St Thomas The Apostle

The N aisle was added c.1200 and the chancel built or rebuilt around the same time.

The S porch is also C13.

The church was renovated in the late C14 or early C15, when the windows were redone, the buttresses added, the N chapel added, and the S chapel added or rebuilt.

Gabled N porch with C13 outer opening.

Chancel E window is Perpendicular, but there is a C12 round-headed window in the N wall, and a similar window in the S wall with a square-headed low-side window to the west of it.

INTERIOR The C12 origins of the church are more clearly apparent inside.

There is no chancel arch, but the mid C14 screen stands in its original position.

There is a fine, late C14 image niche in the chancel.

The S chapel opens through a C12 arch on chamfered imposts, possibly the chancel arch reset.

The two bay N arcade of c.1200 has plain pointed arches and chamfered arches

the central pier is formed from a length of walling, and has a partial, blocked C12 window above it.

Simple late C14 or C15 chamfered arches to the N chapel.

The bellcot is supported by a massive, probably C15, frame at the W end of the church that has corner posts with diagonal and crossed braces.

PRINCIPAL FIXTURES Rood screen of c.1350-75 with square-headed lights with ogee tracery, plain lower panels, and a moulded cornice.

Fine late C14 image niche in the chancel with a nodding ogee, gabled and pinnacled frame has traces of paint on the back.

A very fine chest or 'Flemish Kist' of c.1375 carved with a battle scene.

The N and S chapels have late medieval low pitched roofs with moulded beams.

C19 timber pulpit with open tracery panels based on the screen.

Only a few monuments, including two brasses, one in the nave for Habram Fare, d.1512, the other C17 inscription in the N chapel.

Very good late C19 and C20 glass, notably a late C20 window of grazing sheep and another with an owl.

There are two pieces of medieval glass in the W windows.

Royal arms of George II.

Harty the place is mentioned in the Domesday book of 1086, but there is no record of a church at that date, but this does not necessarily mean that one did not exist as many churches were omitted from Domesday book.

The earliest fabric is C11 or early C12, and as was common, the church was extended with a N aisle and larger chancel at the end of the C12 or the beginning of the C13.

The chancel was renovated or refurnished in the late C14.

The screen is dated to c.1350-75, and the Flemish chest to c.1375.

The N and S chapels are of a similar date, although it is possible that the S chapel, entered through a C12 arch, was rebuilt at this time.

Like most medieval parish churches, Harty was restored in the C19.

St Thomas the Apostle, Harty: Guidebook REASONS FOR DESIGNATION The church of St Thomas the Apostle, Harty, is designated at Grade II* for the following principal reasons: * Late C11 or early C12 parish church with N aisle of c.1200 * N

TR0266 : St Thomas the Apostle, Harty, Isle of Sheppey

© Colin Park

S chapels late C14 or early C15 * Fine medieval furnishings, including very good screen of c.1350-75, contemporary image niche, and chest of c.

1375. * Sympathetically restored in 1887-90 with some good C20 stained glass * Very beautiful setting on the north bank of the Swale, opposite Whistable, as one of the last vestiges of the medieval settlement of Harty.