It’s easy, at first glance, to think of St. Benedict’s as little more than a quaint Norman church, nestled quietly among farm buildings, hidden away in the winding lanes between hill and vale. Paddlesworth, too, might seem like a place passed by—on the road to nowhere. But history tells a different tale.
In truth, this unassuming corner of Kent has stood as silent witness to some of the most pivotal chapters in our island’s long and storied past. Beneath its earth lie secrets and stories that span five millennia—from the earliest prehistoric settlers, through the thunder of the Roman invasion in AD 43, the turmoil of Becket’s martyrdom in the 12th century, and into the fire and fury of the Second World War.
Time and again, this forgotten place has found itself at the very centre of national events—its fields trodden by soldiers, pilgrims, and kings; its people shaped by conflict, devotion, and the rhythms of the land.
Join Doug Chapman, local historian and guardian of the Lost Church of Dode, as he takes you on an evocative journey through the ages in this illustrated evening talk. With his trademark warmth, wit, and depth of knowledge, Doug will peel back the layers of time to reveal the rich, often violent, always compelling story of Paddlesworth and the beloved Church of St. Benedict.
Come and see this ancient church in a new light—no longer on the road to nowhere, but instead, very much on the road through time.
You may also like the following events from Friends of St. Benedict's Church, Paddlesworth:
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