The 15th Feb was when we visited this amazing Church .... HUGE, and so bright and airy as it has a magnificent Clearstorey almost all the way round the Nave.
It was on our radar as I d been to a Lumos Concert the previous month, and was blown away by the Building; clearly there was much history here that we needed to explore!
We were met by guide John Marshall, retired Architect, who had a long association with the Church, who not only told us of its past, but the masons who built it, and went on to build Canterbury Cathedral, there are many strong parallels between the buildings, clearly one fed the other. John's architectural background brought richness to the tour!
The church has an unusual (only 3 in the UK) octagonal porch; stone, vaulted ceiling has some brilliant bosses, including a "Green Man" and what is thought to be a Mediaeval joke, with a lamb attacking a wolf! Above is a "Parvise" - a room, which is accessed by a very non-H&S compliant staircase from the South Aisle near the Font .... we did not get up there! The South Aisle has a couple of carvings 3 or 4 metres above the floor ... very ancient; the Ladies hairstyle should enable dating!
The Nave ... wonderful, still has its Pews, and is supplimented with a not one but two North Aisles. Apparently the Church is full on Sundays, and it has much capacity ... great to hear.
The organ is now electronic and has been for 50 years, the Pipe organ iwth its 2500 pipes was taken out and the space has become a fine meeting room, with an ancient glazed window, refurbished as a part of the conversion. At the other end of the Church is a lovely Vestry with essential loos beneath - all recent adaptions to make the building more useable in the 21st Century. Plans are for a servery at the back of the Church and to facilitate that some monuments were relocated and restored in 2012 - beautiful white Marble. Mind theres some 18Century graffiti on them ... pre felt tip pens, the Banksy of the day carved his (her) initials and date in the soles of the shoes on the Memorial!
The North Aisle houses a mausoleum for the Dawkins family - Richard Dawkins is a descendent. The solid, Iron door opens outwards, and the deceased were, apparently laid on shelves inside the Mausoleum rather than buried. The Key is lost, and the floor level raised so that opening the Mausoleum would be impossible.
As always, a fascinating building and a brilliant guide, thank you John, giving far more information that I can do justice to here. Enjoy the pictures, which are worth several thousand words.
