St Eanswith's Church, Brenzett

Church of St Eanswith, Brenzett
51°0.8447′N 0°51.4209′E / 51.0140783°N 0.8570150°E / 51.0140783; 0.8570150Coordinates: 51°0.8447′N 0°51.4209′E / 51.0140783°N 0.8570150°E / 51.0140783; 0.8570150
OS grid reference TR 005 277
Location Brenzett
Country United Kingdom
Denomination Church of England
History
Dedication Saint Eanswith
Architecture
Heritage designation Grade II*
Designated 9 June 1959[1]
Style Early English Period
Specifications
Bells 3
Administration
Deanery Romney Deanery
Diocese Diocese of Canterbury

St Eanswith's Church is a Grade II* listed Anglican church in the village of Brenzett, Kent, about 7 miles (11 km) north-east of Rye, East Sussex. A church was originally built on this site in the 7th century; the present building dates from the 12th century and has later modifications.

Saint Eanswith

The church is dedicated to Saint Eanswith, who lived from about 614 to 640; she was an Anglo-Saxon princess, a granddaughter of king Æthelberht of Kent (who was converted to Christianity by Augustine of Canterbury), and daughter of king Eadbald of Kent who reigned from 616 to 640. She founded, and was Abbess of, the first nunnery in Kent, Folkestone Abbey, built in Folkestone in 630.[2][3]

Medieval church

Interior, looking east

The oldest parts of the church, the nave and chancel, date from the 12th century, when the original Saxon church was replaced. There were extensions in subsequent years: the north chapel and north aisle was built in the 13th century; the nave was extended to the west in the 14th century.[1][2]

A small spire, which has wood shingles, was built in the 14th century; to support it, a wooden frame was built, and buttresses built outside.[1][2][3]

Later additions

There are three bells: a tenor bell of 1420, a treble by John Wilnar in 1630, and a middle bell by Thomas Palmar in 1699.[2][4]

Tomb chest of John Fagge (died 1639) and his son, in the north chapel

There was some restoration of the church in the 19th century, and the east window by Lavers, Barraud and Westlake was installed in 1874. The chancel was largely rebuilt in 1902.[1][3]

In the north chapel is a monument to John Fagge, who died in 1639, and his son John, who died in 1646.[1][3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Church of St Eanswith, Brenzett Historic England. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 History of Brenzett Kent Past. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 St Eanswith, Brenzett The Romney Marsh.net. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  4. ↑ St Eanswith Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent. Version dated 15 January 2013 retrieved from Wayback Machine.
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