Post by Les on May 10, 2021 19:29:23 GMT
Doddington is a village and civil parish in the district of Swale .
The Syndale Valley shelters the central part in the Kent Downs Area of outstanding natural beauty.
Within the parish at Sharsted Court, earthworks excavated were believed remains of an Iron Age Belgic Fort (100-43BC). However the current village settlement dates from 11th century.
Of particular note is Doddington Church with the unusual dedication of "The (decollation) Beheading of St. John the Baptist". The dedication dates from at least 1467 when it is referenced in a will.
Most of the information below is taken from the pamphlet 'A History of The Parish Church of The Beheading of St John the Baptist Doddington, Kent' compiled by Dr Doris W Jones-Baker MA PhD FSA FRSA supplied courtesy of Mary Chastney.
The present church of Doddington is the product of a long history, beginning with it's exterior of stone dressings and field or chalk flints with their traditional.
Characteristic Kentish finish of a skim-coat of mortar-dashing that leaves only a quarter of the flints visible, aptly described as a "homely, but highly picturesque and very lasting surface". The principal architectural features of the church today are a chancel, nave, south chapel, south aisle, south porch and weather-boarded west tower.
BeheadingA medieval church, Doddington is dedicated to the Decollation of St John the Baptist.
The dedication is one of the rarest in England shared only with Trimmingham on the East Norfolk coast.
A popular saint for medieval church dedications, St John the Baptist was usually commemorated at the Midsummer festival of St John's Eve and St John's Day on 24 June.
The Doddington dedication is 29th August on the feast of his decollation.
It may not be the original dedication however it certainly dates from at least 1467 when it is mentioned in the will of James Bourne of Sharsted Court. "my body to be buried in the churchyard of the church of the decollation of St John the Baptist of Dodyngtone"
The obscure choice of dedication suggests a specific reason perhaps prompted by unusual circumstances. It was not uncommon for medieval churches to have their dedications changed when given a relic associated with a saint .
Particularly when provided by a benefactor who had been a crusader or pilgrim to the Holy Land. Such relics as objects of veneration in turn drew pilgrims and their gifts to the associated church.
It is recorded by Edward Hasted the antiquary of the 1780's that a stone upon which Christian had been put to death was brought to England during the reign of Richard II 1377-1400.
It was kept in the church of St Peter and St Paul at Charing approx 5 miles south of Doddington.
A suggested explanation for the dedication or re-dedication of Doddington is that this stone was brought to Doddington and later removed to Charing.
The stone disappeared at the Reformation.
It is likely that a church stood at Doddington in Saxon times. There is a quoin built of tufa in the north wall of the chancel.
This calcareous stone cut into blocks was characteristic of kentish building in Saxon and early Norman times.
The church is mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086. At the time of the Norman Conquest 1066 Doddington was granted to William the Conqueror's half-brother Odo.
Bishop of Bayeux but by 1084 it had reverted to the Crown.
Some time after this Doddington Church and living were given to the Archbishop of Canterbury.
It may then have become a chapel to the Church of Teynham also in the Archbishops patronage. presumably served by clergy from Teynham.
An instrument of Archbishop Stephen Langdon dated 27th December 1227 recorded in the Black Book of the Archdeacon of Canterbury stated that:
"On account of the slender income of the Archdeaconry of Canterbury, and the affection he bore toward his brother Simon Langdon then Archdeacon. united to it the churches of Hackington, alias St Stephen's and Tenham with the Chapelries of Doddington, Linsted, Stone, and Iwade, then belonging to it, which churches were then of the Archbishop's patronage...."
Mothers Union Banner Doddington Church was served by curates most of whose names have been lost.
We hear of a Doddington curate in 1229 when Archbishop Richard Wethershed who had succeeded Archbishop Langdon confirmed a gift of an endowment.
The first we know of for Doddington church by one Master Girard. He, while rector of Teynham, had made the gift, and at the instance of Hughson of Herevic had granted to the use of the chapel of "Dudintune" forever the tythes of the assart land cleared for cultivation of Pidinge
That were to be expended by the disposition of the Doddington curate and two or three parishioners of credit to the repairing of the books vestments and ornaments necessary to the said chapel.
In time Doddington became an independent parish with its own vicar. The first vicar listed in Dr Andrew Ducarel's 1713-1785 Index to the Archiepiscopal records of Canterbury Cathedral in the library was one Radhero de Kyngeston yhat inducted on 16th March 1325.
Top o f the Chancel Doddington ChurchThe chancel is Norman with early English and later medieval alterations.
It may never have had an apse at the east end. By the reign of Elizabeth I the chancel was in disrepair due to the Patron the Archdeacon of Canterbury not fulfilling his financial obligations including not supplying an annual donation for parish poor.
In 1560 the Doddington churchwardens stated that "The chancel is in decay, Mr Archdeacon is Parson there". In 1562 they complained "The chancel lacketh reparation, the fault thereof is in the Archdeacon of Canterbury" .
In 1563 "The chancel is in great decay for lack of shingling, the fault is in Mar Archdeacon of Canterbury". Some work was finally done on the chancel in 1566 but by 1572 the Doddington church wardens set out the problem in detail clearly at their wits end: " The chancel is very much in decay.
The Archdeacon being the parson there hath and doth withhold 6s.. by year given out of the parsonage towards Chancel North Wall Window Doddington Church the reparation of the church eleven years.
Also half a quarter of wheat by year given out of the parsonage to the poor of the parish by the space of six years.
which money and wheat hath been used to be paid time out of mind, and the same hath been presented very often and they can have no remedy thereinpresentments vol.1571-2 Fol.131 None of the glass in the chancel pre-dates 1572 when the Doddington churchwardens protested again .
we present our chancel to be unglazed so that the minister cannot administer the communion for rain and cold" By 1585 major repairs must have been undertaken for the church wardens reported only that "Our chancel is faulty, but we will see it amended".
Chancel East Wall 3 lower windowsChancel Windows the four windows in the east wall one is above three early English lancets just pointed but with round-headed rere-arches.
On the north wall one window of a single light is remarkable for its seven-foiled head. (see image right)
The wall paintings in the splays of the lancets in the north wall of the chancel outlined in red ochre have been dated to the mid-thirteenth century.
Of these large full length figures ne has been identified as St francis receiving the stigmata.
Samuel Lewis in his 'Topographical Dictionary of England in 1845 VollII p.62 noted that when Doddington church "was in course of repair, a full-length portrait of Henry III 1207-1272 in fresco, was discovered in good preservation.
Opposite in the east splay, is a small arched image niche above a stone desk with a projection forming a book rest.
No mention has been found for such low windows in English medieval service books, and a variety of explanations have been suggested. Edward Trollope reasoned that a priest within must be ministering to some person, or persons, outside. The window accessories arrangement suggests confession or Holy communion, both under peculiar circumstances.
For example if the parishioner was infected with leprosy or the plague.
Trollope argued that a practice called 'outer confession' was common, where a person or persons could not safely be admitted into the church.
The priest could receive confession, pronounce absolution possibly administered a reserved host via 'the low side window' opening.
As an example Trollope referred to the mural painting discovered in Eton College Chapel that represented the converted son of a Jew receiving Holy Communion through such a window.
Chancel Piscina Doddington Church Doddington Church Chancel Credence The Piscina
The piscina (a basin attached to a wall near an altar, where the priest washed his hands and rinsed the chalice) in the eastern wall has only one basin, although there is space for two, while the upper member of its trefoiled head is strangely wide in proportion to its height and to the other members.
There is also what appears to be a credence a small shelf or table near an altar on the south side of the high altar instead of on the north as is usual
Of the chancel woodwork, note the four well-carved medieval poppy-head bench-ends.
The Syndale Valley shelters the central part in the Kent Downs Area of outstanding natural beauty.
Within the parish at Sharsted Court, earthworks excavated were believed remains of an Iron Age Belgic Fort (100-43BC). However the current village settlement dates from 11th century.
Of particular note is Doddington Church with the unusual dedication of "The (decollation) Beheading of St. John the Baptist". The dedication dates from at least 1467 when it is referenced in a will.
Most of the information below is taken from the pamphlet 'A History of The Parish Church of The Beheading of St John the Baptist Doddington, Kent' compiled by Dr Doris W Jones-Baker MA PhD FSA FRSA supplied courtesy of Mary Chastney.
The present church of Doddington is the product of a long history, beginning with it's exterior of stone dressings and field or chalk flints with their traditional.
Characteristic Kentish finish of a skim-coat of mortar-dashing that leaves only a quarter of the flints visible, aptly described as a "homely, but highly picturesque and very lasting surface". The principal architectural features of the church today are a chancel, nave, south chapel, south aisle, south porch and weather-boarded west tower.
BeheadingA medieval church, Doddington is dedicated to the Decollation of St John the Baptist.
The dedication is one of the rarest in England shared only with Trimmingham on the East Norfolk coast.
A popular saint for medieval church dedications, St John the Baptist was usually commemorated at the Midsummer festival of St John's Eve and St John's Day on 24 June.
The Doddington dedication is 29th August on the feast of his decollation.
It may not be the original dedication however it certainly dates from at least 1467 when it is mentioned in the will of James Bourne of Sharsted Court. "my body to be buried in the churchyard of the church of the decollation of St John the Baptist of Dodyngtone"
The obscure choice of dedication suggests a specific reason perhaps prompted by unusual circumstances. It was not uncommon for medieval churches to have their dedications changed when given a relic associated with a saint .
Particularly when provided by a benefactor who had been a crusader or pilgrim to the Holy Land. Such relics as objects of veneration in turn drew pilgrims and their gifts to the associated church.
It is recorded by Edward Hasted the antiquary of the 1780's that a stone upon which Christian had been put to death was brought to England during the reign of Richard II 1377-1400.
It was kept in the church of St Peter and St Paul at Charing approx 5 miles south of Doddington.
A suggested explanation for the dedication or re-dedication of Doddington is that this stone was brought to Doddington and later removed to Charing.
The stone disappeared at the Reformation.
It is likely that a church stood at Doddington in Saxon times. There is a quoin built of tufa in the north wall of the chancel.
This calcareous stone cut into blocks was characteristic of kentish building in Saxon and early Norman times.
The church is mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086. At the time of the Norman Conquest 1066 Doddington was granted to William the Conqueror's half-brother Odo.
Bishop of Bayeux but by 1084 it had reverted to the Crown.
Some time after this Doddington Church and living were given to the Archbishop of Canterbury.
It may then have become a chapel to the Church of Teynham also in the Archbishops patronage. presumably served by clergy from Teynham.
An instrument of Archbishop Stephen Langdon dated 27th December 1227 recorded in the Black Book of the Archdeacon of Canterbury stated that:
"On account of the slender income of the Archdeaconry of Canterbury, and the affection he bore toward his brother Simon Langdon then Archdeacon. united to it the churches of Hackington, alias St Stephen's and Tenham with the Chapelries of Doddington, Linsted, Stone, and Iwade, then belonging to it, which churches were then of the Archbishop's patronage...."
Mothers Union Banner Doddington Church was served by curates most of whose names have been lost.
We hear of a Doddington curate in 1229 when Archbishop Richard Wethershed who had succeeded Archbishop Langdon confirmed a gift of an endowment.
The first we know of for Doddington church by one Master Girard. He, while rector of Teynham, had made the gift, and at the instance of Hughson of Herevic had granted to the use of the chapel of "Dudintune" forever the tythes of the assart land cleared for cultivation of Pidinge
That were to be expended by the disposition of the Doddington curate and two or three parishioners of credit to the repairing of the books vestments and ornaments necessary to the said chapel.
In time Doddington became an independent parish with its own vicar. The first vicar listed in Dr Andrew Ducarel's 1713-1785 Index to the Archiepiscopal records of Canterbury Cathedral in the library was one Radhero de Kyngeston yhat inducted on 16th March 1325.
Top o f the Chancel Doddington ChurchThe chancel is Norman with early English and later medieval alterations.
It may never have had an apse at the east end. By the reign of Elizabeth I the chancel was in disrepair due to the Patron the Archdeacon of Canterbury not fulfilling his financial obligations including not supplying an annual donation for parish poor.
In 1560 the Doddington churchwardens stated that "The chancel is in decay, Mr Archdeacon is Parson there". In 1562 they complained "The chancel lacketh reparation, the fault thereof is in the Archdeacon of Canterbury" .
In 1563 "The chancel is in great decay for lack of shingling, the fault is in Mar Archdeacon of Canterbury". Some work was finally done on the chancel in 1566 but by 1572 the Doddington church wardens set out the problem in detail clearly at their wits end: " The chancel is very much in decay.
The Archdeacon being the parson there hath and doth withhold 6s.. by year given out of the parsonage towards Chancel North Wall Window Doddington Church the reparation of the church eleven years.
Also half a quarter of wheat by year given out of the parsonage to the poor of the parish by the space of six years.
which money and wheat hath been used to be paid time out of mind, and the same hath been presented very often and they can have no remedy thereinpresentments vol.1571-2 Fol.131 None of the glass in the chancel pre-dates 1572 when the Doddington churchwardens protested again .
we present our chancel to be unglazed so that the minister cannot administer the communion for rain and cold" By 1585 major repairs must have been undertaken for the church wardens reported only that "Our chancel is faulty, but we will see it amended".
Chancel East Wall 3 lower windowsChancel Windows the four windows in the east wall one is above three early English lancets just pointed but with round-headed rere-arches.
On the north wall one window of a single light is remarkable for its seven-foiled head. (see image right)
The wall paintings in the splays of the lancets in the north wall of the chancel outlined in red ochre have been dated to the mid-thirteenth century.
Of these large full length figures ne has been identified as St francis receiving the stigmata.
Samuel Lewis in his 'Topographical Dictionary of England in 1845 VollII p.62 noted that when Doddington church "was in course of repair, a full-length portrait of Henry III 1207-1272 in fresco, was discovered in good preservation.
Opposite in the east splay, is a small arched image niche above a stone desk with a projection forming a book rest.
No mention has been found for such low windows in English medieval service books, and a variety of explanations have been suggested. Edward Trollope reasoned that a priest within must be ministering to some person, or persons, outside. The window accessories arrangement suggests confession or Holy communion, both under peculiar circumstances.
For example if the parishioner was infected with leprosy or the plague.
Trollope argued that a practice called 'outer confession' was common, where a person or persons could not safely be admitted into the church.
The priest could receive confession, pronounce absolution possibly administered a reserved host via 'the low side window' opening.
As an example Trollope referred to the mural painting discovered in Eton College Chapel that represented the converted son of a Jew receiving Holy Communion through such a window.
Chancel Piscina Doddington Church Doddington Church Chancel Credence The Piscina
The piscina (a basin attached to a wall near an altar, where the priest washed his hands and rinsed the chalice) in the eastern wall has only one basin, although there is space for two, while the upper member of its trefoiled head is strangely wide in proportion to its height and to the other members.
There is also what appears to be a credence a small shelf or table near an altar on the south side of the high altar instead of on the north as is usual
Of the chancel woodwork, note the four well-carved medieval poppy-head bench-ends.