consecrated on 24th March 1890 and St Johns Church was Born, but is very much Samuel Wreford’s Church.
The main building material is of brick, the clay for the bricks was dug out of the earth, and fired just down the road at Rye Lane. Here used to be the Dunton Green Brick, Tile and Pottery Works, but that’s another story. Today the site of the clay pits is a building site soon to accommodate 500 new homes.
The Church seated 224 people and was full to capacity for the consecration. The first marriage took place on 24th September 1893. The Church didn’t receive a proper Organ until 26th May 1905 up till then an old loft Organ was accompanied by a Harmonium.
The choir Vestry was added in the 1950’s, again local bricks were used. The Wreford’s, right up until 1973 had always used the Church, but with only Daughters, (who never married), the family just died out. Samuel Wreford was the first person to be buried in the Graveyard here in 1893.
Before the M26 was built right by the Church, the Vicars would have been able to step out of the front door of the Church and walk across a paddock known as The Glebe, which was full of buttercups, primroses and many other wild flowers, straight to the Vicarage on the other side, although the Vicarage still remains there is not a trace of the Glebe left, only the M26 in its place.
St Johns Church closed its doors as a place to Worship in the early 1980’s and having since been an Antique repair workshop, it is now a Veterinary Surgery/Clinic.
How times have changed !!!
The Cache is very near the Foundation Stone that was laid over 120 years ago and is starting to show its age.
Please spend some time looking at the old Church so it is not forgotten and feel free to go and wander around the graveyard, which is always open to the public 24/7.
“If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could let Sadexploration know first so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication.
There is also a Church Micro Stats page found via the Bookmark list”
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
“lbh” jvyy svaq guvf arne gur sbhaqngvba fgbar, va gur zvqqyr