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
Lucky that I have our church calendar in front of me!
Our two major catering events (the Five Church Walk and the St Martin’s pilgrims) have passed but that does not mean nothing happens in June.
Since May 11th we have been holding our 9.30am Services at All Saints.
All Saints with its Grade 2 listing and FANTASTIC acoustics is a great responsibility to have but we are very fortunate to be able to let the Stour Music Festival occupy it for the last two weeks in June. The very varied music and international performers attract a large audience from far and wide.
All Saints also attracts at least two species of bats! We shall know more after an official Bat Survey has been carried out on the 11th. We shall let you know the results.
Obviously, we cannot hold our usual church services in All Saints during the Festival but as has become a tradition we shall hold a Service in the ruins of Eastwell on June 22nd. All are welcome to join us. Chairs are not provided although several bring an extra. Access to the site is via Lenacre Street for cars, NOT through the Eastwell estate. Walkers are at liberty to take the usual route.
On June 29th a Benefice Service is to be held at Wye Church starting at 10.30am, so no Service at All Saints.
Although not in use for Services during the summer, St Christophers remains a Sanctuary for pilgrims and several are already booked in.
Lastly, East Kent Hospices are using us as the final refuelling stop for their charity walk before the finish at Wye. They need no help with refreshments!! They are self-sufficient and last year even brought portable loos. The walk - or run for some - starts in Dover! Most start in Canterbury. The sponsorship money is an important source of income for the Hospices and we are proud to be able to help. As Stour Music are in residence on June 21st, the refuelling table of goodies etc will be in the parking field and the runners/walkers will not be interrupting the musicians.
Quite an interesting month but just a heads-up for a July event to put in your diaries: on July 2nd we have a concert by the superb Ashford Youth Jazz Orchestra at All Saints. Start time is 19.30 and it’s free (even the glass of wine in the interval)! Do come.
And come and join us for Services - we are known for our welcome.
Catherine Wear-Davis (07939 129719) and Rita Hawes (01233 627117)
Churchwardens
The Hardy Room at St Christopher's
Saint Christopher's church
Some views inside All Saints
and here's the All Saints' Church stamp for those of you with a Pilgrim's Passport
And finally a view of St Christopher's when it was still a school (date?). The teachers and children are outside and you can just see the headmistress' cottage chimney behind. The porch was later extended to provide a vestry and a new porch added to the other door.
The photo below, taken by a Mr De'Arth of Ashford shows the children and teachers, but where are they? Is the wall behind a section of the Eastwell Park wall? Or are they in what are now allotments behind St Christopher's?
