St Bartholomew's Church, Goodnestone

St Bartholomew’s Church stands in the quiet village of Goodnestone, Kent, about two and a half kilometres east of Faversham. Built in the 12th century, it is a Norman church with later additions from the 14th and 15th centuries. The porch was rebuilt in 1837 after an earth tremor, and the church was restored in 1876 at a cost of £400. It was declared redundant in 1985 and placed in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust in 1996. Since then, extensive repairs have been carried out, and the church is open every day. The building is made of flint with a tiled roof and has a simple plan: a nave with a north porch and a chancel. A wooden bellcote sits on the west gable, and the windows include lancet and Perpendicular styles. The east window’s stained glass is by Thomas Willement, and the west window may share the same designer. Inside, the chancel arch dates from the 14th century, and the chancel holds a piscina with sedilia. The nave contains another piscina and a rood stair, while a tomb recess is set into the north wall of the chancel. Outside, the churchyard contains a Grade II-listed chest tomb from the early 19th century. The church’s flint walls and tiled roof give it a plain, sturdy appearance, and the small 19th-century font stands near the entrance. The quiet surroundings and the church’s long history make it a place where visitors can step back in time.