The history of St Michael’s is revealed in its brickwork
St Michael’s Church at Offham is one of many featured in a new book, The Churches of Kent by John Vigar, a trustee of the charity, The Friends of Friendless Churches.
Mr Vigar, from Aylesford, describes St Michael’s as “One of the smaller Kent churches, set apart from its village.
“It displays one of the best examples of ‘vertical archaeology’ in its north wall. “Early churches were built by the local population whose free time was dependent upon the agricultural year. Only twice in the year was there a little spare time for church construction – a handful of weeks in the spring and again in the early autumn.
“So only a few feet of walling could be built in one go.
“Here at Offham the horizontal layers marking each season’s work can be clearly seen in the north wall of the nave.
“In the lower levels the ragstone and sandstone rubble is occasionally laid in herringbone pattern, a sign in Kent of work just before the Norman Conquest.
“Higher up the wall this pattern disappears and incorporates two Norman windows, one still used, the other blocked when it was replaced by a larger window in the 14th century. “So, here is a wall that gives us many clues to its origins either side of 1066.
“While it is clear to see today it would not have originally been seen as it would have been covered by layers of limewash to protect the wall from the weather.
“There is more evidence of the Norman origins of this church inside. Dominating the nave is the former roundheaded chancel arch.
“In the 13C, the chancel was demolished and replaced by a much larger construction, together with a north tower, and the opportunity was taken to fill in the wide chancel arch and replace it with the more fashionable, pointed arch. “The chancel work was never finished – look at the arch to the tower which is uncut stone rather than the dressed stone normally found. “Opposite, high in the window is a delightful piece of medieval glass (take binoculars) of St John the Evangelist, the little Devil in his ‘poisoned chalice’ looking all the world like a little dog! “In the centre is a ledgerstone of black and white marble. The inscription, complete with the letter cutter’s mistake, makes a charming read.”
The Churches of Kent is on sale at £15.99.