St Mary's Church, Higham

St Mary’s Church stands in the quiet hamlet of Church Street, Higham, four miles northwest of Rochester in Kent. Built on a site used since Saxon times, it was rebuilt after the Norman Conquest and still shows Norman features. The present building has a nave and a south aisle of almost equal size, with a shingled spire added in 1710. A nunnery once stood opposite, and its 1357 indulgence helped fund a new south aisle. The church was restored in the early 19th century and again in 1863 by architect Speechly. The church is Grade I listed and cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust. Its flint and ragstone walls form horizontal stripes, and the roof is tiled. The 15th century south door is finely carved with roses, lilies and human faces. Inside, a three-bay arcade separates the nave from the aisle, and a wooden rood screen divides the nave from the Lady Chapel. The Norman font and 15th century pulpit remain, while the Lady Chapel holds two tombs and an aumbry with its door. Visitors find a peaceful building with medieval details and later furnishings. The Lady Chapel’s east end holds the chancel, and the south aisle’s external flintwork has been repaired. The stained glass comes from the 19th and 20th centuries, and panels beside the altar carry the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed. The Friends of St Mary’s Church organise events to support its upkeep.