The church of St.
Andrew stands about the centre of the village, and consists of
chancel, north chapel, nave, north aisle, south porch and wooden
bell-cote. The walls are faced with Kentish rag.
It is thought that there was a church
here in Saxon or Norman times. Mention of an 'old church' was made
in 1225 and the first recorded Rector was appointed in 1227. The
wooden bell tower was added in the 14th century. The Lombardic
lettering on one bell suggests it was made prior to 1400; the other
two are dated 1621 and 1718. In 1831 the north aisle was added. In
1857 the whole of the outside was clad in the Kentish ragstone we
see today. In 1897 the interior was extensively renovated and the
south porch added. In 1962 further restoration and alteration was
carried out. The original 17th century doors that had been removed
from the south door in 1857 were re-instated. These bear a hole
which is said to have been made by a bullet during the Civil
War.
The church is said
to have been rebuilt about 1647 on the site of an older building,
but the only remains of that date are parts of the east and west
walls, the rest of the church being modern. In the chancel are some
late 17th-century floor-slabs to the families of Pendred, Nevill
and Fleetwood.
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.