KAS Churches Committee Visit to Luddenham and Lynsted, 20 April 2013
On a sunny but fresh Spring afternoon under a cloudless blue sky, a group of over thirty people met at the rural farmland setting of St Mary, Luddenham a few miles north-west of Faversham for the first of this years’ eagerly anticipated Churches visits.
This twin-cell manorial church is essentially Romanesque at its core - the west door has traces of chevron decoration - with later additions including a 13th century chancel. The building has evidence of many different phases, not least the tower of c. 1810, sympathetically built in brick with pointed windows and crenellations. Dr Pat Reid explained how recent excavations by the Faversham Society have pinpointed the site of the lost north tower which fell in 1806, in the process revealing evidence of re-used Roman roof-tiles and the presence of Flemish paving tiles coloured bright green and yellow, which were helpfully on temporary display inside. Notable interior features include a sturdy Victorian stove and a medieval tomb-cover from the nearby ruined church of Stone-by-Faversham. The church probably only ever served a small, scattered community, and is now maintained by the Churches Conservation Trust, their welcome recent acquisition of Swingfield near Dover now adding to their open buildings in the region.
The church of St Peter and Paul at Lynsted made a refreshing contrast, as a large, mostly later medieval building with tall roofs, side-aisles and altars, and one still very much at the centre of its community. Churchwarden David Wood shared his formidable knowledge with the group, which had the chance to handle some large keys, view a 16th-century funerary helm, and (for the adventurous climbers), a climb up the tower to view the 18th century clock mechanism. A beautifully-preserved rood stair in the north aisle indicates the presence of a lost rood screen, which may explain the unusual configuration of the easternmost nave arches, which both descend at a much shallower angle than expected. Lynsted contains many monuments to local aristocratic families in the north and south chapels and no less than eighteen hatchments; Simon Langton, brother of the 13th-century archbishop, was the first priest here. There is also a chandelier dated 1686, parts of which were reinstated in 1904 after being found hidden in a recess in the tower.
We extend warm thanks to Dr Pat Reid and David Wood for introducing the buildings so knowledgeably and enthusiastically.
