It was built in the years 1867-8 and was the first permanent Roman Catholic church in Dover. In about 1860 the estate of the Countess de Front was devoted to Catholic charities, and with a portion of it the new Catholic Church was built and endowed on the Maison Dieu Road. A site for a Catholic Church had previously been bought in Ashen Tree Lane, but the ground not being suitable, it was sold and a new site, part of Johnson’s nursery gardens in the Maison Dieu Road, was purchased in 1864, for £450. The building of the church was commenced in 1867, and it was opened by the Bishop of Southwark on the 15 May, 1868. The church, which is of the Pointed style of the 13th century, is 90-ft. long and 40-ft. wide inside, and is built of Kentish rag and Bath stone dressings, from the designs of Mr Edward Welby Pugin, at a cost of £2300. In 1873 the church was completed by the addition of an apse. Schools adjoining the north side of the church were built in 1872 at a cost of £527, and have since been twice enlarged. The War Office contributed £50 towards the building of the church. (1)

On the 23rd October 1987 there was a large fire at St. Paul’s the fire was started in the disused confessional at the east end of the church, where some empty paint tins and dust covers were temporarily stored. It spread rapidly upwards to the roof, along the roof to the west end and completely destroyed the organ. So intense was the heat, that even the organ pipes completely melted. The work to restore St. Paul’s started on 1st June 1988 and on Friday 28th October 1988 the Solemn Mass to mark the re-opening was concelebrated. The Principle Celebrant was Archbishop Bowen. (2)

The church is shown in this location on a number of historic maps dating to the later decades of the 19th and early 20th century. (3-6)

<1> J. Bavington Jones, 1907, Dover; A Perambulation of the Town, Port and Fortress. (Monograph). SKE32120.

<2> Robert A. Mackenzie, 1988, Dover's Catholic Faith; A Book To Celebrate And Honour The Restoration Of St. Paul's Church, Dover (Monograph). SKE32322.

<3> Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 1st edition 1862-1875): Landmark Epoch 1 (Map). SKE30964.

<4> Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 2nd Edition, 1897-1900): Landmark Epoch 2 (Map). SKE30965.

<5> Landmark, 1907-1923, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 3rd Edition, 1907-1923): Landmark Epoch 3 (Map). SKE30966.

<6> Landmark, 1907-1923, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 3rd Edition, 1907-1923): Landmark Epoch 3 (Map). SKE30966.