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all about All Saints and St Christopher's Churches

St Christopher's church sits by the A251 Faversham Road at the apex of the village green. It was once a hall house and still retains many period features. It became the village school, but after the second world war was used for worship when All Saints was declared unsafe. Nowadays it is the focus for Sunday worship from October to May.

All Saints is the parish church of Boughton Aluph and Eastwell, a village on the northern outskirts of Ashford in Kent. The parish has three churches in all: All Saints in Church Lane just off the A28 Ashford to Canterbury road, St Christopher's by the Village Green at Boughton Lees (A251) and the ruined St Mary's by the lake in Eastwell Park. We are part of the United Wye Benefice, a grouping of eight churches including Wye, Hinxhill and Brook "down the hill" and the "upon the hills" group of Hastingleigh, Elmsted, Waltham and Petham in the Kentish Downs. All Saints is used for regular worship from May to early October save for the last two weekends in June, and St Christopher's at other times. Services take place at 9.30am each Sunday: Holy Communion on the first, second and fourth Sundays, and Morning Prayer on the third. On fifth Sundays there is a shared benefice service at one of the eight churches. Details are posted weekly on the home page.

The church sits on the Winchester to Canterbury Pilgrims' Way and has been visited by groups of pilgrims from medieval times to the present day. It boasts some fine architecture and a possibly unique pilgrims' porch with tudor fireplace, and not surprisingly is listed Grade 1 (more detail here). However, it was almost destroyed by a stray fire bomb in the last war and the forced sale of the bells and pews to finance urgent restoration work has resulted in a large flexible space that is used - in more normal times - for many different functions, the most important of which being the annual Stour Music Festival, the Five Church Walk and, until recently, the Wye Charity Ball in support of local charities. More and more it is also being used as a magical spot for wedding receptions (eg meal and disco) after the wedding ceremony. See pics in the Gallery on the Bookings page here.

All Saints is open to the public on practically all weekends from May to September. At other times you may be able to request a key from Mrs Rita Hawes on 01233 627117. For some views of the interior see below, and for a "guided tour" click here.

CHURCHWARDENS' JUNE MAGAZINE NOTES

St Christopher’s?
Coming from Ashford on the A 251 the building is on the left as you approach Boughton Green on your right.
It belongs to the Parochial Church Council, not to the Diocese.
Many visitors who enter - perhaps walkers seeing the door open (cleaning in progress) wonder at the interior.
It has been used for worship since 1951 when All Saints was declared unsafe (repair works have now rectified this) Part is medieval- possibly a Manor House. This is the area as you enter the main building.
Later it became a farmhouse - the area nearer the altar is less sturdily built - note the thinner beams and woodwork. Recently when the rear of the building was being repaired a wattle and daub section was discovered.
In Victorian times education for the people was promoted and St Christopher’s underwent major changes. Windows were inserted in the wall facing the road, a porch was added to serve as a teacher’s room and at some point a cottage was built on the back. As the number of children increased another room was added (now the Hardy Room) making two classrooms. The school closed in 1938.
During WW2 the whole of the Eastwell Estate was taken by the War Office including St Christopher’s. How it was used we do not know.
The cottage at the rear was lived in until the 1960s when it was declared to be unsuitable as a dwelling and the decision was made to demolish.
Now St Christopher’s has an organ, heating, a kitchen and two toilets. The further porch has been turned into a Vestry and we worship at St Christopher’s in the winter months when All Saints’ is much too cold.
But that isn’t the end is the story!
St Christophers’ has become a Sanctuary Church under the auspices of the British Pilgrimage Trust. To date we have welcomed pilgrims who use the Hardy Room, from many parts of the UK, Sweden and Taiwan and we are expecting very soon pilgrims from Texas and Australia .
We provide a safe, dry place to put their sleeping bag down, loos with washbasins and a kettle. Bookings have to be made ahead and a £10 donation per person is suggested. Notes made in the comment book have all been very favourable.
If this interests you or friends do refer to the British Pilgrimage Trust website
Yes we do worship at All Saints in the summer except for when the Stour Music Festival hire the church. Services are at 9.30 am. Communion is celebrated on the 2nd and 4th Sundays, and Morning Prayer on 1st and 3rd. All are welcome to join us.