St Peter, Bekesbourne, Kent
My last call this afternoon, St Peter's, Bekesbourne in Kent. Third in a series of churches in a line from Bridge, after Bridge, Patrixbourne, then Bekesbourne, and finally after a gap, Littlebourne. The first three are less than a mile apart, so seem cheek by jowl.
St Peter is almost hidden behind trees, but the top of the tower was just showing from the road, and from the tower strained peals of badly rung bells and visitors were allowed to have a pull or two.
I have a very warm welcome here, and as the whole village seemed to have come out to take part, enjoy the day, it was very enjoyable indeed. As was the tea stall afterwards, which served Victoria Sponge ans d a fine cuppa for three quid.
-----------------------------------------------
A pretty church that suffered at the hands of the nineteenth century restorer when the nave walls were stripped of plaster and the west tower rebuilt. The Norman north doorway is of considerable size - for the Archbishops of Canterbury had a palace here and their wealth is reflected in this structure. The thirteenth century string course in the chancel emphasises the liturgical changes in floor level, and there are two aumbries in the east wall behind the altar. A rather stilted figure of Sir Henry Palmer (d 1611) kneels under an Ionic portal with two Bethersden marble inserts. Another large marble monument commemorates Sir Thomas Pym Hales (d 1773) who is described as having displayed `increased benevolence to Mankind`. There is some surviving thirteenth century glass and a double piscina of the same period.
www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Bekesbourne
--------------------------------------------------
BEAKSBOURNE (St. Peter), a parish, in the union of Bridge, and within the cinque-port liberty of Hastings (of which it is a member), though locally in the hundred of Bridge and Petham, lathe of St. Augustine, E. division of Kent, 3½ miles (E. S. E.) from Canterbury; containing 332 inhabitants. This parish, on account of its distance from Hastings, had formerly a local jurisdiction, a mayor, and a prison; but it is now united with Canterbury, the archbishops of which once had a palace here, long since converted into a private dwelling-house. The parish comprises by measurement 1139 acres, of which 64 are in wood. The living is a vicarage, valued in the king's books at £6; net income, arising from tithes, £170, with a permanent addition of £50 annually from the Archbishop, who is patron and appropriator.
www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-dict/england/pp18...
St Peter, Bekesbourne, Kent
My last call this afternoon, St Peter's, Bekesbourne in Kent. Third in a series of churches in a line from Bridge, after Bridge, Patrixbourne, then Bekesbourne, and finally after a gap, Littlebourne. The first three are less than a mile apart, so seem cheek by jowl.
St Peter is almost hidden behind trees, but the top of the tower was just showing from the road, and from the tower strained peals of badly rung bells and visitors were allowed to have a pull or two.
I have a very warm welcome here, and as the whole village seemed to have come out to take part, enjoy the day, it was very enjoyable indeed. As was the tea stall afterwards, which served Victoria Sponge ans d a fine cuppa for three quid.
-----------------------------------------------
A pretty church that suffered at the hands of the nineteenth century restorer when the nave walls were stripped of plaster and the west tower rebuilt. The Norman north doorway is of considerable size - for the Archbishops of Canterbury had a palace here and their wealth is reflected in this structure. The thirteenth century string course in the chancel emphasises the liturgical changes in floor level, and there are two aumbries in the east wall behind the altar. A rather stilted figure of Sir Henry Palmer (d 1611) kneels under an Ionic portal with two Bethersden marble inserts. Another large marble monument commemorates Sir Thomas Pym Hales (d 1773) who is described as having displayed `increased benevolence to Mankind`. There is some surviving thirteenth century glass and a double piscina of the same period.
www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Bekesbourne
--------------------------------------------------
BEAKSBOURNE (St. Peter), a parish, in the union of Bridge, and within the cinque-port liberty of Hastings (of which it is a member), though locally in the hundred of Bridge and Petham, lathe of St. Augustine, E. division of Kent, 3½ miles (E. S. E.) from Canterbury; containing 332 inhabitants. This parish, on account of its distance from Hastings, had formerly a local jurisdiction, a mayor, and a prison; but it is now united with Canterbury, the archbishops of which once had a palace here, long since converted into a private dwelling-house. The parish comprises by measurement 1139 acres, of which 64 are in wood. The living is a vicarage, valued in the king's books at £6; net income, arising from tithes, £170, with a permanent addition of £50 annually from the Archbishop, who is patron and appropriator.
www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-dict/england/pp18...