The History of the Church
Earlier Churches
The first church in Saltwood was built out of wood by the Saxons, who were better carpenters than masons. The church certainly would not have had glass windows, but shutters which could be closed during the night and in storms. It would have been cold and draughty in the church, and been badly lit by oil lamps or resin torches. Unfortunately, not many churches from this time remain.
Today's Church
Early Pictures of the Church
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| 1807 | Early 1800s | Late 1800s | 1853 |
The First Rector
The first Rector of Saltwood Church was Walter de Gray, who was chancellor of England under King John in 1207, as well as Archbishop of York.
The Architecture of the Church
Built by the Normans, the oldest parts date from about 1100AD, though other parts, such as the tower and the arches, were built around 1200AD:
The Church Body
The first Norman church in Saltwood consisted of the present body (nave), and a small square chancel, which extended as far as the priest's door on the south side and to the the east end of the organ chamber to the north. On the exterior of the north and south walls of the chancel, the joint in the masonry can still be seen near the top of the wall where the old chancel ended.
We now come to the interior of the chancel. Looking up along the wall plate on the south side, a slight bend in the line of the wall will be noticeable. This is due to an earlier alteration of the building. The stone stream course, which runs along the windowsills at the end of the chancel, shows the lines of the extension. Judging from the tracery of the windows and the beautiful piscina on the south side of the sanctuary,this addition to the building was made in about AD1300. The stone tracery of the east window is a good example of the reticulated or net pattern.
The Windows
We start with The East Window, which has painted glass in memory of Charlotte Croft who died aged only 37 in 1825. Her widower, Rector James Croft, then aged 41, was made Archdeacon of Canterbury Cathedral four months later. He continued as Rector as well as enjoying many other livings, for 44 years. The saints are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, their names given in Latin. The window is called the peas window after the giant bunches of green grapes in the name panels that look like large marrowfats.
The North Window, which stands to the right hand side of the organ, was erected in 1878 for Elizabeth North, wife of Charles Augustus North. It shows the final journey of St. Paul (Acts 27.44 and 28.5).
We now come to the Stigand Window, positioned to the left of the organ, which, in memory of the Stigand sisters, was put up by Isobella Sophie Emma Stigand in 1906 for her sisters Adelaide Eliza and Flora Magilda who both dies in 1904. It also commemorates her sister Helen Mary who died in 1916 and eventually Isobella herself, (she dies in 1919). Depicted upon the window is the Annunciation (St Luke 1.26 to 38).
Continuing around the church wall, we come to the Deedes Window, above the altar of the Lady Chapel. The Deedes family lived in Saltwood Castle and were benefactors to the church and village. On the Deedes Window, The Epiphany (St Matthew 2.1 to 12).
Along the north wall of the Lady Chapel are two windows - the St Michael and St George Window and the Thompson Window. The latter is for Robert Thompson, who died in 1883 aged 94, and for Mary his wife, who died in 1874 aged 78. He gave Saltwood the Village Hall and the Almshouses.
The Galpin Window, opposite the Deedes Window stands at the West end of the Lady Chapel, and is for Canon Arthur John Galpin, who, born in 1861 was the Rector from 1910-26 and a former headmaster of the King's School, Canterbury. Portrayed on The Galpin Window is Our Lord's commission to His Apostles (St John 2.17).
Crossing to the south wall of the church, we see The Barrow Windows on either side of the door. They are to Colonel Percy Stanley Barrow CB, CMG The 19th Prince of Wales Own Hussars 1887, and Colonel Charles Lousada Thesiger Barrow DSO, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 1893. Both are buried in the graveyard. These windows depict the Transfiguration (St Matthew 17.1 to 18) and the Resurrection (St Matthew 28.1 to 10) respectively.
To the east of pulpit are the The Croft Lights. In the left window is the coat of arms of Archdeacon James Croft, rector of Saltwood for 57 years, while the right window bears the arms of his father in law, Charles Manners Sutton, Archbishop of Canterbury 1805-28.
Finally, we reach The Knollys Window, made in 1878 for Caroline Augusta, wife of William Knollys, Rector at Saltwood from 1869-79. Shown on this window in Peter escaping from prison (Acts 12.11 and 12.5).
The Tower
The original church had no tower, but one was built at around 1200AD. A sketch of it in the vestry, dated 1806, shows that it originally had a gabled top, rather uncommon in England, and narrow pointed windows. The two copies of the Norman windows in the base of the tower, which is now the vestry, and that in the ringing chamber are quite modern and out of place in a tower which is early thirteenth century Gothic.
In the tower are hung six bells, four cast in 1772 and the tenor in 1773 by John Waylett, an itinerant bell founder. The last was added in 1912, as a gift of Mr Lawrence Hardy of Sandling Park.
In the church, the arches which separate the nave from the north aisle are pointed, and date, like the tower, from about the year 1200. These indicate where the north wall of the nave was cut through and this arcade and north aisle built.
The Font
The font has a simple octagon bowl with a shield on the east side bearing the words ‘Jehsu Mary’ probably the work of a local mason in about AD1500. On the west wall to the left hand side of the vestry door is a modern notice board installed for the millennium which contains an icon painted by Brother Raphael from the monastery at Bec Hellouin.
Church Adornment
To the right of the vestry door on the west wall is a fine coat of arms of William IV dated 1834. This represents thegreat part played by Heraldry in the adornment of churches in the later Middle Ages.
The church also contains some interesting brasses, the oldest of which lies in the floor of the chancel; it is 
covered by an extension of the red carpet to protect it. There are several others including a fine one of Thomas Brockhill and his wife at the east end of the north aisle
The Lady Chapel (north aisle) was created in the Victorian era. On the north wall is a fine copy of a Murillo painting of The Virgin and Child. At the west end of the Lady Chapel a new doorway was created in 2004 giving access to a modest extension housing the St Peter’s (upstairs) and St. Paul’s (downstairs) rooms, modern toilets and a small kitchen.
The Lych Gate
Made in memory of John Deedes and George Deedes in 1888, it has survived almost intact despite suffering the removal of the plinth and the fliching of the gates. The hurricane of 1987 blew down the 99 year old roof, smashing the crinkled ridge tiles which, in the reconstruction, were replaced by a modernsmooth top.
While the rich history of Saltwood Church and the people who have worshipped there can be put into writing, perhaps the best way to appreciate it is through a visit. Detailed guides and historic notes are available for all visitors, and the church generally remains open from 9am till dusk.
Most of the information in this brief history is taken from the ‘History of Saltwood Parish Church’ by the late Reverend H D Dale, Vicar of St Leonard’s Parish Church Hythe, 1899-1926, and 'Remember St Peter and St Paul', a series of short guides drawn and designed by Rufus Segar.
