St Mary & St Peter Wilmington
Outside, the great Yew tree by the porch is said to be 1,600 years old. The church itself has a Norman chancel; the monks would have used the latter (the parishioners restricted to the nave), which still preserves its Norman lancets and low ledges for seating the monks; originally, the floor would have been lower, thus making the seating more practical. The north transept chapel was added early in the 13th century, with the two-bay south aisle following slightly later. This was later partially blocked, but reopened during Victorian restoration. The chancel arch is also a 19th century replacement in the 13th century style. The nave was rebuilt with the fine roof, with king-posts and tie-beams in the 14th century and most of the windows were renewed in the Decorated style. The north porch was added in the 15th century, as well as the Perpendicular east window.
Also of intertest are the fluted frieze and steep pediment from an Elizabethan monument in the south aisle, said to have been to a member of the Culpeper family. On Sunday 21st July 2002 the church suffered a severe fire which destroyed the north transept (vestry), the 'Bee and Butterfly' window and the Victorian organ. Extensive heat, smoke and water damage occurred in the rest of the church.
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