St Augustine's Church, Brookland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Augustine's Church, Brookland |
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| 50°59′50″N 0°50′02″E / 50.9973°N 0.8339°E | |
| OS grid reference | TQ 989 258 |
| Location | Brookland, Kent |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | Augustine of Canterbury |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 9 June 1959 |
| Completed | about 1250 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Romney Deanery |
| Diocese | Diocese of Canterbury |
St Augustine's Church is a very old and special church located in the village of Brookland, Kent. It is about 5 miles (8 km) north-east of Rye, East Sussex. This church is a Grade I listed building, which means it is considered very important and protected. It was first built around the year 1250. One of the most interesting things about it is that its bell tower stands completely separate from the main church building!
The church is named after St Augustine, who was the very first Archbishop of Canterbury.
Contents
Exploring the Outside of the Church
The church was built around 1250. It was placed on a raised area of land because of the risk of flooding in the area. The bell tower is not attached to the church. Instead, it stands by itself near the church's north entrance.
The Unique Bell Tower
When it was first built, the bell tower was a simple square frame without any outer covering. In the 15th century, a new frame for the bells was added. The tower was made stronger and changed into an eight-sided shape. It was also covered with wood. The roof, which looks like a candle snuffer, was also added around this time. The tower's covering was replaced in 1936 and again in 1990.
There are six bells in the tower. One of these bells is very old, made around the year 1450. Until 1973, there were five bells, with four of them dating back to 1685. In 1973, two smaller bells were made from the metal of a larger bell. All the bells were then rehung in a new frame.
The North Porch and Clock
The north porch, which is the entrance on the north side, was built in the 14th century. It is made of wood. Next to it, there is a small tower that holds a clock.
Inside the Church: What You'll See
Inside St Augustine's Church, the main area (called the nave) and the area near the altar (called the chancel) flow together. There is no arch separating them. There is also a long aisle on the south side of the church. The rows of arches inside have seven arches on the south side and six on the north side. The windows do not have colorful stained glass. You will see old-fashioned box pews, which are like enclosed seating areas, built around 1738.
An Ancient Painting
On the east end of the south wall, in the south chapel, you can see part of a very old painting. This painting shows the sad story of Thomas Becket being killed in 1170. It was found in 1964 and experts believe it was painted in the second half of the 13th century.
The Special Lead Font
The font, which is a large basin used for baptisms, is very unique. It was made around the year 1200 and is circular, crafted from lead. It has two rows of decorations. The top row shows the signs of the zodiac, like Aries or Leo. The bottom row shows pictures of farm work that would be done each month of the year. Above each farming scene, the name of the month is written in an old French language.
The Church's Early History
St Augustine was a Saxon saint. This suggests that there might have been a church here even during Saxon times. Records show that Brookland belonged to a person named Edward of Coombe around the year 997. He gave the land to St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury because his son was a monk there. It is likely that the Abbey built a church here between 997 and 1066, dedicating it to St Augustine, just as they did with other churches on their lands.
More to Explore
- Grade I listed buildings in Folkestone and Hythe
