Holy Cross Church, Bearsted facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Cross Church |
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North side of the church
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| Location | Bearsted, Kent |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | http://www.holycrosschurch.co.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 23 May 1967 |
| Completed | 13th, 14th and 15th centuries |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Holy Cross, Bearsted |
| Deanery | North Downs |
| Archdeaconry | Maidstone |
| Diocese | Canterbury |
| Province | Canterbury |
Holy Cross Church is an old parish church in Bearsted, Kent, England. It belongs to the Church of England. People started building this church in the 13th century, which is over 700 years ago!
Contents
The Church Building
Building the Holy Cross Church started in the 1200s. Work continued in different stages through the 1300s and 1400s. The church is made from local rag-stone, a type of rough stone. Its roofs are covered with flat tiles.
Main Parts of the Church
The main part of the church is called the nave. It has a long, open space where people sit. On the north side of the nave, there is a single aisle, which is like a side walkway. You enter the church through a porch on the south side.
At the west end of the nave, there is a tall, square tower. It has three levels. The top of the tower has a crenellated parapet. This means it has a wall with gaps, like the top of a castle. A small stair tower is on its south-east corner. Strong supports called buttresses are on the other three corners. You can see three stone animal figures on the corners of the parapet. These are new copies of older ones that wore away. The original figures might have been wolves.
Inside, the arcade separates the nave from the aisle. An arcade is a row of arches. This one has four arches built in the 1300s. Two of these arches were rebuilt in the 1400s. A single arch at the west end might even be from Anglo-Saxon times, making it very old!
The south wall of the nave has stairs. These stairs once led to a rood loft. This was a gallery or platform above the main arch of the church. The chancel is the part of the church near the altar. It has special seats called sedilia and a basin called a piscina, both from the 1200s.
Changes Over Time
The church has been repaired and updated many times. In the 1800s, new wooden panels and pews (church benches) were added. This was part of a big repair effort known as a Victorian restoration. Later, in the 1900s, much of the roof was replaced.
Most of the church windows are small. However, there are larger windows at the east end of the nave and aisle. There is also a bigger window above the doorway in the west wall of the tower. On the south wall, you can see narrow, pointed windows called lancet windows from the 1200s. The windows on the north side were added in the 1300s.
Memorials and History
Inside the church, you can find memorials to different people. These include Margarete and Steven Mason (who died in the 1500s). There are also memorials for Henrye Brockill (died 1596) and Susanna Cage (died 1634). Stone tablets on the floor remember Eleonor, John, and Guillemo Cage from the late 1600s.
Elizabeth Andras (died 1592) and her son, Robert Fludd, also have memorials. Robert Fludd (died 1637) was a famous doctor and scholar. His memorial includes a stone bust, which is a sculpture of his head and shoulders.
The Milgate Chantry is a special chapel from the 1300s. It is located north of the aisle. This chapel was closed down in 1536 during the time of the Dissolution of the monasteries. After that, it belonged to the owners of Milgate House. From the 1560s to 1624, the Fludd family owned it.
Churchyard and Status
The church sits in a small churchyard. This is an area around the church, often used for burials. There is also a larger graveyard to the east.
Holy Cross Church is a very important historical building. It is a Grade I listed building. This means it is considered to be of exceptional national interest. It has been listed since 1967. The churchyard also has three special stone table tombs and the village war memorial. These are listed as Grade II, meaning they are important historic structures.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Maidstone
