St Eanswith's Church, Brenzett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Eanswith, Brenzett |
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| 51°0.8447′N 0°51.4209′E / 51.0140783°N 0.8570150°E | |
| OS grid reference | TR 005 277 |
| Location | Brenzett |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Eanswith |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 9 June 1959 |
| Style | Early English Period |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | 3 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Romney Deanery |
| Diocese | Diocese of Canterbury |
St Eanswith's Church is a very old and important church in the small village of Brenzett, Kent. It's about 7 miles (11 km) north-east of a town called Rye, East Sussex. This church is a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a special historic place. The first church here was built around the 600s. The building you see today was mostly built in the 1100s, but it has been changed and added to over many years.
Who Was Saint Eanswith?
The church is named after Saint Eanswith. She was an Anglo-Saxon princess who lived a very long time ago. Her grandfather was King Æthelberht of Kent, who was one of the first English kings to become a Christian. Eanswith's father was King Eadbald of Kent, who ruled from 616 to 640. Eanswith was born around the year 630. Many people believe she was the leader of a group of nuns in a place called Folkestone.
The Medieval Church Building
The oldest parts of St Eanswith's Church are the main hall, called the nave, and the area near the altar, called the chancel. These parts were built in the 1100s. This was when the original Saxon church was replaced with a new stone building.
Over the years, the church grew bigger:
- In the 1200s, a north chapel and a north aisle (a side section) were added.
- In the 1300s, the nave was made longer towards the west.
Also in the 1300s, a small spire was built on top of the church. This spire has special wood shingles, which are like wooden tiles. To hold up the spire, a strong wooden frame was built inside, and supports called buttresses were added to the outside walls.
Later Changes and Features
The church has three bells that have been ringing for hundreds of years:
- The largest bell, called the tenor bell, was made in 1420.
- The smallest bell, the treble, was made by John Wilnar in 1630.
- The middle bell was made by Thomas Palmar in 1699.
The church was repaired and updated in the 1800s. A beautiful new east window, made by a company called Lavers, Barraud and Westlake, was put in place in 1874. The chancel area was largely rebuilt again in 1902.
Inside the north chapel, you can see a special monument. It is a tomb for John Fagge, who passed away in 1639, and his son, also named John, who died in 1646.
