St. Cosmas and St. Damian, Challock, Kent.

 

This church is located in Challock in the Borough of Ashford. Challock is between Ashford and Faversham and contains a boundary to one of the North Down’s highest points. The village name derives from the old English ‘Cealfloca’ meaning calf enclosure. According to the church the lane approaching the  church was the main road between Ashford and Faversham until the late 16th century. When a new road was built the traffic slowed and the economic base shifted meaning the nearby Challock Lees became the new Challock. 

And what of the Saints Cosmas and Damian? They were two Christian Arab physicians said to be twin brothers who practiced in Aegeae. They practiced medicine without charging a fee and were nicknamed anargyroi from the Greek meaning ‘the silverless’ or ‘unmercenaries’. England has six churches with their name including a second nearby in Blean (Kent), Keymer (Sussex), Sherrington (Wiltshire), Stretford (Leominster) and Gospal Oak in North London. 

The site of the church is said to have been a place of worship from the pre-Christian era. Originally a wooden church in Anglo-Saxon times around 1100 AD it was rebuilt with flint and ironstone. The tower contains two bells - treble and tenor. Badly damaged during WWII from flying bombs it was closed from 1943-1945. Further damage came from halted works and frost then from the theft of lead from the roof and the lining of the font. Repairs finally started in 1950 and were finished in 1958. The churchyard once boasted six six yew trees but now only the remains of one stand. 

Entering this church you are immediately struck by the different murals around the building. With the help of their notes I’ll try to summarise. The Chancel Mural (1956) A gift from Major Botley in memory of his aunt, Mrs. R C Phillipson. The artists were John Ward and Gordon Davies. The theme is the life of Christ set in the area around Challock and local people were used as models. The piece starts with the Annunciation and the opposite end is the view into the tomb. The Lady Chapel (1953) was a dedication to Ss Cosmas and Damian by Rosemary Aldridge and Doreen Lister painted in medieval style. The Millennium Mural (1997) has the theme of Christ riding into Challock in the year 2000. John Ward and Gordon Davies returned with the help of Gabriella Denny and Sally Penfold. John and Gordon now lie side by side in the churchyard where they both wished to be. Every article I’ve read speaks of the huge commitment of Puff Miller-Thomas who had the idea of the Millennium Mural and was churchwarden. Puff rests next to John and Gordon.