St Peter and St Paul, Farningham, Kent
The village of Farningham in Kent was a chance discovery on the way back from Lullingstone (see earlier) and Farningham's parish church of St Peter and St Paul is a little stunner. While lacking the old glass of Lullingstone, Farningham compensates with some fine Victorian and modern glass, an Elizabethan monument inside the church and an 18th century mausoleum in the churchyard.
www.flickr.com/photos/barryslemmings/sets/72157603719055169/ to see the full set.
The chancel is mid-13th century (Early English) while the nave is 13th to 14th century. The tower was probably added in the 15th century. Exterior alterations in the 19th century saw the flat-topped tower raised seven feet to incorporate battlements and a turret. The red brick external repairs had been carried out earlier, around 1790.
Internally the church has featured various galleries in the nave which have all now been removed. The gallery in the base of the church tower survived until 1900. The eight-sided font is 15th century with sides carved to represent Baptism, Holy Matrimony, Ordination, Extreme Unction, Holy Communion, Mass, Penance and Confirmation.
The Roper memorial on the north wall is dated 1597 and represents Antony Roper with his wife and some of his children. The sons are there but some of the daughters broke away and are now lost. The church also has some good brasses hidden under the carpets. One is dated 1451 and represents a former vicar. Some of the glass is by Charles Winston, later a noted authority on stained glass. His father was vicar of Farningham and one window may be an apprentice piece of Charles'.
In the churchyard there is a handsome mausoleum to Thomas Nash, merchant citizen of London and a Justice of the Peace for Kent and Surrey. He died in Paris in 1778 and is buried here.
St Peter and St Paul, Farningham, Kent
The village of Farningham in Kent was a chance discovery on the way back from Lullingstone (see earlier) and Farningham's parish church of St Peter and St Paul is a little stunner. While lacking the old glass of Lullingstone, Farningham compensates with some fine Victorian and modern glass, an Elizabethan monument inside the church and an 18th century mausoleum in the churchyard.
www.flickr.com/photos/barryslemmings/sets/72157603719055169/ to see the full set.
The chancel is mid-13th century (Early English) while the nave is 13th to 14th century. The tower was probably added in the 15th century. Exterior alterations in the 19th century saw the flat-topped tower raised seven feet to incorporate battlements and a turret. The red brick external repairs had been carried out earlier, around 1790.
Internally the church has featured various galleries in the nave which have all now been removed. The gallery in the base of the church tower survived until 1900. The eight-sided font is 15th century with sides carved to represent Baptism, Holy Matrimony, Ordination, Extreme Unction, Holy Communion, Mass, Penance and Confirmation.
The Roper memorial on the north wall is dated 1597 and represents Antony Roper with his wife and some of his children. The sons are there but some of the daughters broke away and are now lost. The church also has some good brasses hidden under the carpets. One is dated 1451 and represents a former vicar. Some of the glass is by Charles Winston, later a noted authority on stained glass. His father was vicar of Farningham and one window may be an apprentice piece of Charles'.
In the churchyard there is a handsome mausoleum to Thomas Nash, merchant citizen of London and a Justice of the Peace for Kent and Surrey. He died in Paris in 1778 and is buried here.