The Font, Graveney © PE Blanche 2001 Corbel, South Transept. © PE Blanche 2001

I arrived at Graveney Church late on a Sunday morning just as the last of the parishioners were leaving. The Vicar and his wife were tidying up in order to close the Church but did allow me in before they locked up. I had little time to explore the Church and take my pictures and as a result, I rushed what I was doing and few of the pictures came out. It is not easy to take pictures of these old Church interiors as every one is different in regard to lighting and my modern camera often needs manual settings to compensate. It was a case of more haste, less speed as I will have to return to Graveney one day to retake many of my pictures. Although this is annoying it will be a pleasure to return to this very unspoiled Church that seems to crouch against the elements on the edge of the Swale marshes. This Church like so many others is locked for good reason. In 1999, the Church vestry was broken into and not only did the thieves take the Church silver they took the whole safe containing the Parish records which is sad news for genealogists. Should anyone hear or know of the possible whereabouts of these records and want to contact me (no questions asked) then please send me an E-mail. The Church with its Nave, Cancel, North and South Transepts and tower in the Northwest corner was started in Norman times but is mainly 14th Century as we see it today. Because of its Transepts with wide side arches, it gives the appearance of a large interior space (see below). Here there are beautiful box pews in pine and some in the South Aisle date from the 15th Century. There is a 15th Century Chancel screen remaining in place just as it should be. These screens have sadly been removed in so many churches these days supposedly so the Vicar is not obscured from the congregation during services - or that's what I've been told! The pulpit shows evidence of work by Grinling Gibbons and was purchased from Faversham for the huge sum of twelve shillings and six pence. There are several nice brasses in the Church and some 14th Century glass remains. The Church has many monuments and plaques to the Blaxland family and I was told that many of their descendants now live in Australia. The Church has a transcript of these tablets and a family tree of the family available for a nominal cost. The interior of Graveney Church © PE Blanche 2001