The interior of St Paulinus, Crayford

Image: © Marathon Taken: 2 Feb 2016

The nave of St Paulinus has a west tower of the 15th century and 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 above the brass plaque which was clearly Norman. A better view from outside can be seen at http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4813349 John Newman in Pevsner's Building of England: West Kent and the Weald says that although there is Norman work in both the nave 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. This view from just inside the south door looks across from the current nave towards the chancel with the original nave on the left. 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

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0