St Catherine's Church, Kingsdown, Part Two.

Hi folks,

continuing on with this astounding church, below is the ceiling of the chancel which is painted to look like elaborate marquetry work.

There are six nave windows each showing two of the Apostles, the majority of the glass in these windows is called grisaille glass which has a grey patterned background and prevents the congregation from looking outside when they should have been praying.  It really does work as apart from telling if the sky was blue, black or white nothing else could be seen.

Carved stonework was in abundance, it is thought to be by Richard Boulton who was the architects' favoured sculpture.  This is over the Vestry door.

The carvings on the ends of the stalls are of Wyverns which are legendary winged creatures with dragons' heads.  The Wyvern and Lion form the crest of the Leigh Pemberton family which you will read about below.

Some will know the name Robin Leigh Pemberton he was a former Governor of the Bank of England and Lord-Lieutenant of Kent who died in November 2013, given a life peerage in 1993 he called himself Baron Kingsdown.  The Leigh Pembertons live and lived in Kingsdown being where the church is.

Here the stonework carving on the front of the pulpit shows Christ preaching.

One of six carvings on the supports of the nave roof, each shows an angel playing a different musical instrument.

The beautifully carved font supported on coloured marble pillars.

Set into the wall in the Vestry are some medieval glazed tiles from the old church which were discovered during repair works in 1990.

Thanks for looking.  We had a very pleasant time discovering this Church and its beauty and hope that the Churches Conservation Trust will be able to go on assuring our heritage lives on.

Regards, Mike

A Jewel in the Crown of the Churches Conservation Trust

Hi folks,

Yesterday we visited St Catherine's Church, Kingsdown, Kent, the literature suggested that it was "A secret gem hidden deep in country lanes", it took a while to find  but it was really worth it. This is a late church not built until 1865 at a cost of £7,000 including the parsonage house and gardens. The church was isolated from its parishioners by the building of the M2 motorway and suffered damage in the great storm of 1987.  In 1989 the repairs were made by the Redundant Churches Fund now called the Churches Conservation Trust. The church now stands on its own in the countryside.

The rear of the nave is the great west window with the font below.

The best window is the East Chancel window with its wonderful secret.

The north and south chancel windows are Victorian and had gold added to the red glass in the manufacturing process.

As you can see the light floods in to the chancel.

On the day we visited the light kept altering causing various shades of red giving this sacred glow.

Lastly a close up of the altar with the ten commandments written on the rear panels 

I have not finished with this church and will return with some more details and history later.

I must give my thanks to my loving wife who spent a long time masking out the windows to give them the quality they deserve and not allowing them to be overexposed as would have been the case with standard photography. Each window shown was taken at different exposures on a tripod and using a layer mask blended to give effect as from the eye, in shots 2 and 5 in particular.  There are other ways of achieving this but we find this the most successful.

Regards, Mike.

St Benedict, Paddlesworth

Hi folks,

well what a week, I have been very busy so not had a lot of time for blogs.  Still Friday came and as it was Sues' Birthday we thought we must try another local church cared for by The Churches Conservation Trust.  Off we went to Snodland, Kent is search of this 900 year old tiny pilgrims church.
It is situated on The Pilgrims Way on the north downs and is made of ragstone rubble, it closed as a church in 1678 and used as a farm building until the 1930's when it was restored.  When the owner died it was left to its own devices but again restored and now looked after by the Conservation Trust for all to see.

Looking towards the Chancel notice the beam post in the roof.

Closer view of the cast iron candelabrum fitted in the 17th century.

Simplistic cross.

Faces peer out of the arch in the nave.

Gallery in the background.

Nave roof with more vertical columns showing the medieval design.

We have checked and not a lot more to add to the history of this lone church which now stands on it's own in a farmyard.

Thanks for looking.

Luv Mike

Cranbrook, Kent

Hi folks,

thought we would have a quick trip to this small quaint town today.

This village is dominated by it's windmill perched on the hill at one end of the town.

As we walked from the car park which I hasten to add was FREE we came across this beautiful mosaic bench.

It was very nicely done with scenes of the village and of course the windmill.

The church which we wanted to visit was unfortunately covered in scaffolding but the pub next door looked inviting. We walked the high street but most of the shops where shut but no worries, the sun was out.

Lastly we returned to the car park after a warn afternoon in the sunshine capturing the windmill with lovely blue sky behind it. It made Sue and I feel so good.

Thanks for looking.

Luv Mike.

Christmas Amaryllis

Hi folks,
 Just to brighten your day, this bulb was started on the 24th December.

Next two taken in subdued winter daylight

Double Dancing Queen taken in sunlight.

There, keep smiling.

Luv Mike

New Year Parade and Show

Hi folks,

In finalize the day a few more of the parade.

Martial Arts Group.

Followed by a few from the show, sorry the lighting was aggravated by a smoke machine running the entire show. I hope this does not stop your enjoyment.

Long Dragon shown in the last blog which was  carried along the high street now on the stage. The cast gave a demonstration on various dance routines with him.

Applause from the audience after a spectacular performance.

One for Chris, the golden dragon in the high street is now going to climb a pole!

Here he is at the top, the three men at the base are securing the pole.

Lastly unfolding a Chinese greeting.

Thanks for looking, I hope you enjoyed the Chinese celebrations in Chatham, Kent.

Luv Mike

The Year of the Horse Parade

Hi folks,

Getting ready for the parade I got these few shots, these two were actually late and rushing up the high street the wrong way.

Next a couple of children in anticipation.

Now the start....

Thanks for looking, may have a few more later.

Luv Mike