Churches | 10 Historic Parish Churches in Kent, UK скачать в хорошем качестве

Churches | 10 Historic Parish Churches in Kent, UK

#Kent, in the south east of #England, #UK, is home to some of the oldest #churches in the Western #Christian world. The city of #Canterbury and its environs have been home to practising Christians for almost 1500 years, and the surrounding towns and villages quickly converted to the religion as word spread. After a complex history during the #Roman and post-Roman period, by the 7th century Christianity was the dominant religion in Kent. Churches were built across the county to serve settlements and give villagers a place to worship. By the time of the #Norman #Conquest in #1066, many of these churches had stood for decades. The Norman conquerers brought their own influences, styles and beliefs and incorporated these into the local Anglo-Saxon Christian populations. The next 500 years saw huge developments in #religious #architecture, #beliefs, #attitudes and #teachings. Grand #cathedrals like Canterbury's were built, but it was the smaller local #parish #churches which most people interacted with, and which served as the basis of the religion in the country. Despite the tumult of the #Reformation, civil wars, the #Restoration, the #industrial #revolution and world wars, many of these small churches remained as the focal point of the local community, and still stand to this day, many centuries after they were first built. 1. St Mary's #Burham. Built in the 12th century by the Normans, replacing an Anglo-Saxon church, it still stands today after many alterations, additions and repairs. The village has long since moved up the valley, leaving the church redundant, although remains open and furnished. 2. St Michael's, East #Peckham. Overlooking the Medway Valley, the village this church served has disappeared, leaving this large church on its own on the hillside. The oldest parts date from the 1100s and possible older. With many renovations and alterations taking place over the next 900 years. 3. St Bennedict's, #Paddlesworth. Situated on the Pilgrim's Way from London to Canterbury, this church would have served as a welcome rest on the way to the cathedral, and probably replaced an older building on the same site. It ceased being a church in the 17th century and was used as a barn at one point. 4. St Peter's, #Newenden. Comprised of numerous periods of building, this church has suffered collapses, fires, depopulation, and modification to suit the ever change world it exists in. 5. St Peter's, #Sandwich. Made up of multiple eras and building styles, with some stonework dating back to Roman times, this large church is no longer used for worship. However it still dominates Sandwich's skylines with its distinctive 'onion' dome atop the central tower. 6. St Mary's, #Wingham. Situated between Sandwich and Canterbury, this church dates back to the 1100s although it has had significant alterations made during its lifetime, with the addition of the tower and aisles at later dates. 7. St George's, #Benenden. Dating back to the 11th century, much has changed in this church, with significant expansion as the population around it grew. It now has an ornate 18th and 19th century interior. 8. St Mary's, #Crundale. Sat quietly on a remote hillside, this little church is easily overlooked. With some very old sections mixed with newer additions, its age and changes in circumstance are visible in the intricate stonework. 9. St Mary's, #Brabourne. Housing the oldest stained glass window in England, this church tucked quietly in the Kent countryside dates from the 12th century. 10. St Mary's, #Patrixbourne. An ornate 12th century building with a mixture of early Norman, gothic and classical architecture, the church has been altered over the years but still retains many of its earliest features.