St Clement's Church, Knowlton

St Clement’s Church stands in the grounds of Knowlton Court in the village of Knowlton, Kent. The building is made of flint with a tiled roof and a simple plan of nave and chancel. A bellcote rises at the west end, topped with cross finials, and buttresses mark the corners. The west wall carries a clock face, while the east wall holds a piscina and two niches. Inside, a plastered barrel roof covers the space, and box pews, a font and a corona lucis date from the 19th century. The church is worth visiting for its Grade I listing and its royal and maritime memorials. Charles II’s painted royal arms hang over the north door, and a hatchment hangs in the chancel. Stained glass from the 1850s and 1860s by Lavers, Barraud and Westlake fills the windows. The church preserves monuments to the Peyton baronets who once lived at Knowlton Court and to Admiral Sir John Narborough and his sons. Visitors find a quiet churchyard with a red-brick wall and wrought-iron gates topped by ball finials. The gate piers and wall carry early 18th- and early 20th-century details. Inside, the octagonal pulpit in 17th-century style and the 19th-century fittings remain in place. The church is open daily, cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust and maintained by the Knowlton Estate.