Challock Church – Challock Village website

The parish church of Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian is located in idyllic isolation on the North Downs, one mile from the modern village of Challock. It is a Norman church, primarily built of flint and ironstone, started about 1100 AD close to site of a former wooden Saxon church.

The village of Challock was originally located in the immediate vicinity of the church. It moved to its current location when the villagers were given notice to quit in the late 16th Century by the owner of Eastwell Park who enclosed his lands and closed the road from Faversham to Ashford, which went through the old village. However, the church remained as the place of worship for the relocated villagers and is used every Sunday for services, being part of the Kings Wood Benefice in the Deanery of West Bridge, Canterbury Diocese. The Kings Wood Benefice includes: Chilham, Challock, Molash, Godmersham & Crundale, and is currently waiting for the appointment of a new vicar. The contact details are the PCC Secretary Mrs Clare Hook 01233 740356 or the PCC Treasurer Mr Peter Franklin-Bourne 01233 740213

FIVE CHURCH WALK 6TH MAY 2024

We are glad to report that this successful event will take place again this year on its 40th
Anniversary.
The proceeds from walkers’ donations go towards the repairs and running expenses of the
churches of Challock, Boughton Aluph, Godmersham, Chilham and Molash and also to the Kent
Surrey Sussex Air Ambulance and The Pilgrims’ Hospices. It is each walker’s choice which
churches or charities to support but obviously we in Challock hope that Ss Cosmas and
Damian will be uppermost in your thoughts!
The walk is almost totally through woodlands and fields, taking place at the height of the bluebell
season. Skylarks and woodpeckers have already been heard tuning up and hopefully we will
hear cuckoos too. The route is anticlockwise this year between the churches of Challock,
Boughton Aluph, Godmersham Chilham and Molash. You can either walk the entire circuit of 16
miles or leisurely strollers can walk any one or more stages of between 3 and 5 miles, so there
is something for everyone and their dogs. Car parking (down the hill for starters at Chilham ),
refreshments and loos are provided at each church. Old hands will appreciate that a slight route
change in King’s Wood between Molash and Challock cuts out a length of forest road in favour
of a delightful short cut through what we think is the best blue bell woodland in Kent. Also, the
Godmersham Heritage Centre next to Godmersham church will be open that day
https://www.godmershamheritage.co.uk.
Entry forms will be available from the church porches from mid-April, or when booking in. Take
a look at our very own web site: www.thefivechurchwalk.co.uk, it will whet your appetite for
taking part. Starting time is from 10 am onwards with returns no longer booked in after 6 pm.
We appreciate a minimum donation of £5 for each adult walker, which with gift aid bumps it up to
£6.25 – kids and dogs go free!!
So please, let’s have plenty of walkers from the village and their friends and relations taking part
and writing Challock Church on their entry forms.
NOTE! If you can’t walk or don’t walk then come for the refreshments anyway, our resident
lithomantic tells us they will be delicious.

What’s not to like!!

FLOWER FESTIVAL 2023

Regular services are held as follows:

1st Sunday – Holy Communion 9.30 am

2nd Sunday – no service

3rd Sunday – Morning Prayer (Lay led) – 10.30 am

4th Sunday – no service

5th Sunday – When there is a fifth Sunday in the month, the service will be held on a rota basis at one of the five churches in the Benefice. See the Parish Magazine for details.

Church officials are now:

Rector: Interregnum

Secretary: Mrs Clare Hook

Treasurer: Mr Peter Franklin-Bourne

The church is also used extensively for concerts and functions. Every year there are three major festivals for Art, Music and Flowers run by the Friends and the Parochial Church Council (PCC).

Regular services are held as follows:

Church officials are now:

Suggested Links: