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The History of Paradise Chapel, Milton Regis (digital copy)
An introduction by the HRGS Chairman, Alan Abbey
The Paradise Chapel of Milton Regis has long since gone. The building suffered a catastrophic fire in 1992 that left the structure all but destroyed; the site was sold and quickly redeveloped into a block of modern housing.
The loss of this enigmatic building marked the end of a period of local history that all to few today fully appreciate. At the end it may have been a slightly run down old Victorian church but, the story of the Paradise Chapel is one that provides us with a wealth of information about Milton and Sittingbourne that would be almost impossible to find elsewhere. We have here reprinted this original book, first published in 1910, so that others can explore the past and learn not only about the chapel, but about the society of the time. In these pages the reader will see the beginnings and rise of religious non conformity in the area, a relatively late arrival compared to other parts of north Kent, but one that took firm hold and changed the face of local non secular socio-economics. This history also charts the trials and tribulations of non conformist society, the changes the chapel made to local lives and, indeed, the changes local lives made to the chapel.
In addition to reprinting the original book, we have also brought together some other resources that can help with further study. These should by no means be thought of complete, rather a collection of materials to prompt and or assist those who may wish to delve further into the subject.
There is much the local historian can learn in this book but it is not just a tool for the academic. This book is for anyone that enjoys learning about the past and the people and places that provide us with our personal and social heritage. For this reason alone the ‘History of Paradise Chapel, Milton Regis’, has been chosen to be the first of many such works to be reprinted and made available to everyone once more. We must thank those whose support and funding have allowed us to republish this and many planned future titles; Swale Borough Council, the Rochester Bridgewardens Trust, Queenborough Fisheries Trust, K.C.C. councillors Roger Truelove and Brenda Simpson and M-real for providing the paper. Special thanks also go to HRGS members John Crunden and Ann Fosbraey who provided pictures of the chapel at the end of its time.
The HRGS have specifically chosen the ‘comb bound’ format and arial font for this series of publications in an effort to make their books more user friendly to both the disabled and students.
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