St Michael's Church, Cuxton, Kent

St Michael's Church, Cuxton Church

Image Source: John Salmon

A fine example of a church that has been progressively extended. The north wall of the nave is Norman, with the original quoins of local tufa showing clearly. There are few churches that have three quoins showing as well as they do here. The chancel has been lengthened almost to the edge of the escarpment, whilst at the other end a fifteenth-century tower has been added, cut into the hillside. There is a well-known local rhyme - 'If you should find a church miswent, go to Cuxton in Kent' - which derives from the fact that the church is orientated more to the south than the east. In the Middle Ages churches were laid out on the date of their patronal festival and on St Michael's day (29 September) the sun rises further south, which probably accounts for the orientation. There is a good holy water stoup in the porch and remains of the rood loft staircase. In the splay of a north window are the patterns of vine leaf murals, similar to those in nearby Leybourne.

1851 Census Details

Seating Capacity: 100

Morning Attendance: 120

Afternoon Attendance: No service

Evening Attendance: No service

Architecture Details

Original Build Date/Architect: Medieval

Restoration:

Second Restoration:

Notes

Website

http://www.cuxtonandhalling.org.uk

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