Benchmark - St Mary - Teynham, Kent - European Historic Survey Stones, Monuments and Benchmarks on Waymarking.com

Cut benchmark on the south side, west face, of the bell tower of St Mary's church, Teynham.

"The Parish Church, dedicated to St. Mary, is built of flint in the Early English and Perpendicular styles, in the form of a cross, having evolved from an earlier simpler construction which established it as a 12th Century Structure. It is known that in 1175, one Master Giraud was appointed Rector, the first priest to have permanent charge of the Parish.

The building consisted of a Nave and Chancel, the latter ending where the present Chancel begins : thus today on entering the Church, one is in the oldest part. Early in the 13th Century, the Nave walls were pierced to form three arches on each side and the North and South Aisles were formed. Later in the same Century further enlargement took place by the building of the North and South Transepts, and a new larger Chancel, the original one being incorporated into the Nave.

The Tower, which was built in three stages, with embattled parapet, was added in the 15th Century. It houses six bells, cast and hung by Robert Catlin in 1743. There were earlier bells, since it is recorded that one Robert Layward left 40 shillings in 1509 ‘for the making and hanging of bells’. The clock and chiming mechanism were a gift to the Church in 1923. On the North side of the tower is the Clergy Vestry, whilst on the South is the Choir Vestry, with stairs leading to the Belfry."

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