The history of the Church in Reading Street dates back to 1868 with the building of the Church Infant School. When Canon Whitehead became Vicar of St Peter’s in 1871,a Curate was sent down to take Divine Service in the School and in time it was felt that the Village should have its own Church.

A first step was taken when the Church Hall was built and dedicated by the Bishop of Dover in 1907. It was used as a dual purpose building before adjacent land was used to build the Church. Since then the Hall has been used as a meeting place for many clubs and societies, and following a major re-building project in 1999, continues to be used for this, but in considerably more comfort.

A short time after the opening of the hall in 1907, the foundation stone of the new Church was laid and it was decided to dedicate it to St Andrew the Apostle. The Church was consecrated by the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Randall Davidson on the 11th April, 1911 and immediately, those responsible took it in hand to begin the completion of the interior furnishings, as well as to develop the spiritual life of the Church.

However, this was sadly curtailed by the outbreak of WWI, when the Church had to be closed, owing to the absence of Clergy, who were serving in the Armed Forces. But immediately after the cessation of fighting, the Church was re-opened for worship. In 1920, a beautiful oaken screen, dividing the Chancel and Nave, commemorating the villagers who did not return from the war, was dedicated.

The necessity of a good organ was met by the raising of £400, enabling Mr R.J Brown to build the present instrument, which is still in use today. Any attempt to describe St Andrew’s Church must include appreciation of the very beautifully timbered roof of the Nave and Sanctuary. It is excellently matured, and comparable in workmanship to the hammer-beamed roofs we see in many English Churches built in the middle ages. This fits in suitably with the attractive red brick interior, in English bond; the exterior being flanked with local Kentish ragg stone.