Dunkirk, Kent

My route to the motorway took me through Dunkirk and I took the opportunity to visit Christ Church - unsuccessfully since the sign to the churchyard reads 'Formerly the Parish Church is now a private residence'. So I took some exteriors, CWGC headstones and headed home.

 

CHRIST CHURCH. 1840 by John Whichcord. The usual early C19 plan, wide nave, short chancel, W tower. The Perp-style tracery however, in square-headed windows, and the chancel arch, accurately observed Perp too, are worth noting at this date. The interior has recently been successfully painted blue, brown, and cream, on the advice of Anthony Swaine. - ORGAN CASE. 1858. Large, but much less plausibly Gothic than the church.

DUNKIRK. Here is the height which gave the pilgrims their first view of the city of their dreams. The world has changed about it, and the vision which thrilled Chaucer’s pilgrims is seen no more from Dunkirk. Its modern church is built of flints from Canterbury’s ancient walls, and its pulpit is a model of the towers of St Augustine’s College. There are two carved chairs in the chancel which were once in a cottage here.

A wonderful position has Dunkirk on the map. Nine of the best known towns of Kent are all 20 miles from here - Chatham, Deal, Dover, Folkestone, Hythe, Maidstone, Margate, Ramsgate and Sheerness.

Flickr.