Sandwich Churches, St Peter's

St Peter's Church, like St Mary's is a redundant church situated in the heart of the town. It is a Grade 1 listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.

Looking at the church from the South, the bricked up arches show where the south aisle used to be. Mary Bax is buried here somewhere. 

The Church was built in the late 13th Century, and is used for many public events, including the annual Christmas Tree Festival.

An old photo taken inside the church, the flags have been changed now.

Sun shining of the ancient walls. 

The Church is situated in Market Street, almost opposite the Library where I work, so is very handy for me to attend any events held there. 

The lovely interior of the church.

The original tower of the church collapsed in 1661, destroying the south aisle, which was never re-built. The site of the south aisle has been for many years a beautiful 'secret garden', used by those who know it is there, me included, to eat their lunch in the summer. George, the local gardener and others, have kept this garden in tip top condition, making it a wonderfully peaceful place to enjoy.

The 'secret garden' in the south aisle.

The tower was re-built by 'The Strangers', Flemish refugee weavers, who first settled in Sandwich in 1565. Examples of Flemish Architecture can be seen through the town.

The re-built tower .

In 1973, the remains of a black or plague rat was found by workmen doing repairs to the church. The rat is believed to have been there since the tower collapse of 1661, when cases of plague were still being found in East Kent. The remains of 'Roland' the rat can still be seen in the Guildhall Museum.

The lovely old Fire Engine, which used to live in the church. This was moved to the transport museum in Whitfield a couple of years ago. You don't expect to find a fire engine in a church, but I miss seeing it there.

This memorial lived in the Churchyard for a very long time, which explains its rather battered appearance, however the carving on the arm of the chain mail is still in remarkable condition.

A very old wall painting.

The tiny, but gorgeous crypt. I was lucky enough to see this on a Heritage Weekend, back in 2011. I don't think this is now on view to the public.

The church tower silhouetted against a morning sky.

The next, and last blog in this series about the lovely town of Sandwich will show the town from the top of St. Peter's Church tower :)

Sandwich, St. Bartholomew's Chapel

St. Bartholomew's Chapel (known for many years as St. Bart's) is at the centre of what was St Bartholomew's Hospital (Almhouses) in Sandwich. St Bartholomew's Hospital was established in the 11th Century as a hostel for travellers and Pilgrims making their way to Canterbury. There were two other Hospitals in the town, St. Thomas' Hospital originally dating from 1392, but re-built in a new location in 1864 and St. John's Hospital, which was founded in 1287, but was replaced by a row of cottages in 1805. St. Bartholomew's Chapel was built in 1217, which means it will be celebrating its 800th anniversary next year.

The beautiful main door.

Looking towards the main altar, showing the ornate Rood Screen.

The Chapel is now surrounded by 16 Alms Houses, occupied by the elderly of Sandwich. A lovely tradition takes place every year in August when there is a 'bun run' where the children of Sandwich run round the Chapel, to celebrate St. Bartholomew's day. Each child is presented with a bun on completing the circuit, and the adults are presented with a specially baked biscuit with the date 1190 on it.

Looking through to the oldest part of the Church.

The Chapel is just beautiful, and is in regular use for services. On entering the building the sense of peace is very evident.

One of the beautiful stained glass windows.

I believe this is a memorial to the founder of the Chapel.

The gorgeous Lectern, with its feet depicting lions :)

Sandwich Churches, St. Mary's

St Mary's Church is situated on Strand Street, it is probably the oldest Church site in Sandwich, having been built on the site of a Convent which was on this spot in the 7th Century. It now a redundant church, which is very successfully used as an Arts Centre, with events which include concerts, the towns Folk Club, the monthly town Auction, and the venue is also used for Wedding receptions and Fairs. 

The lovely open space in the church, showing part of the wonderful ceiling.

Just one of the colourful stained glass windows.

Another view of the interior of the church, showing what a lovely open space it is.

  

I wonder how old this amazing chest is?

Lovely carving on this, I am not sure if this was part of the church at some time.

I love this wall with its memorials.

Near to the wall with the memorials is this, very intriguing hole...

the straight line down the centre of this is actually part of a narrow pillar.

In the hole if you look closely this is what you can see, a hidden piece of carving, I wonder if it is medieval, or Norman and why is it tucked inside a hole in the wall? 

Part of the original Norman Church can still be seen, maybe  this carving was part of the original building. I found this quite by accident, but I am glad that I did look very carefully into the hole!

A very worn tablet on the wall, no date that I could see.

This beautiful church has seen many disastrous events throughout its history, including being damaged by French attacks in 1217, and again in 1457. It was also a casualty of an earthquake in 1578, and the central tower collapsed in 1667. 

The 15th Century font, filled with beautiful flowers.

The floor is worth looking at, my friend and I think there is a figure in the photo below, or is it just marks from where there was once a hinge?

A very lopsided arch :)

Another wall tablet commemorating two Church Wardens, dated 1671.

The Church as seen from Church Street St. Mary, showing the  tower over the South porch, which is topped by a wooden belfry built in 1718.

A beautiful robin in the Churchyard.

Sandwich Churches, St. Clements

St. Clements Church is the Parish Church of Sandwich, situated close to the site of the Medieval Town Walls. 

There has been a Church in this spot since the 12th Century, at which time the beautiful Norman tower and the Nave was built.  More building was done in the 13th and 14th Century, resulting in the church we can see today.

The interior of the Church, showing the beautiful ceiling and the font.

The font, believed to date from around 1406, showing the Sandwich Arms. 

The arcading in the South aisle

The Eagle Lectern.

The 15th Century squint hole.

One of the lovely wooden Angel bosses on the ceiling.

The beautiful floral crown suspended from the ceiling in 2012 celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne.

Wonderful oak doors, dated 1655, with the initials RRWH and WW.

A beautiful Parish Church, well worth visiting.