St John the Baptist, Penshurst –Beckett’s last church.

Despite its peaceful context, Penshurst church started her life in the shadow of assassination, and has seen a remarkable amount of violence over the centuries.

Almost the first grave you encounter, on the usual approach to the church, is that of the victim of what was at the time a notorious murder, Richard Sax. Deep in her crypt lies Algernon Sidney, whose conviction for treason rests on fairly fragile evidence, as well as the infant brother of Anne Boleyn, Queen and Martyr. It’s probable that at this church were blessed, and then welcomed home, crusaders on the Cathar Crusade –a spectacularly brutal campaign in France –as well as, of course, the regular remembrance of dead in war, with her memorials to the many the parish lost in the great wars of the 20th century (unusually recorded chronologically, rather than by rank or alphabet).

Her Rectors have been seen in by Thomas Beckett, days before his assassination, have fled civil war violence, and even broken into the homes of defaulting tenants, in order to evict them. !In fact,St John the Baptist’s has seen examples of most of English history through the lives of the people who have passed through her doors over nearly a thousand years: farmers, tenants, courtiers, politicians –people very grand, with the ear of kings and queens, who have been part of the country’s colonial reach, and people who have never gone further than the nearest market. So it is impressive that her principal narrative is of charity and peace.

The Old Guild House (on the left, on the main approach) was built to equip the hospitality of the Church, and the strange stone table in front of the south door is a dole table, used for the distribution of alms, or charity. The hospitality of her hall has been given to lie to rest the inhabitants of the village from poor murdered Richard Sax to the many Sidneys, the Ydens and other noble dead, and she still stands open for passing visitors looking for quiet and rest.

The memorials tell quite a story, but so does the votive stand, for visitors to light a candle on to mark their prayer, their presence; so do the boards around the church, displaying information for visitors, and the boards displaying rotas and resolutions.

Just lately, in the last decade, considerable effort has gone into providing a kitchen area and toilet facilities –looping us back round to the custom of the Guild House –equipping the hospitality of the church.

This is a building that houses a community of faith, a community that welcomes you.

Access to the church has been much improved by recent alterations. One step remains in the archway on the approach through Leicester Square, on land not owned by the church. Otherwise the approach is slightly uphill, but stepless.

Inside, the nave floor is smooth, but one step remains up into the Chancel or Sidney Chapel area. A ramp can be provided by priorarrangement: please ring 01892 870316.

There is an audio loop for the hard of hearing.

There are now two modern toilets at the church, one suitable for use by disabled people or those looking after young children.