St Michael's Church, East Peckham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Michael's, East Peckham |
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 St Michael's, East Peckham
Location in Kent
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| 51°14′40″N 0°22′50″E / 51.24444°N 0.38056°E | |
| OS grid reference | TQ 661 521 |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | St Michael's, East Peckham |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Michael |
| Administration | |
| Parish | East Peckham |
| Diocese | Rochester, redundant |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Michael's is an old church in East Peckham, Kent, England. It's an Anglican church, which means it belongs to the Church of England. Today, it's a "redundant" church. This means it's no longer used for regular church services. Instead, it's cared for by a special group called the Churches Conservation Trust. This group makes sure important old churches like St Michael's are kept safe and open for people to visit. The church is a very important historical building. It is listed as Grade II* because of its special design and history.
Contents
History of St Michael's Church
Early Beginnings and Building Changes
The history of St Michael's Church goes back a long time. In the year 961, a woman named Eadgifu of Kent gave the land of Peckham to the monks of Canterbury. A church was already standing here when the Domesday Book was written. The oldest parts of the church you see today are from the mid-1100s. These include the north walls of the nave (the main part of the church) and the chancel (the area around the altar). There is also a window from the Norman period.
At first, the church had just the nave and a short chancel. In the late 1100s, the chancel was made longer. By the mid-1200s, a south aisle (a side section) was added. Later, in the late 1200s, a small chapel was built. This chapel was dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Adding the Tower and Porch
The church's tower was built in the early 1300s. Around the year 1500, the porch (the covered entrance) was added. The tower used to have a much taller spire (a tall, pointed roof). However, a big storm in 1704 destroyed it. The smaller spire you see now was built after that. The weathervane on top of the spire was put there in 1928. It's a copy of the one that was put up in 1704. You can also see the remains of a sundial on the porch. This sundial stopped being used when a clock was put inside the church.
Later Changes and Preservation
In the early 1800s, a vestry (a room for the clergy and for storing church items) was added. The church was also "restored" by the Victorians in 1853 and 1863. This means they repaired and updated parts of the building. St Michael's was officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building in 1959. This protects it as an important historical site. In 1973, the church was declared "redundant," meaning it was no longer needed for regular services.
Church Bells
St Michael's has a set of six bells. These bells are used for something called change ringing. This is a special way of ringing bells in a changing pattern. The oldest bell was made in 1747 by Robert Catlin. Two other bells were made in 1785 by William Mears. He worked at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, a famous bell-making place. The heaviest bell was made in 1812, and the lightest was made in 1825 by Thomas Mears II. The last bell was made in 1890 by Mears & Stainbank. All these bell makers were connected to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry.
Memorials and Important People
Inside St Michael's Church, you can find several memorials. These are special plaques or stones that remember people who were important to the church or the local area. Some of the people remembered here include:
- Richard Etclesley: He died in 1426. He left a gift of a chalice (a special cup used in church services) to the church.
- The Henham Family: This family were farmers in East Peckham. They were known for growing a special type of hop called the Henham hop.
- John Norwood VC: He was a brave soldier who received the Victoria Cross (VC). This is the highest award for bravery in the British military. He earned it during the Second Boer War for rescuing a fellow soldier while under heavy enemy fire.
- The Twysden Family: This family owned Roydon Hall, which was the main estate in East Peckham. Members of this family, like Isabella Twysden and Sir Roger Twysden, wrote about their family burial plot at East Peckham church. Philip Twysden (1713–1752), who became a Bishop of Raphoe, was both baptized and buried in this church.
- The Whetenhall Stones: These are memorials for the second and third wives of Thomas Whetenhall.
Visiting St Michael's
St Michael's Church is open to everyone. You can visit the church every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
See also
