Geograph - photograph every grid square

Grade I listed

The church consists of a western tower, nave with north and south arcade and clerestory, chancel and south Chapel.
The church is near to Penshurst Place, set back from the street.
Penshurst's first priest, Wilhelmus, was installed in 1170 by Thomas à Becket.

The tower is of three stages dating from the 15th century, and has an embattled parapet with large octagonal corner turrets and spirelets, probably added in the 17th century.
The nave dates from the 15th century and there is a three bay north arcade from the 13th century, and a 14th century south arcade which runs into the south Chapel (Sidney Chapel), with a 13th C. arch from the south aisle into the Chapel.
The south aisle was rebuilt and widened in the 17th century, the south chapel was rebuilt in 1820 and has its own porch. The north aisle was rebuilt in 1864.
The church has no chancel arch but there is a 19th C. screen.
There is a very tall tower arch and nave roof from the 15th C, other roofs are 19th C.

The church was established by the early 12th century, and part of the nave maybe of that date. The north aisle was added circa 1200, and the south-east Chapel was originally late 13th century. The nave and chancel walls were raised with a clerestory in the 15th century, and the south aisle was widens and the south porch built in 1631. The Sidney Chapel was rebuilt in 1820 two designs by John Biagio Rebecca.
The church was heavily restored in 1864 by George Gilbert Scott who enlarged the north aisle and Chapel and replaced many of the roofs.

There are several monuments: Two 13th century coffin slabs in the tower, an effigy of a Knight, Sir Stephen de Penchester (d. 1299), several brasses and wall tablets.

There is a 15th century polygonal font, which has been garishly painted.

In the churchyard in front of the porch is a large stone table (dole table) which was used once a year to distribute money to the needy of the village.