St Michael's Church, Smarden, Kent

St Michael's Church, Smarden Church

Image Source: John Vigar

A large fourteenth-century church entered from the High Street by a path which runs under a cottage. The building is full of interesting details including, on either side of the chancel arch, two tiers of blank arcades that each formed a reredos to a side altar. They are quite a feature of the church - their present appearance enhanced by early twentieth-century paintings. Near the entrance is a really solid medieval almsbox of late fifteenth-century date. A copper plate was fixed to its top to form a slot for the coins - and uniquely this piece of copper was really Limoges enamel! The inlaid scenes may still be seen, even though they are badly worn. Under a south window in the chancel are three elaborate sedilia, with a fine battlemented top, and nearby there is a piscina, aumbry, low side window and even a wafer oven! There is a large recess in the north wall of the chancel that formed an Easter Sepulchre. In the south wall of the nave is the fifteenth-century rood loft staircase.

1851 Census Details

Seating Capacity: 500

Morning Attendance: 78

Afternoon Attendance: 222

Evening Attendance: No service

Architecture Details

Original Build Date/Architect: Medieval

Restoration: Joseph Clarke 1869

Second Restoration:

Notes

Website

http://www.stmichaelsmarden.org

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