All Saints Church, Maidstone
Mill Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6YE
A Christian Church has stood by the River Medway in what is now the middle of Maidstone, since about 650. The first church on the present site was an Anglo-Saxon building. It survives only in references in manuscripts such as the Doomsday Monachorum at the Chapter Library, Canterbury. By reference to this document, the late Dr Gordon Ward showed that this church of St. Mary was important enough by the 11th century to be at the head of an organisation resembling the modern Rural Deanery.
The church on this site became called St. Mary's and was a minster church, the base for a community of clergy serving seventeen villages from Detling to Goudhurst. The Archbishops of Canterbury were Lords of the Manor of Maidstone from about 750 until the 1530s and from 1200 they lived in the Manor House they built just to the north of the church.
Churches such as this one were not always so refined, on occasions, some were used as fortresses to protect their citizens from battles and raids and this church has history! It has stood the test of time and doesn't shy away from its past.
This is an extremely interesting old church, where you will find sword slashes in the stone, musket shots in the doors and links to the United States.
Timings & Tours
- Friday 06 September:
- 1000-1600
- Saturday 07 September:
- 1000-1600
- Sunday 08 September:
- 1000-1600
- Monday 09 September:
- 1000-1600
- Tuesday 10 September:
- 1000-1600
- Wednesday 11 September:
- 1000-1600
- Thursday 12 September:
- 1000-1600
- Friday 13 September:
- 1000-1600
- Saturday 14 September:
- 1000-1600
- Sunday 15 September:
- 1000-1600
Location & directions
Mill Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6YE
- Contact on day:
- Lionel Marchant
- Telephone number:
- +441622843298
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
Some steps restrict access within the church. PLEASE NOTE: We aim to have the whole church available for visitors but if a Service is in progress then there will be some access restrictions for the duration of the service.
Additional information
PLEASE NOTE: We aim to have the whole church available for visitors but if a Service is in progress then there will be some access restrictions for the duration of the service.
- Est. tour duration:
- 1 hour(s) 30 minute(s)
