Medieval church of St Margaret, Wychling (Wichling).
"WICHLING is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Sittingborne.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Margaret, consists of one small isle and a chancel, having a low pointed steeple at the west end of it. In it there is a memorial for Robard Filmar, of Wichelin, next brother to Sir Edward Filmer, the purchaser of this manor, who died in 1615; and one likewise for Annys, widow of Raynold Filmar, (fourth son of Sir Edward above-mentioned) who died in 1616. This church seems formerly to have been an appendage to the manor of Wichling; however that be, the family of Northwood possessed the advowson of it at the different periods of time in which they held the manor; and John Northwood died possessed of both anno 4 Henry V.s. p. leaving his two sisters his coheirs, who entitled their husbands, John Barley, esq. and Sir J. Norton to their respective inrerests in them.
After which, this advowson seems to have passed from them through the like chain of owners as the manor of Harrietsham, lately described, did, to William Stede, esq. of Harrietsham, and from him to William Stede, LL. D. who in the year 1656 sold it to Thomas Conway, whose descendant Michael Wilkins Conway, in 1763, alienated it to Unwin, and he has since, for two hundred and fifty pounds conveyed it by sale to Springhall, the present owner of it.
This rectory is a discharged living in the king's books, of the clear yearly certified value of twenty four pounds, the yearly tenths being 8s. 2d.
In 1640 it was valued at fifty-five pounds. Communicants thirty-six.
In Tanner's Monast. p. 208, mention is made of pat. 18 Edward III. p.1. m.10. pro Capella de Wicheling, among the possessions of Minster nunnery in Shepey."
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"One of the most isolated churches in Kent and only accessible when it is opened for summer services, this is a church of great character. Norman in origin with a 13th century north aisle which was later knocked through to a single roofed cell (cf Sandwich St Mary) it has a 19th century air but through which one can still pull out the past. The chancel is raised up many steps introduced by Joseph Clarke when he heavily restored this church in 1880. Before that there was still a beaten earth floor! The 13th century piscina is now part of the s window – showing how the floor has risen and the window lowered! A lovely hagioscope leads from the former north aisle to the chancel. The latter contains fine Victorian tiles and, unusually for such a rural and poor area, a mosaic floored chancel, a feature normally reserved for wealthy urban churches. The treasure, though, is the 12th century lead font (see also Lower Halstow, Brookland and Eythorne). Rescued from hiding in a blocked up vault in 1880, it was restored by the addition of wooding framing which adds nothing to its aesthetic appeal. Remarkably this church is still lit by gas – the only one I know in the county. The church has been much vandalised and now has lavatory glass in many of its windows but it is much loved and remains a true Kentish treasure."
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