When Spirits Attack

An atmospheric and remote preConquest church.

Approaching from the west one first sees the 14th century tower, capped by a shingled pyramidal roof, but beyond are the Saxon nave and chancel, extended eastwards early in King Henry III’s reign.

The unspoilt interior is a delight, with its brick floors, 14th century king-post roof, a richly carved 15th century font, a Georgian pulpit and a squint giving a view to the altar with its mediaeval mensa slab. This is a remarkable survival of a largely unaltered Saxon building. A number of the original windows remain. The chancel was extended in the early 13th century and a west tower added in the 14th century; these are clear additions to the original simple chapel.

The church contains a very fine octagonal stone font from the 14th century. The medieval stone altar slab was buried in the churchyard to save it from destruction during the Reformation. In 1858 it was rediscovered and returned to the altar.

Church of St Mary the Virgin, Chickney illustration
The parish of Chickney was amalgamated with Broxted in 1889. The church itself is now a redundant church in the care of The Churches Conservation
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