St. Augustine's Church, Northbourne in 1477
Stephen Frevill
The will of Stephen Frevill in 1477 requests he is: 'Buried in the Church before the High Cross, and for that intent I remit to the Parish Church what is due to me from ancient time.' He also bequeathed: 'For the Vestments of the Church, £8.'
Up to the 17th century burial inside the church was a privilege enjoyed by the clergy and a few notable lay folk. In the later medieval period, graves occupied the most favoured positions in front of the high altar and chapel altars.
The 'High Cross,' or rood, was usually a carved wooden figure of Christ on the cross, flanked by kneeling figures of Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist. It would have been above what was probably a brightly painted and gilded wooden rood screen, separating the sacred area of the chancel from the secular nave. It was common to find the rood supported from beneath by a rood beam or by a rood loft. In small churches, on the nave side, there was usually a saint's altar each side of the screen's central doorway.
St. Augustine's Abbey and Almonry Farm
Stephen Frevill is also mentioned in St. Augustine's Abbey, Treasurers' Accounts for 1468-9. Debts paid: 'To Stephen Freewell [sic], farmer of the Almonry of Northbourne for excess in his a/c. £2 12s 1d.'
St. Augustine's Abbey appropriated Northbourne church, its land etc, including Almonry farm; the abbot was in effect the rector of Northbourne. Almonry farmhouse still survives today, so the present building would be recognizable to Stephen Frevill. The medieval timber framed building dates to the second half of the 15th century; although, there is also evidence of earlier flint and rubble walling. The first floor has doors with four-centred arches; these rarely date before 1450 and were not widely established until the 1470s. This would make the Almonry Farmhouse the oldest surviving domestic building in Northbourne.
In the abbey administration the almoner was entrusted with dispensing food and other forms of relief to the poor. This was a serious obligation in the medieval period when it was the only form of regular poor relief. Apart from providing food for those who begged at the abbey gates the almoner also provided hospitality for poorer pilgrims. Certain lands and tithes belonging to the abbey were allotted to this task.
It is often believed that the monasteries were wealthy institutions, but this was not always the case. In the reign of Edward IV (reigned 1461-1483) St. Augustine's Abbey was going through a period of declining income and growing debt. During the time of Abbot William Selling (1463-1480) the debt was £1,972. 11s. 2d. The situation continued to deteriorate, and at the dissolution of the abbey in 1538 the net income was only £1,274.
Saints in St. Augustine's Church
The Rev. John Byne was vicar from 1462-1484 and mass would have been said by the parish priest at least once a day. Each Sunday he would normally conduct three services: Matins at 6 or 7 a.m., Mass at 9 a.m., and Evensong in the afternoon; the mass dial on the left of the south door is a reminder of this ritual.
The interior and traditions of the medieval church were very different to that of today; there would have been a number of colourful images and altars to saints situated around the church. The wills between 1466 and 1541, which mention some aspect of Northbourne church, mention at least ten saints: St. Augustine - St. Mary - St. Christopher - St. George - St. Gregory - St. John the Baptist - St. Katherine - St. Nicholas - St. Peter and St. Thomas. The most popular dedications were to St. Mary, St. George, and St. Katherine.
St. George and St. Christopher have fallen victim to modern academic scepticism - they were legends. The image of St. Christopher would probably have been opposite the door, as the patron saint of travellers he would have welcomed them into the church. He was also invoked against water, tempest, and plague and especially sudden death. It was popularly believed that whoever saw an image of St. Christopher would not die that day. His feast day is 25th July.
St. George had been known in England since the 7th - 8th centuries, although he didn't become popular until after the battle of Agincourt and Henry V's famous speech in 1415. Following the battle, archbishop Chichele raised George's feast day (23rd April) to one of the principal feasts of the year.
St. Gregory is probably Pope Gregory the Great (c. 540-604), known as the 'apostle of the English.' It was Gregory who had intended to lead some missionaries to bring the Gospel to the Anglo-Saxons, but was unexpectedly elected pope. So in 596 Gregory sent Augustine and 30 monks on this hazardous mission, and directed them from Rome. Later devotion to Augustine has obscured Gregory's importance. His feast day is 12th March.
St. Mary needs no explanation, the south transept, which contains the Sir Edwin Sandys memorial and family vault, is still known as 'The Lady Chapel.'
Barnwell, P. S. and Adams, A. T., The House Within. Interpreting Medieval Houses in Kent, (1994), 94.
Cotton, Charles, 'St Austin's Abbey, Canterbury. Treasurers' Accounts 1468-9, and Others', Archaeologia Cantiana, li, (1939) 66-107.
Duncan, Leland L., Testamenta Cantiana, (1907), 236-7.