Sturry Churchyard
After work today, I walked into Sturry village to find my blip. It was a beautiful sunny evening—you'd almost think it was summer. I found some wonderful light streaming through the trees in the churchyard at St Nicholas Church, just next to the river. It is a lovely, peaceful place that is not remotely spooky.
St Nicholas Church has a history that stretches back to the early medieval period. The area of Sturry was granted by King Ethelbert to St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury around 605 AD. In 690 AD, King Wihtred passed it to Aeabba, Abbess of Minster-in-Thanet, before it was returned to St Augustine's Abbey by King Cnut in 1027.
The church itself is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, indicating its existence on the site at that time. It is likely that an earlier Saxon church, constructed of timber or stone, preceded the Norman building. The current stone structure, dating from the Norman period, comprises a rectangular nave, a smaller chancel, and a square tower. Its construction materials include reused Roman bricks, flint, and Caenstone. The Norman tower, built in three stages, resembles a castle keep.
In the 13th century, significant alterations were made to the church. Around 1200, the north and south aisles were added to alleviate its narrowness and dim interior. By 1230, the chancel was refurbished, incorporating lancet windows, a piscina, an aumbry, and clergy seats. During this time, the chancel arch was also enlarged using the original Norman stone columns. A spire added to the tower was later replaced with battlements after it collapsed.
Further modifications occurred during the Tudor period, including the widening of the south aisle in 1490 and the addition of decorative elements such as Tudor roses on the font. Between 1867 and 1873, Victorian restorations introduced changes to various features of the church. The historical and architectural significance of St Nicholas Church was formally recognized in 1965 when it was designated a Grade I listed building. Today, it serves as a joint Anglican and Methodist place of worship under a Local Ecumenical Partnership.
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