History of St Mary’s

The inscription at the botton says 

Woodnesborough Church Kent published by W. Marshall No 1 Holborn Bars.
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The original church was built here in 1180 by a 'religious women', one Ascetinda de Wodensborg' and given to the priory of Ledes.

Woodnesborough lies on the old Roman Road, although it is even older than this, for it enshrines the memory of the pagen god Woden, after whom Wednesday is named.

The old Woden's Hill, from where the Village derides its name, has been reduced in size during the last 200 years. Hasted (on page 122) records that the Anglo-Saxon remains were found here. A "shrieking scull" at near by Parsonage Farm might well have been excavated from this mound in 18th century.

An old legend is that the golden image of Woden lies under the church or  some where nearby.The main entrance to the church is via the West Door which is approached  via  the Lych gate, which was donated by Frank Holden in Memory of his wife Annie.  Woodnesborough civic war memorialis is on your right; the Great War deaths are set out in order of years.A list of these names can also be seen inside the church viewing the following brief commemorations, the transcriber has taken the liberty of putting them into alphabetical order. Also inside the church there is a cabinet containing the ‘Woodnesborough Roll of Honour,’ which commemorates the Parish war dead from, or resultant of both the two world wars.

The church yard has a number of interesting graves including, the grave of Henry Lee Driver.LEE, T4/238990 of No. 1 Company (Southport), Army Service Corps. He fought in the Great War and his metal index card shows that he served overseas. He died on 17 June 1917.

 Another one that lies near the northeast end is of John Hawkes, known as the "Giant of Woodnesborough" who was baptised in the church and died age 56 years. Nearly directly opposite this is The "Emmerson Family Tomb". This was a well known family and the east window was donated by them.The Main entrance to the church is via the  North door via a  porch which was added to the church in 1883 replacing an ugly brick porch dated back to 1720 the keystone of which is outside the present porch door.

Prior to 1968, any visitor to the church could have seen the Royal Arms of George III hanging on the wall behind the font - dirty torn and discoloured. The panel, painted on canvas in an unusual frame, was dark with the candle and lamp smoke of centuries and had suffered at the hands of vandals in past times. Several knife cuts were apparent and the white Horse of Hanover was completely missing.

The Archdeacon , in granting a Faculty for the filing in of the Belfry Arch, had made it a proviso that these Arms should be restored and placed in the archway. The late Mr. Alec Goulden, then the People's Warden, and member of the Heraldry Society, undertook the work of restoration. In commencing the work, the canvas was removed from the frame and two important discoveries were made. The scrap of canvas containing  the White horse of Hanover was found  wedged in the base  of the frame. More exciting was the further discovery, on the backing board, of another and much older Coat of Arms of the Stuart Reign. After careful scrutiny, the initials A and R were found on the crumbling design- it was indeed the Coat of Arms of Queen Anne. 

PILGRIMS’ MARKS

After the martyrdom of Thomas à Becket pilgrims travelled to visit his shrine in Canterbury Cathedral and often stopped off on the way at St. Mary's Woodnesborough. It was normal for them to leave graffiti on their way, just as people do these days, and this church has several examples on the fine pillars of the arches. There are many crosses and ornamental circles deeply cut into the stone of the columns of the nave. There is a chalice and paten cut into one of these columns, and, just above the chalice, a patriarchal cross.  The columns on the north side of the nave date from the original building and show signs of restoration at some time in the past.

Although in 1884 extensive alterations were carried out by Mr Ewan Christian during the incumbency of the Reverend Francis Savage, much remains of medieval work and historical interest in the church.

The well-used children's corner is overlooked by a beautiful, twentieth century stained glass window depicting the creation as described by Genesis.The sun and moon, stars, rain and the hand of God can be seen in the upper windows, with Adam, Eve and the apple tree on the right hand side. All around are different animals, insects, fish, birds and the serpent. It was given by an admirer of Frederick Cole’s work, who wished to give something to the church.  Although completed in 1977 it was not intended as a commemoration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee, as is often thought.

 

 

 

 

The Organ was built by Bishop in 1875 and presented in memory of Thomas Collett who lived at Ringleton Manor. A set of oboe pipes was installed in 1980. It has two manuals and pedals, with a total of 10 speaking stops. There are 617 pipes in all and in 2002 an appeal raised enough funds to thoroughly clean them and restore this excellent instrument.  There is a list of the donors to this project on the side wall of the organ. 

Plaques and Floor slabs

There are a number of plaques. An Eighteenth Century Floor Slab in memory of Richard Gillow, which dates from 1744 and next to it is another one in memory of Richard and Margaret Gillow, dated 1725 . On the wood enclosing the organist’s seat is a Plaque from 1875 in memory of Thomas Collett and a Plaque commemorating the time John Barlow was organist (1962-1984). 

Just below the pulpit is a late Eighteenth Century Floor Slab.  This one is a mystery as there is no information about Mr Garrett and it has not been possible to trace the Faculty.  There is, however, plenty of detail on the plaque on the column behind  about other members of the Garrett family.  This Wall Tablet is dated 1784 and is in memory of James, Margaret and Richard Garrett and then a modern tablet to a popular vicar, Arthur Brough, dated 1985

.Above the Choir Stalls is a wall tablet dated 1881 in memory of Thomas and Georgiana Collett. Next to it is one in memory of John and Mary Cason in 1718

 The Reverend Francis Savage, Vicar from 1881 to 1915, made great alterations to the church.  The old box pews and pulpit were removed and the present, pitch pine pews were placed very much as they are today.  The panels of the old pulpit became the vestry walls and the sounding board the door.  The sounding board was the way the preacher’s voice was ‘amplified’: the echo was directed away from the pulpit and ‘bounced’ to the congregation.  There was no loop system in those days!  The open pews probably made it easier for the preacher to see that no one fell asleep.  Perhaps this encouraged him to shorten his sermon! 

 

 

 

 

 

A delightful lancet window from 1912 shows St Nicholas in his red cope looking fairly like our idea of Santa Claus, given by the Reverend Savage.  Then we commemorate Thomas Godfrey (1810) and a floor slab from 1528 is covering Master Mychill. Above th altar is a very fine

 

 

 

 

 

Victorian Stain glass window, depicting the Good Shepherd, St Anne and St. Elizabeth, surmounted by the Lamb of God, slain in glory. 

 

 

 

It was placed in the church on 1st March 1898. On the south side of the Chancel where there is a wall tablet from 1661 in memory of Thomas Blechenden and Family

SEDILIA

One of the treasures in the  church is the sedilia . The coloumns  date back to about 1350.The sedilia provide seating for three a clerymen officiating in the service of worship. It is unusual to have such an elaborate sedilia in a parish although they are often seen in cathedrals, with groined roof and beautiful carvings. The columns are delicately carved, as are the feather arches and spandrels, which contain shields and foliated designs.  The sedilia are very well preserved, and have been described as one of the most priceless examples of thirteenth century carving (Charles Igglesden). The adjoining piscina (stone basin for draining water used in services) is carved in a similar style.

There is  wall plaque inside the sedilia, in memory of John Parser, Vicar , who died in 1513, and another one from 1593 in memory of Nicholas Spencer.   

In the wall opposite and close to the priest’s door is the end of a moulded beam and there is evidence of the other end above the sedilia. This may have been a candle-beam or a beam supporting a curtain and used at certain times in the liturgical year. The wall immediately beneath the sedilia is decorated with medieval tiles, probably removed here from the old sacrarium. 

 ALTAR RAILS

This is a very fine piece of work, dating from the reign of Queen Anne (1702-1714).  It is made of pear wood from a local orchard and has a red mahogany top rail.

Nave

Before the restoration was made, the roof of the nave was ceiled insde. The six King Posts supporting the Nave and Chancel roof are thought to be original.

 Two more floor slabs - William and Sarah Docksey 1760 and John Hill 1605. are in the nave.   On the south side of the chancel is a window known as the Mary Window.  It shows three Marys – St Mary Cleophas, the Virgin Mary and St Mary of

 

Bethany

.  This window is dated 1912 and is dedicated to the Reverend Savage’s mother, Mary Savage.

 

 

 

The two poppy heads which decorate the priest's stall are the only remains of the high boxed pews which had been in place until the end of the Nineteenth Century.

THE WAR MEMORIAL CHAPEL

On the South side of the Nave is the Chapel in memory of the Woodnesborough men and women who gave their lives in the two World Wars. Their names are inscribed in a Book of Remembrance; the Standard of the British Legion and the Union Flag overhang this Chapel.

THE SIDE CHAPEL

This Chapel was dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, on Sunday, 27th December 1970, by the Archdeacon of Canterbury, the Venerable J. Nott and was unique because it faced West instead of the normal way towards the East. A plaque on the South wall explains the gifts towards this Chapel. The Screen behind the Altar table hides lead-light windows and another door to the Vestry.  The Chapel was turned round in the 1990s.

There are many memorials in the church including one memorial ,

a 1777 plaque to W. Gibbs but a  lovely wall plaque is to Sarah Stewart’s giving details of her gift to the Parish Poor in  1836.  The capital has been transferred to a fund which is still used to this day, and so her gift is being used “for the time being for ever” as she wished.

The Priest’s Vestry on the south side of the Nave is made from the old three-decker pulpit, the Vestry door being made from the sounding board of this pulpit.  This was part of the reordering of the church carried out by the Reverend Savage in 1884.

 The tower containing our five bells.  These are now chimed, not rung, to call people to worship on Sundays and for weddings to join in the joyful celebrations.

A beautiful last stained glass window overlooks the font.  This is the third Cole window and was given by a person who came to the community from an American desert.  It depicts that well known passage from the Book of Matthew (Chapter 25, verse 35) “I was a stranger, and you welcomed me” and was given in gratitude for the very warm welcome extended.  It has been placed in the area where children are welcomed into the church family at baptism in the early Twentieth Century font. The window was dedicated at a Family Service on 7th September, 1997 and was the last window Frederick Cole completed. He died in April 1998.            

 

 

 

 The font is modern, replacing a stone Georgian font similar in structure (although differing in material) to that in St. Nicholas Church at Ash.

 

 

 

The Church has a beautiful church clock which was given in 1881,a gift in memory of Richard Dilnot Smith and adorns the tower. It keeps the correct time and is a central feature in the village