St Paulinus, Crayford

Image: © Marathon Taken: 2 Feb 2016

Situated at the top of a hill, St Paulinus Church occupies a commanding position and has a large churchyard. The tower dates from the 15th century. The nave has a north aisle which is as wide as the nave, a chancel and two side chapels to the chancel. Although all the windows were renewed in Victorian times there is evidence that a church was here in Norman times. This includes the window on the right here which was clearly Norman. John Newman in Pevsner's Building of England: West Kent and the Weald says that although there is Norman work in both the nave, seen here, and the north aisle, he concludes that what is now the north aisle was the original church. This leaves a most strange interior with the arcade dividing the nave from the north aisle running right down the middle of the church. It gives the impression now of two naves. The churchyard is a 'living churchyard' which means it is infrequently mown and largely kept as a nature reserve, although it is still tidy. The churchyard and church together give the impression of the country churchyard that this once was. A large memorial garden has recently been opened to the north of the churchyard. Some more information can be found at http://www.bexley.gov.uk/article/11201/St-Paulinus-Church

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