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St Augustine
SNAVE
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It is possible that a small private chapel stood on this site before the present building was commenced in the late 13th century. Declared redundant in 1983, St Augustine is now entirely maintained by the Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust.
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The east end is unusual in that the Lady Chapel (more recently used as a school room) vies for importance with the chancel.
The church is perhaps seen at its best in the spring amidst a carpet of daffodils.
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The hamlet of Snave stands on a patch of land surrounded by the rich farmland. The surrounding field boundaries have been created by an intricate patchwork of ditches, dykes, sewers, sluices and walls, many of them unchanged for hundreds of years. Most field systems and sewers, along with their bridges, have retained their original names, and on the southern edge of Snave is the gruesome-sounding Hangman's Toll Bridge.
Hamstreet village is nearby with a few shops and cafes, as well as trains to Ashford, Rye and Eastbourne. It is also home to Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve.
Outside Hamstreet is Johnson's Corner War Memorial.
Access
The Church (redundant) is always open. Access is via the side chapel - the door on the left as you approach the church (not the tower door).
Postcode: TN26 2QJ

St Augustine's was declared redundant in 1983. The church is now entirely maintained by the Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust.

The nave, chancel, north chapel and west tower are mostly 13th century.

The upper stage of the tower is later 15th century and has a beacon turret.

The present font is Victorian, being part of the 1873 renovations. The original medieval font was rescued from use as a rainwater butt.

Behind the pulpit hangs the Royal Coat of Arms of George II.

The ripple-glazed green glass in the windows and encaustic floor tiles date from a restoration of 1873.

The church was partially rebuilt and heavily buttressed in the 14th century, due to subsidence.

The chancel has a single piscina (medieval stone basin used to wash the vessels of Mass) and a single sedilia (priest's seat).

A small, private church may have stood on this site before the Norman Conquest. The earliest record is from 1219.

The hamlet of Snave stands on a patch of land surrounded by rich farmland.

Most of the interior furnishings date from restoration work in 1873.
Find out more
Discover more about St Augustine’s Church at Snave with our new self-guided tour. Scan the QR code on your mobile device or click the tour button to view online.
Listen online
An audio-only version of the tour is also available to listen to here.
The Marsh Mosaics Art Trail - Downloadable Handouts
RMHCT Funded Project
Maintaining the church at Snave
