St Mary’s Church in Lenham

This church is located in the picturesque village of Lenham, located just off the A20 in between Maidstone and Ashford in Kent. Found just of the main market square, St Mary’s church dates back to medieval times. It was begun in the 12th century with additions in the next three centuries. It is a Grade I listed building.

The church was built in several phases as can be seen on its outer walls consisting of a patchwork  of local ragstone and flint. The nave and chancel were started in the 12th century and are built mostly with random flint walls with some stone elements. The east end of the chancel was rebuilt in 1867 of knapped flint and features a tall quatre-foiled three-lighted window. The north side of the nave is flanked with the 14th- and 15th-century north aisle constructed of knapped flint with dressed stone at the, older, eastern end and coursed rag-stone at the western end. A stair tower at the east end of the aisle wall abuts the wall of the north chapel. It is constructed of uncoursed flints and probably dates back to Norman times.