St Peter's and St Paul's Church, Yalding facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Peter's and St Paul's Church, Yalding |
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The tower, south porch and south transept
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| Location | Yalding, Kent |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Open Evangelical |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 23 May 1967 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Paddock Wood |
| Archdeaconry | Tonbridge |
| Diocese | Rochester |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Peter's and St Paul's Church is a very old church in Yalding, Kent, England. It is named after two important saints, Peter and Paul. Building of the church started way back in the 1200s! Because it is so old and special, it is a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historical building that needs to be protected.
Contents
The Church Building: A Look Inside and Out
How Old is the Church?
The church building was started in the 1200s. More parts were added in the early 1300s and the 1400s. Over the years, it has been repaired and updated, especially in the 1800s and 1900s.
What Does the Church Look Like?
The church has a special shape called a cruciform plan. This means it looks like a cross from above. It is mostly built from strong stones like ragstone and sandstone. Some parts, like the chancel (the area near the altar) and part of the nave (the main part where people sit), have a smooth finish called render.
The oldest parts of the church, built in the 1200s, are the nave, the chancel, and the tower. In the early 1300s, the north and south transepts (the arms of the cross shape) and the north and south aisles (passageways) were added. The north and south porches, which are covered entrances, were built later in the 1300s. The roofs are made from different materials like tiles, slate, or lead.
The Church Tower
The church tower is tall and has many small, narrow windows called lancet windows. These windows are at different heights on three sides of the tower. The windows in the belfry (where the bells are) are double. The top of the tower has a simple stone wall called a parapet.
On the south-east corner of the tower, there is a taller stair turret. This is a small tower with stairs inside. It has a decorative edge and a lead-covered, rounded top that looks a bit like an onion dome. On top of this dome, there is a weathervane that shows the wind direction. It has the year 1734 on it.
The North Side of the Church
The north side of the church, especially the north aisle, might have parts from the 1200s. The wall looks a bit different on each side of the porch, which might mean it was rebuilt later. There are two large windows from the 1400s on each side of the porch. These windows have three sections and pretty patterns at the top. The far west end of the aisle has a window with two sections.
The north porch has a double door with panels and a fanlight (a window shaped like a fan) above it. The north transept has a pointed roof and strong supports called buttresses on its corners. Its north wall has a large window with three sections. The east wall has two smaller windows and a doorway that used to lead to the rood loft stairs (a high platform inside the church).
The South Side of the Church
The south aisle of the church also looks like it might have been rebuilt. It has a special base and a decorative stone band. Like the north side, it has 15th-century windows with three sections on each side of the porch. The very west end has a window from the 1300s with two sections.
The south porch has a pointed arch for its outer doorway. The south transept has windows and buttresses similar to the north transept.
The Chancel
The chancel, at the east end of the church, has strong supports on its corners. The south wall has a 15th-century window with two sections and two pointed lancet windows. There is also a doorway under one of these windows. The north wall has a decorative stone band and a single 15th-century window. This window partly covers an older, blocked-up lancet window. The large east window has a pointed arch and three sections with decorative stone patterns.
Inside the Church
Inside the church, the aisles are separated from the nave by rows of arches called arcades. These arches are pointed and rest on eight-sided columns with decorative tops and bases. The arches connecting the nave to the transepts and the chancel are similar.
The roofs of the nave and transepts are angled and covered with boards, with decorative carvings called bosses in the nave. The aisle roofs are slanted and have visible wooden beams. The chancel roof has special wooden supports called crown post trusses.
Memorials and Churchyard
Inside the church, you can find special plaques and stones called memorials. These remember people who were important to the church or the area. Some of the people remembered include Ambrose Warde (died 1637), John Ousnam (died 1703), and members of the Akers family. There is also a window in the chancel dedicated to Edmund Blunden.
Outside the church, in the churchyard, there are several old stone tombs. These are also considered historic and are Grade II listed.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Maidstone
