Words and pictures: An illustrated talk on the history and architecture of Folkestone's Parish Church
Parish Church of St Mary and St Eanswythe, Church Street, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 1SE
There are no clear records of when this church was built but her relics were transferred to it in 1138 AD and have remained here ever since. Her final resting place can be seen in the wall next to the high altar.
The church is the oldest surviving building in the town that has grown up around it and it provides a fascinating snapshot of the town’s history written in stone, a history that includes attacks and destruction by the Vikings, the French, and the Scots.
One of the church’s unique features is its size, built for what was little more than a small fishing village at the time. Even more remarkable is how small it appears from the outside considering its cathedral-like interior.
This will be an illustrated presentation by the author of the latest history of the church, and it will cover why the church is where it is and how a simple chapel evolved into the magnificent edifice that it is today.
Parish Church of St Mary and St Eanswythe, Church Street, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 1SE