All Saints, West Farleigh, Kent - 20th April 2008

This view is taken from the road leading to the church.  The church is believed to have been built around 1100 AD, with the bottom half of the tower added in 1523, the top being added in 1841.  The Victorian period saw the addition of the vestry in 1875.

All Saints Church, West Farleigh

A local key holder kindly interrupted her Sunday afternoon to unlock this church, which has undergone a re-ordering and I believe the first ancient church I have visited with fitted carpets!  The old organ case is still in place on the south side of the chancel, however the remaining pipes are purely decorative, now concealing the speakers of a modern two manual electronic organ installed in 1998 following discovery of hazardous material in the blower box. 

All Saints Church, West Farleigh

Here is the font and a fine selection of monuments in the north east corner of the nave.  The side of the organ console is also visible.

All Saints Church, West Farleigh

The base of the tower has been converted into a kitchen.  There is a fantastic arch, the original west door of the church, leading into the west end of the nave, which, like the chancel arch is made of tufa - a form of calcite rock.

All Saints Church, West Farleigh

Here is a view of the nave from the chancel, through the early Norman chancel arch.

All Saints Church, West Farleigh

And here the view looking the other way, with the trio of early Norman windows in the east wall.

All Saints Church, West Farleigh

Here is a closer view of the reredos which has three mosaic panels.  This was installed along with the stained glass in the Norman windows, the vicar's vestry, choir stalls, pulpit, tiled floors, pews and organ in about 1875.

All Saints Church, West Farleigh

There are two windows in the nave containing stained glass, the first depicting St George & St Michael.

All Saints Church, West FarleighAll Saints Church, West Farleigh

In the churchyard is an unusual grave carved in memory of Edmund Gill.

All Saints Church, West Farleigh

Here is a final view of this lovely old church from the south east.  The tower contains three bells, two dating from 1640 and the other from 1655.

All Saints Church, West Farleigh

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