St Thomas a Becket, Capel

St Thomas à Becket is a Grade I former parish church on Church Lane, Capel, Kent, now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, known for thirteenth-century wall paintings on the north nave wall.

Overview

Historic England records Norman origins, a thirteenth-century chancel arch, a fourteenth- or early fifteenth-century tower and nave roof, sixteenth- and seventeenth-century alterations after a fire in 1639, and nineteenth-century refurbishment of the chancel and much of the south wall. The small plan is a nave, lower chancel and short west tower, with a nineteenth-century north vestry. The tower and south wall are of coursed sandstone ashlar; the chancel and north wall are plastered stone, under a peg-tile roof. Listing NGR is TQ 63824 44536.

The listing describes a three-bay nave roof with arch-braced tie-beams and octagonal crown posts, lime-washed walls, and extensive apparently thirteenth-century mural paintings in the north wall window and niche reveals. Tradition holds that Thomas Becket preached in the church or under a churchyard yew; the building began as a chapel of ease to All Saints, Tudeley. Fittings include a communion rail dated 1682, a plain medieval octagonal font, Georgian royal arms and commandment boards, and east-window glass of 1905. The church was vested in the Trust on 8 July 1986 and is open daily.

Further Information

• Historic England list entry 1262867
• Wikipedia: Church of St Thomas a Becket, Capel