The History of Walmer and Walmer Castle

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1894. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV. CHURCH HISTORY. The Old Parish Church--Foundation--Connection with Langdon Abbey--The Dissolution--Fate of Walmer Church--Ancient Church Plate--Communicants temp. Elizabeth--The Great Rebellion--Solemn League and Covenant--The Walmer copy--Petition re Bromstone--The Restoration--Architectural features---Monuments--The Benefice--Incumbents--Registers--St. Saviour's--The New Parish Church. WALMER is within the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the diocese and archdeaconry of Canterbury, and rural deanery of Sandwich. The ancient parish church, which is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, is prettily situated on rising ground near the north-westward boundary of Upper Walmer. The trees of Walmer Court shelter it on the north and west, while in the churchyard, which slopes away to the southward, stand two venerable yew trees, which, if local tradition is worthy of credit, supplied Richard Cceur de Lion with a bow for the Third Crusade. There is no record which points conclusively to the actual date when this old church was founded, though from the fact that it is not mentioned in Domesday Book, we may safely infer that no church existed here at the time of that Survey. But in the absence of documentary evidence, with the single exception of the charter of Sir William de Auberville, senior, who flourished in the reign of Richard I., and of which more will be said presently, we have a tolerably clear indication of its age in its architectural features. The walls of rough flint, with ashlar work, point to a very early period; but we have more precise proof still in the two " Ecclesiam beatse Mariae de Walmere." Chatters of Sir Wm. de Auberville and Sir Nicholas de Criol- grand old Norman arches, from whose mouldings we may fix the approximate date of foundat...