Stockbury - St. Mary Magdalene Church

St. Mary Magdalene Church from the Northeast © P.E. Blanche 2000

The Nave from the Chancel, St. Mary Magdalene, Stockbury.	The central panel in the East window
© PE Blanche 2000
The Nave and Chancel, St. Mary Magdalene Church, Stockbury. © PE Blanche 2000

The Church on the hill. Nobody that has driven the A249 from Sittingbourne to Maidstone can have missed seeing the top of this Church which sits high on the hill to the West of the busy road. However, probably very few give any thought to it.

In his book about Kent Country Churches, Syms complains that he could not get into the Church. I was lucky. I arrived on a morning when the Vicar and a couple of the parishioners were setting up the Christmas decorations and they were very helpful during my visit.

The views from outside the Church across the Swale are breathtaking and it is partly its position here that has saved the Church at present. Its congregation has dwindled over the years and it is a huge barn of a place for a small community. Unfortunately, the ravages of time have not stopped and the roof over the Nave is in bad need of attention. Several applications have been made to English Heritage for funds but so far the requests have been refused. Come on English Heritage! This is a lovely old Church and a land mark and could do with some assistance. Failing this source, if there happens to be a rich genealogist reading this page with connections to the parish, they would certainly appreciate your help now. Just recently the Church installed some radio aerials in the tower of the Church and it is the rental from these that pays for the normal upkeep.

There was a Church here at the time the Doomsday Book was completed and that structure was replaced by a Norman Church. This was situated near to a Norman fort that also stood on the top of this hill. Up until the dissolution in 1536 - 40 the Church was in the possession of the Priory of Leeds. There is 12th Century work in the walls of the Chancel and the Nave, mainly on the North side, and some of the later 13th Century pillars are of Bethersden Marble. There are two 17th Century brasses to the Hooper family in the Chancel. There was a fire in the Church roof in 1836 and parts of the Nave and Chancel were destroyed. There were extensive repairs carried out on these areas in 1851.