Parker & Son helps church meet the needs of 21st Century

Heritage building experts Parker & Son has completed the latest stage of renovation work on The Parish Church of St Mildred, Tenterden.

St Mildred - Mary Monckton

St Mildred’s is a stunning medieval church whose imposing tower is an iconic feature of the Tenterden town’s skyline. St Mildred's was built in the 12th century and is Grade 1 listed. It is one of the oldest buildings in Tenterden.

The extensive work, which took seven months to complete, makes the church better suited for modern needs – providing flexible, well-equipped space for the whole community to use and meeting the needs of the 21^st Century.

Recent work on The Parish Church of St Mildred, Tenterden, is aimed at providing a flexible, well-equipped space for the congregation and the wider community to use. Internally, the works involved alterations and reordering to provide a new stone floor in the nave, aisles and north chapel, together with a new glazed entrance door. The floor has also been levelled throughout the church.

Parker & Son - Ali Tuson

Underfloor heating, which is powered by an air source heat pump, in the nave and aisles was also installed as well as improved. Externally, the works involved the installation and construction of an air source heat pump store with enclosure and pipework in the churchyard.

Battle-based Parker & Son was selected from eight contractors who bid for the work. The company was chosen due to its proven and extensive experience with church restoration and historic buildings.  Parker & Son worked with Jupiter Underfloor Heating Company, ION Glass, GB Tiling, Grummant Heating and Plumbing and Keith Hunt Scaffolding.

The construction work started in January 2025 and the church was closed for approximately seven months. The first service was held on  Sunday 17^th August 2025. 

Parker & Son Managing Director James Parker said: “We were really delighted to be involved with this project and to be able to use our extensive expertise and experience with church renovation. St Mildred’s is one of the many churches we’ve worked on and one of the oldest. It’s a huge privilege to be trusted to work on such a historic building.”

Revd Canon Lindsay Hammond said: “ We are absolutely delighted that this stage of the work has been completed. The Parker & Son team worked extremely hard and to a very high standard and we are very pleased with the end result.

“The improvements will make the church more energy efficient and ecologically friendly, as well as dramatically improve accessibility to ensure it is truly a community space for everyone and that our historic church continues to remain at the heart of the community.”

Parker & Son - Ali Tuson

Fundraising for the project was carried out by members of the congregation who had help from several celebrities including Tim Henman, Joanna Lumley and Clare Balding.

St Mildred’s has been transformed many times in its long history. The current transformation project is only the latest chapter in a long story of similar projects such as the addition of a tower, bells, rood screen and choir stalls, vestries, lighting, heating and a lavatory, the installation and later removal of galleries and pews, the blocking up of doors, the plastering and painting of interior walls.

Revd Canon Lindsay Hammond added: “The story reveals how St Mildred’s has been adapted and refurbished to meet the needs of the worshippers of previous generations and a changing society. We want St Mildred’s to be at the heart of the community, with the community at its heart.”

Parker & Son employs a team of experienced and qualified tradesmen who can build, decorate and landscape to create your dream home. We work with structural engineers, surveyors, architects and planning consultants to either build from scratch or renovate your property. We are also experts when it comes to heritage buildings such as churches and those belonging to the National Trust.

Since being established in 1929 by Fred Oaten, the firm has stayed within the family and is now in its fourth generation, having been passed from Roy ‘Curly’ Parker to Chris Parker and now to James. The focus continues to be on always offering the best materials, products and skills available. No job is too big or too small, so get in touch for a quotation on 01424 892933.