Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1200 to 1893. A Norman church with 14th century nave and 15th century west tower. The church was restored between 1875 and 1893 by SS Stallwood. The church is built of flint with plain tiled roofs.

Monument Types

• CHURCH (Medieval to Modern - 1200 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TQ 96 SW 21:
[TQ 9260 6181] St. Nicholas's Church [NAT] (1) Rodmersham church consists of Norman (?) chancel, and nave with north and south aisles, the latter having a chancel co-extensive with the principal one, of a later date, and a Perpendicular western tower, a good specimen of plain flint-work. There is a south porch. There area few Decorated and Perpendicular windows, those of the north side being late Perpendicular. The tower contains a large Decorated window, which may be a re-insertion. (2) Rodmersham. The arcades of St. Nicholas' church are Perpendicular, but the south is the oldest. The chancel was badly restored in 1875-6; there is a later 12th century piscina in the east wall, there are wooden sedilia with canopies; and good 15th century porches. In the south chapel are late 12th century piscina and sedilia. The rood screen is 1880 chiefly but incorporates some of the old work. (3) The church is at present in normal use. GP/AO/59/220/1 from S.W. (4) Re-investigated: still in normal use. (5) Parish Church of St. Nicholas, Grade I, Church Street (west side). 13th century chancel, 14th century nave, 15th century west tower, restored 1875-93. (For full description see list.) (6) St. Nicholas's Church. A Perpendicular church, over-restored. It has a well-proportioned west tower, with few windows and sheer expanses of knapped flint walling. The west window is Decorated Gothic and has been reset. There are several other Decorated windows. They, and the irregular plan of the church, rouse the suspicion that an earlier building was rebuilt piecemeal. The interior confirms the suspicion. The work was clearly done in at least three phases. (7)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TQ 96 SW RODMERSHAM CHURCH STREET (west side)
2/131 Church of St Nicholas
24.1.67 I
Parish church. C13 chancel, C14 nave, C15 west tower, restored 1875-93 by S.S. Stallwood. Flint with plain tiled roofs. Nave and aisles, west tower and chancel with south chapel. West tower in coursed and knapped flint with 4 times offset digonal buttresses and plinth,string course, cornice and battlements, and battlemented octagonal vice to south east. C15 perpendicular lights, and double hollow chamfered and roll-moulded west doorway. C19 south porch, with wrought iron outer gates. Aisles with plinth and cornice to parapetted low pitch roof, with C15 Perpendicular traceried lights. Gable-roofed south chapel with C14 decorated windows. C19 Perpendicular style east window to chancel. Interior:double hollow chamfered tower-arch partly obscured by organ loft. Three bay nave arcade, with hollow chamfered and roll-moulded arches on octagonal piers with moulded bases and caps. North and south arcades with variations in moulding indicate different periods of build within C14. Roof of 4 crown- posts, with moulded tie beams. Cross-beam lean-to aisle roofs. North aisle with stair to(missing)rood loft. South aisle with double hollow chamfered arch and hollow chamfered surround to chapel on octagonal responds. South east chapel with 2 bay arcade of c.1200, now sedilia with billet roll mould, attached shafts with debased capitals after the Bapchild manner (see Church of St.Lawrence, Bapchild). Roof of 3 crown posts. Chamfered 2 bay arcade to chancel. Fittings:crocketed ogee headed piscina in south aisle, trefoil headed piscina in chancel. Restored crenellated screen from chapel to chancel, coved over 3 sedilia in the chancel to form a canopy. Restored screen to chancel from nave. Sculptural fragment of medieval coffin lid on east wall of north aisle. The altar, reredos, brass altar rail, pulpit, octagonal font and reading desk are all C19. (See B.O.E. Kent II 1983, 435). (10) Photograph (11)

<1> OS 6" 1938-47 (OS Card Reference). SKE48354.

<2> Churches of Kent Sussex and Surrey 1852 141-2 (A Hussey) (OS Card Reference). SKE38992.

<3> Kent Little guides 1950 7th Edition 248 (J C Cox) (OS Card Reference). SKE45927.

<4> F1 ASP 24-JUL-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42261.

<5> F2 AC 11-JUL-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE43055.

<6> DOE (HHR) Kent Boro of Swale 21 March 1985 52 (OS Card Reference). SKE40580.

<7> The Buildings of England North East and East Kent 1983 435 (J Newman ed N Pevsner) (OS Card Reference). SKE50202.

<8> Field report for monument TQ 96 SW 21 - July, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4947.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 96 SW 21 - July, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4948.

<10> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<11> ST NICHOLAS'S CHURCH, RODMERSHAM - FROM SOUTH WEST. (Photograph). SKE1430.

Sources and further reading