St Mary

A church in Frittenden was first recorded in the ‘White Book’ which listed churches under the tenure of St Augustine’s Abbey, Canterbury and beyond, circa 1200. However, recent archaeological research indicates that the medieval church stood on the site of a Saxo-Norman church.

The medieval church was largely rebuilt by R C Hussey between 1846 and 1848, but some elements of the medieval church (the nave and the base of the tower) were retained. The church is listed grade II*. The Reverend Edward Moore, the grandson of an Archbishop of Canterbury, used the funds from his marriage settlement granted by his marriage to Lady Harriet to fund the rebuilding of the church and he added the north aisle in 1861.

The octagonal stone font at the base of the tower has a two tier wooden cover, considered by Igglesden to be one of the most elegant and artistic in Kent. Between the font and the door to the vestry is an oak cabinet containing 25 Tower of London Poppies that represent the Frittenden men who died in the first World War. The organ was built in 1907 by Messrs Peter Conacher & Co (Huddersfield) at a cost of £510. A particularly fine example for a village church, it was originally sited in the south aisle adjacent to the ohancel.

The Angels ‘flying’ above the chancel arch were painted in 2010 by Penn Norris. His inspiration was the Christ Angel bas relief adjacent to the servery by the German sculptor Ernst Rietschel. The east window in the north aisle, by the well known stained glass artists T Ward & H Hughes, commemorates the three daughters of the Reverend Moore and Lady Harriet. The east window in the Sanctuary, by the renowned Bucknall & Comper partnership, was erected in 1891. The design represents life on earth as one of activity and suffering and, in heaven, of repose and reward.

You can pick up a free illustrated introductory guide in the church and there is more information accessible through the church intranet via your smartphone or tablet. Instructions are in the south aisle.