St. Helen, Cliffe, Kent

Description

The Church of St. Helen, standing on the brow of an eminence, is in the Early English and later styles, and has a western tower containing a clock, and 8 bells re-cast in 1859: in the north transept is an ancient doorway, said to have belonged to the original Saxon fabric: the nave, transepts, and tower date from 1265: there are some remains of stained glass, probably of the 14th century, two screens of the 14th century, and miserere seats in the choir: the sedilia and wall paintings are of the 13th century: the pulpit of wood, finely carved, has an hour-glass stand, and is dated 1634: there is a brass to Thomas Faunce, ob 1609, and his two wives, and some matrices of other brasses: the communion plate includes a paten of silver gilt and enamel, of the time of Edward I.: in 1884 the nave and north aisle were restored and the east window renewed, and in 1897 the church was restored at a cost of about £4,000: there are 590 sittings.

Church Records

The registers date from the year 1558.

Findmypast have the following online for Cliffe, St Helen: baptisms 1775-1851, marriages 1558-1919, burials 1775-1851