Heritage Open Days: All Saints Church

About

Come and discover the fascinating history of this beautiful church in a stunning riverside setting. It was built in 1395 by Archbishop Courtenay to become one of the grandest Perpendicular churches in England.

A Christian Church has stood by the River Medway in what is now the middle of Maidstone, since about 650. The first church on the present site was an Anglo-Saxon building. It survives only in references in manuscripts such as the Doomsday Monachorum at the Chapter Library, Canterbury. By reference to this document, the late Dr Gordon Ward showed that this church of St. Mary was important enough by the 11th century to be at the head of an organisation resembling the modern Rural Deanery.

The church on this site became called St. Mary's and was a minster church, the base for a community of clergy serving seventeen villages from Detling to Goudhurst. The Archbishops of Canterbury were Lords of the Manor of Maidstone from about 750 until the 1530s and from 1200 they lived in the Manor House they built just to the north of the church.

Churches such as this one were not always so refined, on occasions, some were used as fortresses to protect their citizens from battles and raids and this church has history! It has stood the test of time and doesn't shy away from its past.

This is an extremely interesting old church, where you will find sword slashes in the stone, musket shots in the doors and links to the United States.

Booking Details

No booking required

Access

Some steps restrict access within the church. 

Additional Information

PLEASE NOTE: We aim to have the whole church available for visitors but if a Service is in progress then there will be some access restrictions for the duration of the service. Contact for the day: Lionel Marchant - 01622 843298