St James the Great

Elmstead is little more than a group of farms clustered round their church on the North Downs.

Elmsted, Kent

Opening times

Sorry, there are no regular opening times for this church.

Address

Elmsted
Kent
TN25 5JT

The exterior view of the east end of the church is of three flint built gables. Beyond is the unusual and distinctive west tower, capped by a belfry and stubby spire.

The church has Norman origins, probably being built in the 1090s. Many additions to the Norman church were built in each of the ensuing centuries, the aisles in the late 1100s, part of the tower in the 12th century, the extended chancel in the 13th century, the north and south chapels in the early 14th century and so on through the ages, culminating in major restoration in the 19th century.

The present church is an attractive, peaceful mixture of styles with many monuments, most of which are memorials to the Honywood family.

  • Magnificent memorials

  • Glorious furnishings

  • Captivating architecture

  • Walkers & cyclists welcome

  • Space to secure your bike

  • Parking within 250m

  • On street parking at church

  • Level access to the main areas

  • Dog friendly

  • Accessible toilets nearby

  • Church of England

Contact information

Other nearby churches

St Mary the Virgin

Hastingleigh, Kent

This beautifully simple building is in a valley about a mile from Hastingleigh village, there may have been a church here in the 6th century, but the present building is largely Norman and Early English.

St Mary the Blessed Virgin

Brabourne, Kent

A church has existed on this site since Saxon times, but the oldest part of the present building dates from 1144.

St Mary

Brook, Kent

The mixture of informal path over a little bridge into a churchyard full of trees and shrubs is the perfect introduction to the military looking Norman tower.