St Mary Magdalene

roofs C15.

the chancel N wall has a two-light C14 window with a square head.

In the chancel S wall are three windows, one C14 with a cusped head

traces of former tracery, the other two C15 windows reset in their present positions in the C19.

The nave S wall has C14 two-light windows on either side of the porch

a C13 trefoiled lancet towards the W end.

Late C15 or early C16 S porch has a coped gable, a two-light window above the outer door way and two-light windows in the side walls.

The nave W window is Perpendicular of three lights with vertical tracery and the W door is also C15.

There is a quatrefoil of c.1300 off centre in the nave W gable.

The E window has a roll moulded rerearch with internal shafts and a hood mould, probably late C13 or early C14.

The two bay chancel roof is probably C15 and has a tie beam and a moulded wall plate with lively rustic carvings including two green men.

The C15 nave roof has tall crown posts with moulded capitals and bases and moulded wall plates.

Four-bay N arcade of 1884 in a late C13 style with round piers with moulded capitals and roll-moulded arches

The bell turret is supported on a massive frame at the W end of the nave, dendro dated to the mid C15.

PRINCIPAL FIXTURES: C15 piscina with nodding ogee arch in the chancel, and two additional piscinas further W in the N and S wall of the chancel for altars formerly against the (lost) rood screen.

Font, C15 in style, polygonal with quatrefoils with fleurons on the bowl, but much recut in the C19.

Very fine timber pulpit, dated 1628, of the wine glass form, with a slender stem and a polygonal drum.

The communion rails have turned balusters, some of them possibly C17 in origin.

C18 benefaction board and Royal Arms.

In the E window, seven small grisaille panels of c.1620, based on engravings by Lucas van Leyden.

Also some good C20 glass, including the S window of 1947 by W Warren Wilson.

HISTORY: The earliest fabric is the C13 nave.

The chancel was added or rebuilt in the C14.

Both nave and chancel roofs were probably redone in the C15, perhaps at the same time that the bell turret was added and the chancel arch removed.

The S porch is also C15 in origin.

SOURCES: Buildings of England: West Kent and the Weald , 232-3 Lambeth Palace Library, ICBS 02164, 08926, 15649 Howard, R E et al, `Tree-ring dating analysis of the timber from St Mary Magdalen church, Cowden, Kent', Ancient Monuments Laboratory report, 44/99 REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: The church of St Mary Magdalene, Cowden is designated at Grade I for the following principal reasons: * Parish church with C13 nave, C14 chancel, C15 S porch, bell turret and roofs.

C19 N aisle. * Very fine mid C15 timber bell turret with a tall broach spire on a dated internal frame. * C15 roofs to nave

chancel. * Excellent pulpit of 1628. * Glass of c.1620 and good C20 glass. * Unusual cast iron monumental slab to John Bottinge, d.