Historic Churches in Deal, Sandwich and Surrounding
Villages
1 BETTESHANGER: St Mary the Virgin – This
charming little church is sometimes called “the Church in the
Garden”. It is quite off the beaten track, in the grounds of the
magnificent mansion of Betteshanger. There has been a church on
this site since before the Reformation. The present building is
little more than 100 years old, put up by the first Lord
Northbourne in the Norman style, incorporating a Norman window and
doorway from the ancient church.
2 DEAL: St George – the town church of Deal,
built during the reign of Queen Anne, by the council to serve the
inhabitants and the sailors. It is commonly known as the Lord
Nelson Church as he often worshipped here. Captain Parker, Nelson’s
“dear son and friend” is buried in the churchyard. The roof spans
the entire width of the church without support by pillars. The
church welcomes visitors and is linked to the Charismatic and
Evangelical traditions of the Church of England.
3 DEAL: St Leonard’s – This is the Parish
Church of Deal. There is a Norman nave and chancel which have their
origins in 1180. In the 13th century the narrow north and south
aisles were enlarged to the present dimensions. The sedilia in the
chancel dates from the 13th century too, whilst the Norman piscina
is as old as the church itself. The original spire fell in the 17th
century and was replaced by the present brick structure. The
gallery over the west door formerly accommodated the Deal
pilots.
4 DEAL: St Andrew’s – This parish church stands
on the site of the old workhouse. It is built in the neo-Gothic or
Victorian Gothic style. It comprises an open main nave with a Sarum
altar, with north and south naves and chancels. The church was
intended for use by the boatmen of North Deal, and the unique
wooden arch of the main chancel is designed in the shape of a
clinker built boat. The church belongs to The Anglo-Catholic
tradition of the Church of England.
5 EASTRY: St Mary the Virgin – The manor as
bequeathed by Ethelred the Unready to the monks of Christ’s Church,
Canterbury in 979. The church dates from the 13th century with
traces of Norman work in the tower. A dominical circle on an
octagonal pillar, a perpetual calendar for the Sunday or Dominical
Letter of the years, is perhaps, unique.
6 GREAT MONGEHAM: St Martin – a medieval church
of mainly Early English and later styles. It was restored in the
last century by Butterfield, the famous church architect. There is
a Norman window in the north chapel – the original church. The
church contains a peal of six bells, a fine church organ and
delicately carved medieval rood screen.
7 KINGSDOWN: St John the Evangelist – In 1850 a
local resident, Mr William Curling built and endowed the Parish
Church. He also built the school room, (now the village hall) and
the rectory. The church is built in the Gothic style and its walls
are of Kentish rag. The interior is spacious with no aisles or
chapels. The timbered roof is supported on brackets let rather low
in the walls. All the windows are coloured. Over the years a carved
reredos has been added behind the altar and the choir stalls
moved.
8 NORTHBOURNE: St Augustine – A fortress-like
flint-stone building dating from the 12th century. It has four
Roman arches and a 17th century marble monument erected by Sir
Edwin Sandys (the Father of American Democracy). He is buried in
the church in the family vault beneath the floor of the south
transept.
9 RINGWOULD: St Nicholas – The church dates
from the 12th century. The original tower was replaced by a red
brick structure in the 17th century. The interior of the church
dates from the late 19th century. The only fittings which remain
are the Royal Arms of George IV and the 17th century chest. The
oldest memorial is the fine alabaster and marble tablet to Richard
Dauling, Rector, 1651 – 1679.
10 RIPPLE: St Mary the Virgin – This church was
rebuilt in 1861 and stands on the foundations of the 13th century
building. Rectors date back to 1294. The east windows and the
chancel arch are similar to those found in the beautiful Norman
church of Barfreston. Sir John French, 1st Earl of Ypres, is
interred in the churchyard. The font is dated 1663.
11 SANDWICH: St Peter – This church was
declared redundant in 1973 and is vested in the Redundant Churches
Fund. As with St Mary’s, the central tower fell in the 1660’s. Most
of what ones sees of the interior is of the 13th century and is
aesthetically very appealing. The tower, with its ogee cupola,
houses the town clock and it is from here that the curfew is rung
each evening at eight.
12 SANDWICH: St Clement – situated in
Knightrider Street, the parish church of what could be the most
complete medieval town in England. The church has a magnificent
central Norman tower, a 15th century font, two medieval altar
stones and an open timberwork of the kind most frequently found in
East Anglia. There is Medieval floor tiling, ancient stalls
including a misericord, a monument of an alabaster figure dating
from 1611, and a memorial tablet to the Sandwich historian William
Boys. Until the 17th century the Mayor was elected here.
13 SANDWICH: St Mary – This church occupies the
most ancient site of Christian worship in the town. Situated in
Strand Street it is on the approach road from Canterbury. As a
result of rebuilding in the 17th century it now has an unusually
wide nave roofed by a single span, giving a magnificent sense of
space. The church contains a substantial collection of indents of
lost monumental brasses. The church was declared redundant and
vested in the Redundant Churches fund in 1985.
14 SHOLDEN: St Nicholas – This is a much
restored building of Norman origin. It was badly damaged in World
War II but contains in the nave traces of the original fabric
dating from 1070 – 1120. In the 14th century a tower and a north
aisle were added to the 13th century chancel and the present west
and east windows of the nave inserted.
15 STAPLE: St James the Great – The present
church dates from the 14th and 15th centuries with tower and east
windows of 13th century origin. In 1892 a small Saxon window was
discovered in the tower with the typical “long and short”
arrangement of stonework evident. The tower has four bells, one of
which is over 540 years old. A one handed clock dating back to 1789
is evident.
16 SUTTON: St Peter and St Paul – The present
church dates from 1120, although a Saxon church existed on the
site. Rebuilding occurred in the 19th century. Norman work can be
seen in the chancel and over the north doorway. The rounded apse
dates from the 19th century. The ancient feel of the building can
be detected in its thick walls and tiny windows.
17 TILMANSTONE: St Andrew – There was a Saxon
church here before the Normans replaced it. The church was restored
in 1884. There is a 13th century font, a fine brass memorial and a
handsome Royal Coat of Arms of William III. There is also a 16th
century tapestry mounted on the north wall of the nave. The yew
tree in the churchyard is at least 700 years old.
18 WALMER: St Mary Old Church – The church was
built in 1120 and the remaining Norman features are the doorway,
chancel arch and two small windows. The north wall of the nave was
removed in the 19th century to make way for an extension; the
latter was removed in 1898 and the church restored to original
dimensions. On the north wall hangs the hatchment of the Duke of
Wellington who worshipped here whilst at Walmer Castle.
19 WALMER: St Mary (new church) – situated in
St Clare Road. Built in 1887-8, the church was designed by Sir
Arthur Blomfield. It has a spacious interior and externally is
affirmative.
20 WALMER: St Saviour – This church facing the
sea was built in 1848. It’s architecture and that of the old
Lifeboat House are complementary. St Saviour’s was a Chapel-of-ease
for the many boatmen who, in the days of sail, took supplies out to
vessels in the Down. The Walmer Lifeboat services are held in the
church or in the open air by the Lifeboat, so a strong link with
boatmen remains to this day.
21 WOODNESBOROUGH: St Mary the Blessed Virgin –
Hasted tells us that this church dates from 1180. Two Saxon grave
markers can be seen inside the church. The sedilla in the chancel
dates from1350. Pilgrims’ marks can be seen inside the church. The
town with its unusual cupola, once had a steeple and was
historically used as a guide by mariners navigating the Downs and
seeking entry to Sandwich.
22 WORTH: St Peter and St Paul – The pillars on
the south side of the nave are Norman, dating from the 11th and
12th centuries, but much of the church interior dates from the 19th
century. There are two fonts; a Tudor octagonal one and a round
18th century one. There are four old scratch dials beside the
outside of the south doorway. The north door has a Norman archway,
and the great west door is Early English.