History
The old name for the town is BRADSTOWE and was a fishing hamlet. A chapel still stands, bearing the date 1601, facing the sea (no longer in the ownership of the church) and is believed to date back to the 11th century as a shrine dedicated to "Our Ladye of Bradstowe".
It was a place of pilgrimage as well as a focus of prayer for fishermen, who would dip their sails on honour of Our Lady as they sailed past. Ship's crews also held services there before sailing, including the crew of the "Great Harry". the most powerful ship built in Tudor times.
In 1829 a new church was built for the people of Bradstowe (now Broadstairs) and the parish was formed out of St Peter in Thanet in 1850. A tower graced the church briefly but was removed as it was unsafe.
The 19th century saw the catholic revival in the Church of England, led by the 'Oxford Movement' which led to the desire for a larger and more impressive church. This was finally acheived in 1925, when the church in it's present form was re-dedicated by Archbishop Randall Davidson on Advent Sunday.
This re-ordering included the re-siting of the Rood Screen across the Chancel to form the present Lady Chapel in the south aisle. The chapel was last re-ordered in 1980, when a new statue of the Virgin was commissioned, and stands in the niche on the east wall.
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