Recently restored this church displays far more of interest than the rather severe exterior promises. The likely start of Bobbing church is that it came out of the Minster church in Milton. Early evidence for Bobbing church comes from a record of a tithe being paid to the prioress of Minster Priory in Sheppey in 1186. The Savage family would have had a chapel of some form in the 1100s.
It is believed the oldest part of the church (the north aisle and where the organ stands) was built probably between 1234 -1250.
The main part of the church was added in the 14th century. The tower is shown with a tall steeple in a painting of Bobbing in 1807, but it is unclear when this was removed.
WINDOWS
The geometrical east window probably outdates the others. Some fragments of the original 14th century glass may be seen in the heads of the windows in the vestry area. One window in the south wall shows designs of Kentish trefoil tracery of about 1316 Some 14th century windows were taken from the nave and placed in the tower, below the 13th century lancet windows.
VESTRY AREA
This part of the church was known as the chapel of the Blessed Mary; Sir Arnold Savage provided candles to be lit before the saints of St. Mararet and St. Katherine. He also provided for some brasses to be made commemorating his parents and himself. Their burial place was in the chapel, but the purbeck marble slabs holding the brasses were removed from there to the tower arch, where they can be seen today.
SEDILIA
Probably the church's best asset in terms of historical interest. It is a seat for priests in the south wall of a chancel. The capitals and bases are in the style of the 12th and 13th century. The stone shaft near the sanctuary was removed in 1862 in order to insert a wooden rail. The inner surface was found to be a sculpture, upside down. It is a very ancient stone depicting St. Martial, Archbishop of Limoges, in the act of ordaining a deacon. It is thought that this may have been part of a load of Caen stone brought over from France during the construction of the church. Near this can be seen the carving of a woman’s face - ”the laughing woman of Bobbing” as it has been called.
If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could let Sadexploration know first so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication
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