St George: Scale and Furnishings

Ivychurch’s parish church, St George, offers a tangible starting point for exploring local history. It is under the patronage of the Archbishops of Canterbury and, at 40.5 metres long, is exceptionally large. The figure gives a sense of its scale; its furnishings are also worth a closer look. The intricately carved choir stalls and the octagonal font made of Kentish ragstone date from the 15th century. The font’s shape and material can be appreciated as distinct design elements. An original 14th-century wall painting was restored in 2009. Some of the better-preserved sections of the original window are also on display. The choir stalls draw attention to the carving, the font to its shape and stone, while the wall painting and window sections add further artistic elements. In this way, the view ranges from the church’s exceptional length to individual details of its medieval furnishings.

Ways to Explore: History, Wildlife and Art

A self-guided tour is available for exploring St George independently. Another option is Investigating Ivychurch, a Doorstep Discovery booklet from the Kent Wildlife Trust that includes a family quiz trail. The walk is set up like a treasure hunt and explores Ivychurch’s history and wildlife. It combines playful activities with local history and nature themes, rather than focusing on the church building. Downloadable handouts are available for the Marsh Mosaics Art Trail. The activities differ in both subject and format: a church-focused tour, a family quiz trail about history and wildlife, and an art trail with accompanying materials. If you would like to plan your stay around a particular interest, you can weigh up these different focuses.

Landscape and History

The history of the landscape spans a different timescale. The shape of Ivychurch parish follows parcels of land that were drained gradually from the 12th century onwards. This describes a longer process, not a single undertaking. By contrast, the 14th-century wall painting and the 15th-century choir stalls and font point to specific works with identifiable dates. This reveals two distinct perspectives: individual works of art and their respective periods of creation, and the gradual transformation of the landscape. Both form part of local history, but tell it in different ways.

Smuggling History and Local Culture

Ivychurch also has a long association with smugglers. During periods of decline, St George was used to store smuggled goods. The history of smuggling is therefore also connected with the church’s former use, rather than being merely a general association with the area. The Bell Inn offers a different glimpse of local culture: the pub hosts local Morris dance groups and invites local musicians to showcase their talents. While St George focuses on historic architecture and art, the pub brings local dance and music groups into view. If you would like to include an event in your travel plans, check the latest dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Smarden, Elham, Hempstead, Shadoxhurst, Bilsington, Smeeth, Wootton, Charing.

For the wider travel overview: Kent.