Church of St Mary the Virgin, Fordwich

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Coordinates: 51°17′45″N 1°07′38″E / 51.2958°N 1.1271°E / 51.2958; 1.1271
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Church of St Mary the Virgin, Fordwich
Ragstone, flint
and brick
Roofs tiled

The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a

Anglican church in the small town of Fordwich, Kent, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building,[1] and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.[2] The church stands near to the centre of Fordwich, some 3 miles (5 km) northeast of Canterbury.[2][3]

History

The church dates from the

Norman era.[4] There is some Anglo-Saxon material in the nave. The chancel and north aisle were added in the 12th century.[1] During the following century the chancel was extended and the west tower was built. In the 14th century the windows in the south wall of the church were inserted. Box pews were added to the interior in the 18th century, and the church was floored with tiles.[4] The church closed in 1995,[4] and was vested in the Churches Conservation Trust on 5 December 1996.[5]

Architecture

Exterior

St Mary's is constructed in a mixture of

ragstone and other types of stone, flint, and brick, and is partly rendered. The roofs are tiled.[6] Its plan consists of a nave with a north aisle and a south porch, a chancel, and a west tower. The tower is surmounted by a shingled broach spire. The porch is timber-framed.[1] There are two narrow Anglo-Saxon windows in the north aisle, and a three-light window dating from 1503. In the chancel are two 13th-century windows, and a larger window from the 15th century. The windows in the nave have quatrefoil heads.[6]

Interior

Joseph Hatch, one in 1624, and the other three in 1633.[8] The bells are no longer ringable.[4]

Fordwich stone

In the north aisle is a large block of limestone standing about 5.5 feet (1.7 m) high, carved to give the appearance of a tomb. It dates from about 1100, and is considered to be the former shrine of a saint. It is not known how long it had been in the church but it was removed from the church to Canterbury Cathedral in 1760, and returned to Fordwich in 1877. It is considered that it may have been part of the shrine of Saint Augustine of Canterbury.[2][4][6]

See also

  • List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in South East England

Media related to St Mary's church, Fordwich at Wikimedia Commons

References

  1. ^ a b c Historic England, "Church of St Mary, Fordwich (1063709)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 9 July 2013
  2. ^ a b c Church of St Mary the Virgin, Fordwich, Kent, Churches Conservation Trust, retrieved 2 April 2011
  3. ^ Fordwich, Streetmap, retrieved 2 April 2011
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h St Mary's Church, Fordwich, Kent: A walk round guide (PDF), Churches Conservation Trust, archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2012, retrieved 2 April 2011
  5. ^ Diocese of Canterbury: All Schemes (PDF), Church Commissioners/Statistics, Church of England, 2011, p. 2, retrieved 2 April 2011
  6. ^ a b c d e Fordwich, St Mary, Britain Express, retrieved 2 April 2011
  7. ^ Kent, Fordwich, St. Mary the Virgin (N14774), British Institute of Organ Studies, retrieved 2 April 2011
  8. ^ Fordwich, S Mary V, Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers, retrieved 2 April 2011
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