Formore than 130 years, All Saints Church was part of the military community. The church was eventually sold to the Church of England over 50years ago, and today there is very little to remind us of those years.

We’d like to change that.

Wewant to reconnect with this part of our history by finding the people who remember it and recording their stories for future generations.

Official records can tell us dates, names and events. But personal memories can tell us something more — what life was actually like.

Whatdid people do at the church? Who did they meet? What friendships were made?
What did All Saints mean to soldiers and their families?

Through this project, we hope to capture the voices, memories and experiences of people who were part of the All Saints community. Together, these stories will help us build a richer, more personal picture of the church's military past.

We are planning to interview former soldiers who attended All Saints Church.

In late 2027 we hope to bring people together for a special day celebrating and sharing their memories.

There are two ways you can get involved:

Become an oral history volunteer

You don't need to be a military historian or an experienced interviewer. Full oral history training will be provided by the Oral History Society.

As a volunteer, you'll learn how to:

• Conduct friendly, respectful and engaging interviews
• Help people feel comfortable sharing their memories
• Record and document interviews
• Handle personal or sensitive memories with care
• Help preserve people's stories for future generations

We're particularly keen to hear from people who live or study in Canterbury and would enjoy meeting people, hearing their stories and helping to uncover a fascinating part of local history.

All we ask is that volunteers commit to one training day followed by 20 hours of volunteering, completed at times that suit you.

Share your story

Perhaps you worshipped at All Saints, attended a church event, met friends there, or simply have memories of the church from your time in the military.

Whatever you remember, we’d love to hear from you. No memory is too small.

Were you a soldier who attended All Saints Church?

We'd love to hear from you.

Your memories could help us discover stories that might otherwise be lost — from everyday life and friendships to important events and moments that made All Saints special to the military community.

Whether you have a story to share or would like to become one of our volunteer interviewers, we'd love you to join us.

Help us bring 130 years of military history back to life.

Contact us!