Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Church 13thC to Early 16thC. A church constructed during the 13th century, with early 16th century additions. Its plan comprises a chancel with an organ chamber to the north and a three bay nave with tie beam roof. The church was restored in 1868. Wickhambreaux was one of the early minsters founded in Kent before 700. The east window of the church has a stained glass window depicting the Annunciation. It was made in 1896 and is the work of Arild Rosenkrantz. This is believed to have been the first important commission in Europe given to an American glassmaker for stained glass and the material used for it was entirely from America.

Monument Types

• CHURCH (Medieval to Modern - 1350 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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[TR 2200 5873] St Andrew's Church [NAT] (1) The Church of St Andrew, Wickhambreaux, is C13th and early C16th. (2) In normal use. (3) Church of St Andres, The Green, Wickhambreaux. Grade I. Mainly Perpendicular, restored in 1868. Built of flint and stone with tiled roof. Chancel, with organ chamber to the N of it, nave with aisles, W tower within nave with crenellated parapet. N porch. Three bay nave with tie beam roof. Two piscinas, one on the S wall of the chancel andone on the S wall of the S aisle. Wall paintings of 1868. (For full description see list). (4) Additional bibliography. (5,6)

The plan of this church is fairly regular with a chancel, nave and two lean-to aisles which clasp a western tower. The whole church was rebuilt in the 14th century, and there are no traces of any earlier work (except possibly some reused materials (Reigate stone, Roman brick, etc.). The lower part of the western tower may be slightly earlier than the rest of the church, and perhaps dates to the early 14th century, as do, perhaps, the lower west walls to the aisles, including the simple two-light windows there. However, the tracery of that on the north is totally restored, and that on the south only has part of its original jambs, tracery, etc. (there is an unusual wooden central mullion and Y-shaped piece above). The west window in the tower above the west doorway, which still contains Caen and Reigate stone jambs, arch, etc., is also perhaps of the earlier 14th century.

The whole of the rest of the church was probably rebuilt in the 2nd half of the 14th century, when the Lords of the manor were the Earls of Kent - possibly when Joan "Fair Maid of Kent" was Earl, and married the Black Prince.

Of this later 14th century church, all the windows, whether 2- of 3-light, are very similar in design having square heads and cusped ogees at the top of each light. There is also a square hood-mould, except in the south windows of the south aisle. At the west end of the south wall of the south aisle, there may earlier have been another window which was later filled in (indications of this in outside plaster). In the aisles, all the windows are of two lights (except in the east wall), while in the chancel they are of three lights with a four-light main east window (restored wrongly in 1878 - J. Newman). There is also much 19th century restoration to the chancel tracery. Inside there are three bays of arcading on each side of the nave with tall octagonal piers (mostly of tall semi-octagonal well-cut greensand blocks). The arches over them have two hollow chamfers, and there is a slight difference between the capitals and bases in the north and south arcades. There is a similar wide chancel arch, springing from engaged half-octagonal piers. In the chancel there is a fine cusped-ogee headed piscina on the S. side (now very low, due to 19th century raising of floor). There is also a holy water stoup just inside the North door to the east.

The upper stage of the tower (also late 14th century) has a set of tall windows (with transoms) for the bell chamber (now with louvres). Above is a crenellated parapet. In the north and south walls are tall simple rectangular openings for the intermediate chamber.

The nave roof has 4 simple tie-beams (? 14th century), the rafter trusses are invisible above the ceiling. The aisle roofs are simple shallow-pitched affairs. The braced wall-posts are small braces and, perhaps, a later addition (?17th century). The timber-framed N. porch (on later brick socles) is probably late medieval, but restored. Only the N. aisle roof has a (? later) parapet (not on S. aisle).

Under the early 18th century Rector, the Revd. Alexander Young (1712-55), a new Rectory was built (1713), and the church received a ring of 6 new bells in 1728 (made by Samuell (sic on bell) Knight). The Rector's niece, Mary Young (ob 1767) left £100 in her will for wainscotting and ornamenting the chancel (see Memorial inscription), and this work was no doubt stripped out in the 1878 restoration. Some of the woodwork appears to have been retained for a vestry screen at the west end of the south aisle. There is also a fine table (? originally an altar) with turned baluster legs in the vestry. 18th century brick repairs to S. aisle buttresses, etc. also to Tower upper W. face.

The Victorian restoration (1878) was very extensive with the whole of the chancel being refaced with heavy knapped flint and cement pointing. 3 courses of stone banding in the chancel walls was also introduced, and there is much new stone (red sandstone for quoins etc). There is also the use of Roman cement for window repairs (eg N. aisle windows). The N. aisle was extended eastwards for an organ chamber; the old E. window opening was kept, but the tracery was moved to the new east window. (The new east walling is in heavy knapped flint externally). Outside its east wall is a (now redundant) boiler house, with steps down from the east. A new arch connects the organ chamber with the chancel. Inside the church, a tiled dado was added all around, with an elaborate "baptistry" made at the W. end of the N. aisle. Wall-paintings were added above the arcades and above the E. window (Angels/foliage). Also a dark blue nave ceiling with gold stars.

There are also elaborate new chancel fittings (and tiled floor) in a much-raised floor. The pulpit and Rector's stall are at the front of a "stage". (7)

Description from record TR 25 NW 366:
The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 5273 WICKHAMBREAUX THE GREEN
Church of St Andrews TR 25 NW 10/678 30.1.67 TR 2258 36/678
I GV
2. Mainly perpendicular, restored in 1868. Built of flint and stone with tiled roof. Chancel, with organ chamber to the north of it, nave with aisles, west tower within nave with crenellated parapet. North porch. Three bay nave with tie beam roof. Two piscinas, one on the south wall of the chancel and one on the south wall of the south aisle. C18 lectern. Wall paintings of 1868. The east window has Art stained glass of the Annunciation dated 1896 and signed Arild Rosenrrantz. The New York Times of 1896 reported that this was the first commission in Europe to be given to American glassmakers. Monument to the Rev Alexander Young of 1755 by Sir Robert Taylor. The churchyard contains some C18 headstones with cherub, skull, hourglass or heavenly trumpet motifs, some chest tombs and some C19 oval bodystones. Listing NGR: TR2209258706 (8)

<1> OS 6" 1960 (OS Card Reference). SKE48367.

<2> MHLG (1953/11/A Dec 1960) 69 (OS Card Reference). SKE46959.

<3> F1 ASP 03-JUL-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE41907.

<4> DOE (HHR) Dist of City of Canterbury Kent March 1980 236 (OS Card Reference). SKE40226.

<5> The Buildings of England North East and East Kent 1983 496-497 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE50209.

<6> Field report for monument TR 25 NW 21 - July, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5743.

<7> Diocese of Canterbury (Tim Tatton-Brown), 1991, Church Survey - St Andrew's Church, Wickhambreaux (Unpublished document). SKE7619.

<8> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading