ALL SAINTS CHURCH
BOUGHTON ALUPH
ASHFORD
KENT
TN25 4EU
BOUGHTON ALUPH
ASHFORD
KENT
TN25 4EU
The original south transept window was damaged during the second world war and subsequently bricked up in 1957; it was reputed to have borne the coats of arms of many noble and notable people of the time. How this window has now been completely rebuilt is described at the end of this booklet.
Painted glass in the west window, north transept window and east window of the chancel is ancient – the Coats of Arms of the Black Prince, Edward I, John of Gaunt and Lionel of Clarence are all depicted. In the British Museum there are two manuscripts concerning the glass in All Saints. The first, dated 1620, states that nearly all the windows were adorned with painted glass, but that by some eighty years later, most of this had disappeared. This change was presumably brought about by the depredations during the Commonwealth.
ARCHITECTURE
The construction of the present day church started well before the Black Death ravaged England in 1348, when there must have been still a considerable population dependent on the four local manors. It is evident from the differing styles of building that the major work was undertaken in at least three stages. The first phase was the original church, which now serves as a vestry, and the second phase, the present chancel, followed soon after. The south wall of the original chapel was pierced and an arcade was built to allow access from the original church into the newly constructed chancel. Three circular columns supported the arcade, each having different capital mouldings. All this building was completed in the 13th Century. The main body of the present church was built in the 14th Century, being interrupted by the Black Death.
The vestry is separated from the north transept by a carved wooden screen dating from the 14th century. In the vestry are the oldest and only remaining original windows, on the north side - two lancet windows, one on each side of the doorway, and two two-light windows.
In the earlier years of the church’s existence, the Decorated style was already in use. The small window openings of that period with their beautiful tracery should be noted; the walls were dominant and the
In the earlier years of the church’s existence, the Decorated style was already in use. The small window openings of that period with their beautiful tracery should be noted; the walls were dominant and the