HASTINGLEIGH has an Anglo-Saxon place name; it has been claimed as a settlement of members of the Jutish tribe of the Haestingas. Simeon of Durham under the year 771 refers to people he calls “Hestingorum Gens”, but the settlement of the district was already ancient in Anglo-Saxon times. Domesday Book (1086) mentions the village three times, but not the church. Nevertheless the church was here, for it appears in the list of Saxon Churches in the Domesday of the monks of Canterbury (about AD. 1100). It is quite possible that it was one of the churches referred to by Bede when he says that at the conversion of King Ethelbert of Kent A.D. 597, the King, at the instance of Augustine, began “to build and repair churches in all places.” The character of the church is now largely Norman and Early English (1066-1300). A very ancient track or “way” runs along the hill which rises to the North of the church, and leads towards Canterbury by some this would be called a “Pilgrims’ Way”.

The Early English (13th century) Flint Tower is at the South-West. It may once have had a spire. The brick-work at the top of the Tower is late in date. There are blocked south and north doors of the nave, with a small door on the north of the chancel. Original early masonry is seen round several of the windows. The flat pilaster buttresses at the East End are of Norman type (1066-1200). Early English buttresses (1200-1300) occur on the north. The North Wall is the oldest part of the structure; and probably contains some Saxon workmanship (before 1066), possibly some even earlier.

Through a picturesque 14th century porch with barge-board decoration, we make a West Entry; and while doing so, we notice the interesting crosses, dates and marks on the jamb of the doorway. At the bottom of the steps we reach the Norman Nave (11th to 12th century), the oldest (visible) part of the building. Looking at the North Wall on our left we see a portion of rough Romanesque (i.e., Saxon or Norman) Arch above a blocked north door: further along is a high Norman Window with deep splay: and at the end of this wall an early Norman round-arched recess, showing later (13th or 14th century) painting under distemper. At the entrance of the Chancel (13th century) we pass through a beautiful 15th century Oak Screen, which was relieved of Reformation whitewash and plaster in 1879 when the church was restored.

This church was part of the possessions of the Poynings, who held the advowson (right of appointment of the parish priest) from the days of Michael de Poyninges (1317- 1369) to the death of Sir Edward Poynings, K.G., in 1521. On the right are the Arms used by St. Thomas’s Hospital, London, similar to the Arms of the City of London. To this hospital Edward VI granted the Manor of Hastingleigh with hundreds of acres of land, which remained in its possession for nearly four hundred years. The 18th century Chamber Organ, once at Cobham Hall, was installed in 1957.

THE REGISTERS date from 1730. Unfortunately the earlier ones from 1553 are lost. The Churchwardens’ Accounts date from 1767.