St Clement's Church

Origins 

Sandwich once had three separate parishes until they were united in 1948. St Clement’s became the parish church and St Peter’s and St Mary’s became redundant churches. 

St Clement’s Church occupies the highest point in Sandwich, at about 8 metres (26 feet) above mean sea level. It is of late Anglo-Saxon origin and was mentioned around 1050 when Earl Leofric, accompanying Edward the Confessor on a visit to A focal point for the community Sandwich, had a vision there when attending Mass. The Romanesque tower dates from the mid 12th-century and is one of the finest in Kent. Its carved capitals are very similar to work in Canterbury Cathedral that was carried out around the same time. The tower provided a valuable landmark for ships entering Sandwich Haven. The strong maritime connections of Sandwich make the church dedication entirely understandable, as St Clement is the Patron Saint of sailors and seafarers. 

St Clement’s Church, 1820. Church spires were used as markers for sailors wishing to enter the Stour from Pegwell Bay. A 1435 document told ships how to line up the church towers to navigate safely into harbour. 

A focal point for the community 

Until 1683, the Mayor was elected in the church by common consent. No-one declined the offer to be Mayor; this may have been because it was the right of the townspeople to demolish his house if he refused the honour. The church was also where the King’s bailiff held the hundred court and where people gathered during times of danger. At these times, the moot horn was blown, and all men aged 14 and over had to report to the mayor at St Clement’s. 

Medieval streets 

Outside the church grounds are the small streets of the old medieval town centre: Church Street  St Clement’s, Short Street, The Chain, Fisher Street and High Street. The Chain got its name because it is just over 20 metres (66 feet) long. This was the length of one chain, an old English measurement 

Changes 

The church has been altered and enlarged several times, and the fine tower is twelfth century, possibly replacing an earlier Saxon low tower. During the 13th century, the chancel was rebuilt with a north chapel and, in the 14th century, a south chapel was added. The tower once had a spire, which was taken down in the 1670s. This was probably a precautionary measure, as the towers of St Peter’s and St Mary’s churches had both collapsed not long before. 

Inside the church is a medieval tiled floor that was restored in Victorian times. There is also a font dating from about 1405, and many fittings and monuments of note. The 15th-century roof is East Anglian in style and is extremely rare in Kent.