The parish has been dedicated to St. Justus (Paddock Wood) and St. Anselm (Pembury).
It is believed that Justus was born in Gaul (France). He was sent to England by Pope Gregory in 601, who had heard from Bishop Augustine that there was a “rich harvest” to be had. Justus was appointed first bishop of Rochester. He became fourth Archbishop of Canterbury in 624. Justus died in 634. His feast day is 24 April.
Anselm (1033-1109) took monastic vows in 1060, and in 1063 succeeded Lanfranc as prior at Bec in Normandy. He became Abbot at Bec in 1078, and then visited England, renewing his acquaintance with Lanfranc, now Archbishop of Canterbury. On the death of Lanfranc in 1089, the English clergy wished Anselm to become Lanfranc’s successor, but Anselm’s refusal to compromise spiritual independence made this impossible. Anselm spent time going back and forth between England and France, returning to England in 1107. His feast day is 21 April.
The present Church Hall in Paddock Wood functioned originally as a church from 1950, and was served from the parish of Tonbridge. The small community managed to pay off the church debt in around three years. As the population of Paddock Wood increased, it became necessary to expand the church premises, and a Presbytery was purchased in 1978; on 1 March 1981, a new church was dedicated by Archbishop Michael Bowen. The old church became the Church Hall.
The present Hall in Pembury was built in 1964, the site having been acquired by the parish of Tunbridge Wells. A Presbytery, next to the Hall, was acquired at the same time. It was sold when the Presbytery was acquired in Paddock Wood in 1978. A chapel was built, adjoining the Hall, in 1980.
The parish priests of Paddock Wood and Pembury are as follows:
| 1965-67 | Fr. Nigel Larn (Canon, died 1998) | ||
| 1967-70 | Fr. Colm Spillane (died 1977) | ||
| 1970-74 | Fr. Colm Acton (now Canon) | ||
| 1974-84 | Fr. John Hartley | ||
| 1984-89 | Fr. Tim Buckley (Retired) | ||
| 1989-1991 | Fr. Joseph Levins (Retired) | ||
| 1991-2005 | Fr. Geoffrey Pointer | ||
| 2005-present | Fr. Liam Gallagher |
The parish deacons of Paddock Wood and Pembury are as follows:
| Ordained 1988 | Rev. Bill Eason (Retired) | ||
| Ordained 1990 | Rev. Reginald Grimmette (died 2007) |
