The Mediaeval Church

The Church would have been without seating except for a few ledges for the aged and infirm to rest on. A crucifix stood on a rood beam at the entrance to the chancel. There were chapels and images dedicated to Our Lady of Pity, St. George, St. James and St. Thomas of Canterbury.

Bells were installed in the tower and it is known that one of then had an inscription, "John de Daundelion with his dog, brought over this bell on a mill-cog". Dent de Lion was a small, fortified manor at Garlinge and the gatehouse is still in existence.

The Church would have been lit with candles and rush lights and would have been very dark as the windows would have been much smaller than the present ones. The two narrow lancet windows in the south east comer are typical of the mediaeval windows. Glass was extremely expensive and the building needed to be secure.

Ordinary folk from the parish were buried in the Churchyard but the wealthy lie beneath the floor of the Church itself. St. John's is fortunate to have a fine collection of monumental brasses which commemorate the lives of the local notables of this age.

The brasses include Nicholas Canteys 1431, John Parker 1441, John Daundelyon 1445, Richard Notfelde 1446 and Sir Thornas Cardiff, Vicar from 1460 to 1515.

These give a clear illustration of the costumes of the period and can be viewed on the chancel floor.

The font dates from around 1485 and the stonework is now very fragile. It is decorated with the arms of the Cinque Ports and the Tudor Rose. A modern portable font is now used for baptisms.