St Nicholas's Church, Otham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Nicholas's Church |
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The south side of the tower and chancel
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| Location | Otham, Kent |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 23 May 1967 |
| Completed | Late 12th, 13th and 14th centuries |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Nicholas, Otham |
| Deanery | North Downs |
| Archdeaconry | Maidstone |
| Diocese | Canterbury |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Nicholas's Church is a very old and special building in Otham, Kent, England. It's a parish church, which means it's the main church for a local community. Building started way back in the late 1100s, and more parts were added over the next two centuries. Because it's so old and important, it's a Grade I listed building. This means it's one of the most important historic buildings in England and is protected.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History and Design
Building St Nicholas's Church began in the late 12th century, around the 1100s. From this time, we still have the church tower, the north and south walls of the main part of the church (called the nave), and the lower part of the area near the altar (called the chancel). These parts were built using rough stones and a type of rock called tufa.
Later, in the 14th century (the 1300s), some chapels were added to the north side of the church. The roof is quite steep and is covered with clay tiles, just like many old buildings.
The Church Tower
The church has a square tower attached to its south side. It's located where the nave and the chancel meet. The tower has strong supports called buttresses on its outside corners. In the 16th century (the 1500s), the top part of the tower was extended upwards. This new section is made of timber covered with weatherboarding, which protects it from the weather.
On top of this timber section is a hipped roof and a tall, eight-sided timber spire. On the east side of the tower, there's a staircase tower that sticks out a bit, and a doorway that was once used but is now blocked up. The tower has small rectangular and narrow, pointed windows called lancet windows at each level. The windows in the stair tower are from the 13th or 14th centuries.
The nave, which is the main part of the church where people sit, is not very long. It has a small porch on its south side that was added in the 19th century. The west end of the nave, which is the front of the church, was rebuilt in the 1800s. It has a large window with four sections, designed in the style of the 13th century.
On the north side of the nave, there's a window with two sections from the 13th century. Near the porch, there are two more windows with two sections each; one is from the 14th century and the other from the 19th century. Also on the north side, you can see a doorway that is now blocked up. It has a pointed arch and a carved frame around it, dating back to the 14th century.
The Chancel and Chapels
The chancel, the part of the church closest to the altar, has three windows on its south side. It also has a lancet window on its north side and a large window with three sections at the very east end. All these windows were added in the 19th century but were made to look like 13th-century windows.
The chapels are attached to the north side of both the nave and the chancel. They have pitched roofs and include three windows, each with two sections. One of these windows, in the nave chapel, has a special shape called a quatrefoil, which looks like a four-leaf clover. Inside the church, the roof of the nave is held up by three strong wooden posts called crown posts. The chancel roof was redone in the 19th century and is now boarded.
Inside the Church: Furnishings and Memorials
Inside St Nicholas's Church, you can find a font from the 14th century. A font is a basin used for baptisms. This one sits on a base with sloped edges and features carvings of a face, two calves' heads, and a leaf.
The church also has several monuments, which are like special memorials to people who have passed away. In the chancel, there are monuments for people like Thomas Hendley (who died in 1590) and Levinus Buffkin (who died in 1622). In the Chancel chapel, you can find monuments for Elizabeth Hendley (who died in 1697) and Bowyer Hendley (who died in 1742). The churchyard outside also has two monuments that are listed as Grade II, meaning they are also historically important.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Maidstone
