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Naval Flags on English Churches (United Kingdom)

Last modified: 2005-07-16 by rob raeside
Keywords: england | church of england |
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Church of St Mary Magdalene in Gillingham

29 March 1915

Vicar wrote to the Admiralty that the White Ensign was flown from a staff on the tower of the church on the orders of the Admiralty, His Majesty's Dockyard supplying the flag. "Staff went by the board." Would Admiralty arrange to replace the staff so that the flag might fly the following Sunday?

Research at the Admiralty found that a brazier on top of the tower used to indicate the centre of the fairway of River Medway, and that permission for a White Ensign, to be supplied by the Commodore of RN Barracks Chatham, was granted when the light was discontinued. In May 1915 the Hydrographer reported that the staff was no longer used for navigation but was "essential to the conduct of surveying operations." The staff was replaced and a flag, type not specified, was supplied on loan from Chatham. Ownership of the flag staff was transferred to the church in 1920 and in 1946 a White Ensign from a Chatham manned ship was laid-up in the church, in lieu of permission to fly a White Ensign from the tower. [ADM 1/8416/82, ADM 1/16854 and ADM 1/20868]

David Prothero, 17 January 2002

Church of St Werburgh at Hoo near Rochester

Apparently flies the White Ensign. Said to have originated in connection with the use of the church tower and spire as a navigation mark by HM ships approaching Chatham Dockyard. No documentary evidence.

David Prothero, 17 January 2002

Churches of St Luke in Charlton, and St Mary in Woolwich

An article in "The Times" newspaper of 22 December 1937 reported that these churches had been allowed to fly the Red Ensign for acting as signal stations in the 18th century. When the Red Ensign ceased to be one of the Royal Navy ensigns in 1864 the Red Ensigns on the two churches were replaced by White Ensigns. On 1 January 1938 the White Ensigns were replaced by 1707 Red Ensigns made in the proportion 2 : 3.

David Prothero, 17 January 2002

Church of St Anne at Limehouse, London

The White Ensign was flying on this church a couple of years ago. It is apparently flown from Trafalgar Day (October 21st) until the next official Royal Birthday (?), after which St George's flag is flown until Trafalgar Day. The tower was used as a leading mark by ships sailing up the western side of the Isle of Dogs. A White Ensign flying from the tower is shown on the silver head of the Beadle's Stave, which has been dated by its assay mark to 1776. It seems slightly surprising that it was the White Ensign and not the Red Ensign, but perhaps the White Ensign could be seen more easily?

David Prothero, 17 January 2002

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