Hever, St Peter's Church
St Peter’s Church, Hever, Kent.
Detail: Signature of John Hayward 1986.
The Astor Memorial Window.
In memory of Gavin, 2nd Baron ASTOR OF HEVER 1918-1984.
This design of the three lights of this East facing window placed behind the Altar in the Boleyn Chapel is singularly appropriate to St Peter’s Church, Hever which is now in the Diocese of Rochester, but was once in the Diocese of Canterbury. The two outer lights are dominated by the stylised towers of the two Cathedrals each with their respective Diocesans Arms. On the left Roachester, and on the right Canterbury. Between and across all three lights runs a ‘landscape’ in which Hever Castle and St Peter’s Church are included. On the left light appear two figures, St Paulinus, Archbishop of York and subsequently Bishop of Rochester, and the other represents St William of Perth, the Pilgrim Baker murdered in a thicket at Rochester when on his way to Thomas Beckett’s shrine at Canterbury. St Paulinus carries the Crown of King Edwin, whom amongst very many others he baptised into Christianity.
St William, dressed in a coat and hat ornamented with pilgrim shells, carries a pilgrim’s staff and holds the Cathedral in his arms. (It is interesting to note that the offerings by pilgrims to St William’s shrine enable the choir to be built at Rochester.) At the foot of this left light are the Astor Coat of Arms together with the special Union Jack traditionally used by the Lord Lieutenant of Kent and a panel bearing the memorial inscription.
The right hand light contains the figures of St Augustine, first Archbishop of Canterbury, and St Thomas Beckett in a niche suggesting his shrine. He is holding the Canterbury Cross and one of the three swords of his martyrdom, with the other two below. Beneath are two arches containing the only remaining fragments of the ancient glass previously in the heads of these windows.
In the centre light is the figure of St Peter, the Patron of Hever. He holds the keys in his right hand and the spire of Heaver Church in his left. Above him is the Cock, the symbol of his denial of Christ, and he is shown standing on the Rock, the symbol of Christ’s affirmation of his faith. The Rock is marked with consecration crosses, signifying Peter’s foundation of the Church. At the top of the window are the Arms of the County of Kent.
The window was designed and made by John Hayward of Edenbridge and dedicated by the Bishop of Rochester on 28th June 1986 as a memorial to Gavin, 2nd Baron Astor of Hever, who died on this date in 1984.
It is most fitting that the window should associate Gavin Astor so closely with the county of Kent. For in addition to his many business and charitable interests, Gavin devoted much of his life to distinguished public service in Kent most notably as Lord Lieutenant of the county.
Gavin Astor was the third member of the Astor family to live at Heaver Castle. His grandfather, William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor (1848-1919), brought Hever in 1903 and is commemorated in St Peter’s Church by the two light glass windows on the North Wall.
Gavin’s father, John Jacob Astor, 1st Baron Astor of Hever (1886-1971), is remembered in the church by the gift of the electronic organ presented by the family in 1973. He and his wife, Lady Violet, are buried in the Astor burial ground beside St Peter’s Churchyard.
Hever, St Peter's Church
St Peter’s Church, Hever, Kent.
Detail: Signature of John Hayward 1986.
The Astor Memorial Window.
In memory of Gavin, 2nd Baron ASTOR OF HEVER 1918-1984.
This design of the three lights of this East facing window placed behind the Altar in the Boleyn Chapel is singularly appropriate to St Peter’s Church, Hever which is now in the Diocese of Rochester, but was once in the Diocese of Canterbury. The two outer lights are dominated by the stylised towers of the two Cathedrals each with their respective Diocesans Arms. On the left Roachester, and on the right Canterbury. Between and across all three lights runs a ‘landscape’ in which Hever Castle and St Peter’s Church are included. On the left light appear two figures, St Paulinus, Archbishop of York and subsequently Bishop of Rochester, and the other represents St William of Perth, the Pilgrim Baker murdered in a thicket at Rochester when on his way to Thomas Beckett’s shrine at Canterbury. St Paulinus carries the Crown of King Edwin, whom amongst very many others he baptised into Christianity.
St William, dressed in a coat and hat ornamented with pilgrim shells, carries a pilgrim’s staff and holds the Cathedral in his arms. (It is interesting to note that the offerings by pilgrims to St William’s shrine enable the choir to be built at Rochester.) At the foot of this left light are the Astor Coat of Arms together with the special Union Jack traditionally used by the Lord Lieutenant of Kent and a panel bearing the memorial inscription.
The right hand light contains the figures of St Augustine, first Archbishop of Canterbury, and St Thomas Beckett in a niche suggesting his shrine. He is holding the Canterbury Cross and one of the three swords of his martyrdom, with the other two below. Beneath are two arches containing the only remaining fragments of the ancient glass previously in the heads of these windows.
In the centre light is the figure of St Peter, the Patron of Hever. He holds the keys in his right hand and the spire of Heaver Church in his left. Above him is the Cock, the symbol of his denial of Christ, and he is shown standing on the Rock, the symbol of Christ’s affirmation of his faith. The Rock is marked with consecration crosses, signifying Peter’s foundation of the Church. At the top of the window are the Arms of the County of Kent.
The window was designed and made by John Hayward of Edenbridge and dedicated by the Bishop of Rochester on 28th June 1986 as a memorial to Gavin, 2nd Baron Astor of Hever, who died on this date in 1984.
It is most fitting that the window should associate Gavin Astor so closely with the county of Kent. For in addition to his many business and charitable interests, Gavin devoted much of his life to distinguished public service in Kent most notably as Lord Lieutenant of the county.
Gavin Astor was the third member of the Astor family to live at Heaver Castle. His grandfather, William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor (1848-1919), brought Hever in 1903 and is commemorated in St Peter’s Church by the two light glass windows on the North Wall.
Gavin’s father, John Jacob Astor, 1st Baron Astor of Hever (1886-1971), is remembered in the church by the gift of the electronic organ presented by the family in 1973. He and his wife, Lady Violet, are buried in the Astor burial ground beside St Peter’s Churchyard.