Grand old church celebrates 1,400 years of history

Villagers ‘watched Shakespeare perform’

Celebrations are planned throughout the year as one of England’s most historic churches reaches the grand age of 1,400.

St Mary the Virgin in Fordwich is thought to date all the way back to the year 620 - making it one of the oldest churches in the land.

The Grade I-listed place of worship, which is likely to have originally been constructed from wood, is still standing strong thanks to the care of a conservation charity. Though there is no hard evidence to prove the church’s early years, custodian Philip Lewis says its history is “very likely” to stretch back more than just a mere millennia. “In Victorian or Edwardian times someone wrote on one of the hymn boards detailing 620,” he said.

“That’s the record we have of the date - sadly all the other records were previously destroyed in fires.

“It’s very circumstantial, there previously been part of a shrine to St Augustine. William Shakespeare is believed to have performed with the King’s Players - a London-based theatre company - in Fordwich in 1605.

It isn’t detailed where in the town the play was hosted, but Mr Lewis believes The Bard probably made the church his stage.

Mr Lewis explained: “The people of Canterbury came to Fordwich to watch him perform. Aside from the church - which isn’t proven facts or documents. was an empty shell at the time But I think it’s very likely.” - there wouldn’t have been a Mr Lewis added: “Augustine space large enough to fit them. arrived and settled in 597, and he “There is no graffiti saying wanted to send his message out. ‘William was here’, but again, “In Fordwich, he had good it’s very likely he performed links to the continent as it was here.” Canterbury’s port, so he would To celebrate the church’s rich have set up a church from where history, events will be held he could easily send out priests across the 1,400th anniversary or monks to spread the message year, including a performance of Christianity. of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, “They’d have ships at Fordwichandthenbeabletogoout an art exhibition and a garden open day across the town. onto the sea. More details of the celebration “Those going out to sea would events will be revealed on the want to pray before they left, official launch of the anniversary so having a church here by the on March 14. river would work well.” Mr Lewis says the Churches The existing church was built Conservation Trust has continued in the 11th century in Anglosaxon to safeguard the church for times, with the spired this generation. tower added two centuries later. “Storm Ciara took a load of Services ceased in 1995 and tiles off the roof, and within the church closed before it was three days, they had been taken over by the Churches replaced. Conservation Trust the following “It’s brilliant to have the year. church being cared for.

It has since been open to the “It’s a special and important general public - drawing in visitors place.” for its age and for being Canterbury also boasts the home to the fabled Fordwich oldest church in England - St Stone which is believed to have Martin’s, in North Holmes Road.

‘Those going out to sea would want to pray before they left, so having a church here by the river would work well’

Church Lewis custodian Philip