Nominal: 1165.5 Hz Weight: 476 lbs Diameter: 27" Bell 1 of 3
Founded by John Warner & Sons 1854
Dove Bell ID: 622 Tower ID: 14580 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Betteshanger: St Mary the Virgin
Overview
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
19th century 4-bay
Chancel
19th century lower 2-bay
Tower (component)
19th century north
Vestry
19th century attached to tower
Organ (component)
19th century chamber opposite
Porch
19th century south
Building Materials
Flint
19th century rubble walls
Stone
19th century freestone dressings
Timber
19th century roof structure
Clay
19th century Kent tiles
Interior
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
19th century Massive oak table with chamfered edges, the front panel carved with blind tracery and the symbols of the Four Evangelists.
Reredos
19th century Stone reredos dated to 1871. It depicts the Last Supper with figures on a startlingly large scale, the table tilted towards the viewer, with a chalice painted gold. On either side are two arches and within the spandrels the symbols of the Four Evangelists. The sculptor was probably the first Lord Northbourne, who may also have had a hand in the pulpit.
Pulpit
19th century The thee-sided pulpit (c1854) stands on the north side of the chancel arch just within the nave. It is carved in relief, in white stone with a blue painted background and a red border top and bottom. Below each of the three panels is an inscription reading: “Lord I am not worthy today / I must abide at thy house / He taught them”.
Lectern
19th century Simple oak lectern, probably c 1853.
Font (component)
19th century The table font (c1856) by the south door has a squat bowl supported on four short legs. It has four symbols around it: a cross; the dove; the lamb with alpha and omega and a fish with the motto IXUΣ .
Stained Glass (window)
19th / 20th century The chancel wheel window contains a central lily surrounded by six angels, each bearing an inscription scroll on which is written from top left Te, top right Decet, middle left Hymnus, middle right Deius, bottom left In, bottom right Sion. The three lights below are to St Mary Magdalene on the left, Christ as Christus Salvator Mundi in the centre and on the right, St Martha. There is a heraldic window on the north side with two Coats of Arms and on the south side a scroll with an inscription reading: “Restored in memory of Tom Desborough, churchwarden”. The nave stained glass is probably by Kempe. On the north wall, west end St John the Baptist, and at the east end St John; “To the honour and glory of God and his saints John the/Baptist and John the beloved disciple, Walter Charles Lord/Northbourne dedicates this window in loving memory/of Sarah Caroline his wife John and Emily Caroline/Viscountess Hardinge his parents AD 1891”. In the south wall, the east end window has St Stephen; “To the honour and glory of God and in/ thankful remembrance of Sarah Caroline/ Lady Northbourne who died Jan: 21st 1890, the/ Parishioners and Tenants dedicate this window”. At the west end St Augustine of Canterbury; “To the honour and glory of God in loving memory/ of William Blowers Bliss & Sarah Ann his/ wife, John Worthington Bliss their son, Rector/ of this Parish dedicates this window AD 1891”. On the west wall, there is a small round window above two round-headed lancets. On the south side there is St Gabriel the Archangel and St Maria on the north, together making an Annunciation. In the top window there is a dove of peace with a red cross within a gold halo. There is plain glass in the tower windows, and in the south transept there is a small round headed window within a Norman style zig-zag arch, mostly obscured by the organ. The glass shows a seated figure in classical armour playing a harp, palm trees on the left and a church in the background. This would appear to be later in date than the other glass, perhaps early-mid 20th century.
Inscribed Object
17th century + Various detailed objects (about 42 monuments and memorials)
Organ (component)
19th century Located in the projecting organ chamber on the south side of the nave is a pipe organ by Walker of London, 1864 with pedal and two manuals, rebuilt by Brown & Sons of Canterbury in 1973. Brightly painted pipes.
Rail
19th century Wrought iron twisted stanchions with a sliding tubular brass rail, probably c 1856.
Bells
Nominal: 1476.5 Hz Weight: 252 lbs Diameter: 22.75" Bell 2 of 3
Founded by William Oldfield (of Canterbury)
Dove Bell ID: 10892 Tower ID: 14580 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1255.5 Hz Weight: 367 lbs Diameter: 25.2" Bell 3 of 3
Founded by Charles & George Mears 1859
Dove Bell ID: 10893 Tower ID: 14580 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers held at Canterbury Cathedral Record Office. Comprehensive and voluminous records of burials, baptisms and marriages from 1562.
Churchyard
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Submit a change
If you notice something incorrect or missing, please explain it in the form below and submit it to our team for review.