Stone: Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin
Introduction
The photograph on this page of Stone: Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin by Nigel Cox as part of the Geograph project.
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Stone: Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin
Image: © Nigel Cox Taken: 2 Mar 2008
The church dates from the 13th century and is variously also known as 'Little Westminster' and the 'Lantern of Kent'. It acquired the latter name by virtue of its position on the top of a hill overlooking the River Thames, and consequentially by it being considered as a sign of safe haven by sailors returning home. On the church notice board it describes itself as Kent's most beautiful church, and on its very comprehensive website here http://www.stmarystone.org/Home.htm as being considered as one of the finest in Kent. However the website does say that it has a rather uninspiring exterior, and I have to say that the use of brickwork at the top of the buttresses gives an untidy appearance. The visage is not currently helped by the boarded up and sheeted restoration works being undertaken to the windows, while a prominent clock on a building telling the wrong time is always a disappointment. As ever the Church will be doing its best with the limited funds available.
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Image Location
Latitude
51.450256
Longitude
0.266683