Westerham -
The Church of St. Mary the Virgin

St. Mary the Virgin Church, Westerham
© P.E. Blanche 1998
The Church is placed high on the hill at the centre of Westerham at the back of "the village green". From what I have read about this Church, it seems that most of the central structure that can be seen today, being the central aisle and tower having been built in the 13th Century.
View from the South West
© P.E. Blanche 1998The North and South aisles were added later in the 14th Century having been constructed as Chapels against the existing walls. They were not opened up to form the present aisles until a later date. The Church was in a very poor state in Victorian times and evntually went through quite extensive renovation at the last end of th last Century. Unfortunately, during this renovation, some of the interesting features of the Church were lost including a three decker pulpit, the high sided pews and sadly for genealogists, a benefactions board.
However, the commodious but almost homely interior of the Church still has some unusual and interesting items that will not often be seen elsewhere. There is an unusual circular staircase in the tower and 14th Century font in which General James Wolfe would have been baptised. The Church organ was a gift from the Warde family of Squerryes Court and close friends of the Wolfe family. In the Resurrection Chapel hangs the Garter Banner of George Rowland Stanley Baring, third Earl of Cromer, who was a former parishioner. He was buried in this churchyard in March, 1991.
See also: Westerham
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