Committee Round-Up
Churches Committee
The summer evening visit this year was to Cranbrook. First, we visited the parish church (St Dunstan). The building is reminiscent of the large East Anglian churches, said to have been 'built on the backs of sheep.' Its light and spacious but does not feel excessively big. A local historian, Tony Alison, who wrote the current excellent illustrated guide to the church, gave us a most informative and interesting talk. There is only the faintest trace of the 12th century, although there are documentary references to a church on the site at that time, and the present building dates from the early 14th century when the cloth trade established by Flemish weavers in Cranbrook was flourishing.
The 14th century church was increased in height and side chancels added between 1480 and 1540 and there are records of the many donors who paid for those changes. There have been very few changes to the fabric since then. There is some good glass from 1500 and some splendid memorials and brasses but the church's most unusual feature is a total immersion font. It was commissioned by Rev John Johnson around 1710 in an attempt to win Baptists back to church, although there is only one record of use.
That brings us neatly to our second visit, which was to the Cranbrook Congregational church. We were greeted by the minister, Peter Larcombe, who told us that the present building dates from 1867 when it replaced an earlier chapel on another site. When the United Reform Church was established in 1972, Cranbrook Congregational chapel was one of 700 Congregational chapels that chose not to become part of it.
The first Congregational minister was recorded in Cranbrook in 1672 and there have been many changes over the years. The Congregational movement was the first to give women charge of their own es and it provided a spiritual home for many leading thinkers as well as the Pilgrim Fathers who set sail for America. The church is 'free' in that there are no instructions about who should lead services or how they should be led. Mr. Larcombe provided us with a good potted history of the movement in general and its development in Cranbrook, after which tea was served. The two visits provided plenty of food for thought and it was interesting to learn about the development of Cranbrook's Christian community from two points of view.
Mary Berg
Fieldwork Committee
Throughout the summer months members of the Society have been busy carrying out their fieldwork activities, be it looking for remains with electronic devices, i.e. the resistivity meter, or helping to excavate, pot washing or carrying out the many tasks that are needed on a site.
The excavation of Ringlemere has finished but it is hoped that the site will be available for a 'Minister' type dig next year, subject to the landowner agreeing and members supporting the project. It is hoped to hold a dig during the latter two weeks of August 2007. So watch for further details. During this summer a variety of visitors have been attending the site, including three members of the profession from Russia who spent two days with Keith Parfitt and the team at the site and various work placement students who carried out much work for the project.
The Maidstone Group have continued to excavate the East Farleigh Roman Villa. This culminated in an Open Day on the 28th August to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the Medway Valley Railway that runs along the other side of the river from the excavation.
An exploratory excavation, including resistivity, fieldwalking, metal detecting and dowsing has been carried out at a possible future site to the south of Faversham on farmland. The results of this initial search are featured on page 15 of this Newsletter.
There are further exciting developments in store for excavators as it is understood that Heritage Lottery Funding has been applied for to carry out excavations on a community basis at the Folkestone Roman Villa, a site in danger of slipping into the sea due to cliff erosion.
It is also hoped that forthcoming Fieldwork events can be advertised on the KAS website, so keep logging on!
Mike Howard
Membership & Publicity Committee
Summer Social Meeting
Boughton Monchelsea Place is not normally open to the public, so members appreciated the arrangements made for them to visit the house and grounds. Entered from a main road by an unobtrusive gate, the house only came into sight after a long wooded drive. Mrs. Kendrick, the genial squire of the fifteenth-century Wealden panorama which suddenly burst into view. Owner Mrs. Kendrick impressed and charmed members with her enthusiastic appreciation of her home and by the provision of an ample tea. An abiding memory of the afternoon was the visit to the church for an audio visual presentation of the millennium window. This is an experience thoroughly recommended to other KAS members, as the church is open to the public although arrangements need to be made in advance for the presentation. For further information contact St Peter's Church Office, 01622 743231 or email admin@stpeters-church.org.uk
Margaret Lawrence