St Helen's Church Cliffe, Kent. Part 2

Hi again, final part of this wonderful church.

Same church slightly different angle.

The Sedilia, a set of stone seats for the clergy.

Beautifully polished brass in the choir stalls.

Seating in the choir stalls showing the ornate carvings.

19th century window with work being carried out by a 21st century volunteer below.

The roof above the Chancel with its "new" screen.

The Royal Arms.

View across the centre of the Nave showing the central pillars.

One of the pillars with its original medieval chevron markings uncovered in the restoration of 1897.

Broken pieces of glass from old windows found in the corner of the church, refitted into the south side window, thought to depict Cooling Castle and a boat.

More  "medieval" glass found and reset into the south window, on close examination two heads, one with a crown and two hands can be seen.

Looking towards the chancel from the naive, note the original thick ancient tie-beam across the naive.

Lastly the entrance porch with its lovely flowers.

I must say that Sue and I had a very warm welcome on both visits and all the congregation bent over backwards to answer the many questions we put to them. We were welcomed with open arms and I wish to thank you all for a very enjoyable visit not forgetting the cake competition. 

Mike and Sue Goodes

St. Helen's Church, Cliffe, Kent Part 1

Hi folks, welcome to St Helen's

Parts of the building are 13th century with additions in the 14th century and up to the Victorian era.

The north transept contains a very old wall painting depicting the martyrdom of St Edmund.

Below is a section showing more detail.

North chapel window.

The Chancel screen added in 1909.

Such a wonderful church I have split it into two parts with part two to follow.

Hope you enjoyed our first look. Thanks for looking Mike

St Peter's Bredhurst Kent

Hi all, this week Sue and I went to this lovely church in the middle of Bredhurst to take photos of it and have a look around.

The church was originally 11th century and was entirely rebuilt in the 18th century with the church reopening in 1867.

Unfortunately we went on Tuesday and the Church was locked but after a phone call we were invited back on the following day by the church warden to look around.

What a wonderful sight greeted us as we entered the church was very bright with modern lighting which was a joy to photograph. To the left is a glass screen that added light into the chapel next to the altar.

Looking back from the altar we admired the west triple window is the first of a set of sixteen stained glass windows dedicated to the benefactor of the church.

Entering the chapel to the right of the chancel with more of the sixteen windows.

More Lancet windows in the chapel.

Original 11or12 century Chancel window depicting the crossed keys of St Peter.

Outside with the gate leading to the new cemetery.

I could go on for hours about this church set in its own grounds and well worth a visit if in the area.

Thanks for looking, Mike 

Church of St James Cooling Kent #2

Hello again final part of yesterdays church.

Double 13th century Piscina, a sign of wealth.

With the sun streaming in.

Detail on the original 14th century north door.

Marble memorial to John Murton of Cooling Castle who died in 1852 having fallen overboard whilst off Rio de Janeiro, hence the chain and anchor.

Arcading on the walls.

"Modern" Victorian pews.

Against the "older" medieval benches of the 14th century.

Obviously from a wedding in August, although its closed it still has occasional services.

The 13 graves belonging to two local families are commonly called "Pip's Graves" although Dickens reduced the number in the book to 5 to make it more believable.

Thanks for looking, Mike

St James, Cooling Kent

Hi folks, yes it's me again giving the blog another go.

Yesterday we took a trip to this church a favorite haunt of Charles Dickens who used to walk here from Higham. The church was originally constructed in 1241 and was at that time very close to the Thames estuary before the marshes were drained.

In the Nave looking towards the Chancel and the Altar.

This door lead into the vestry which is covered in  Cockle shells.

Close up of the Cockelshells affixed to the walls, the shells being a symbol of St James.

The East window which is Victorian.

Close up of the magnificent window.

The Chancel Arch which would have originally supported the Rood Beam.

On the North Wall is the Royal Arms of Queen Anne.

Opposite the Vestry is this Magnificent Organ.

Finally is the original 14th century door still hanging on its original hinges but the doorway behind is bricked up.

Thanks for taking the time to look and if possible leave a comment if you are on Google, if not a comment on the facebook link would be appreciated.

Thank you all for looking, Best regards, Mike