Lympne Church
St. Stephens Church is a very special place – peaceful and spiritual.
A place of prayer and refuge from Norman times or earlier, now the churchyard is a haven for wildlife and the building is heated with eco-friendly ground source energy.
What a view!
The view from Lympne church is spectacular, looking across Romney Marsh to the sea. France is visible on a clear day.
Below are the remains of Stutfall Castle and if you sit quietly you can observe many species of birds and other wildlife.
How Old is the church?.
The oldest part of Lympne church is the tower, built around the year 1100. You can see the Norman Arch as well as other Norman arches in the blocked up windows.
Impact of War.
The original stained glass windows in the east end of the church were blown out by a bomb in the Second World War. They were replaced afterwards by the War Commission.
On the left is St Stephen, from whom this church is named.
Original Seating
Lympne church has most of the original seating left in the chancel – stone benches along the walls. For many centuries most people were expected to remain standing during services and the stone benches at the sides were for those who could not stand.
Thankfully this is no longer the case – and there are now wooden benches to sit on,
Ground-source heating
In 2015 a more eco-friendly system of heating the church was installed, with under floor heating fed from a ground-source heat pump.
Things to Discover in Lympne church
Why not visit and see if you can discover things in St Stephens church from:
Crosses carved by Crusader Knights
Glass from Salisbury cathedral’s windows that was smashed under the orders of Cromwell
Hangings from the coronation of George VI in 1937
The grave of the founder of Margaret Damer Dawson, The Woman’s Police Service
Carols in the courtyard – an annual tradition taking place in the adjoining Lympne Castle.