St Dunstan's, Mayfield was founded in 960 AD by St Dunstan, who
was then Archbishop of Canterbury. Believed to be originally a
wooden church it was replaced by a stone structure, in the twelfth
century, by the Normans. In 1389 this church was virtually
destroyed by fire. Only the tower, the lancet window in the west
wall and the base of the north aisle survive to this day. The local
congregation probably used the private chapel at the Archbishop's
Palace nearby until the church was rebuilt between 1410 and
1420.
Further work was carried out during the reign of Henry VIII: the
nave roof was raised and the clerestory* was added. In 1657 a clock
was installed by Thomas Punnett.
In the South Porch moulded corbels support a quadripartite
rib vaulting. A newel staircase gives access to the Parvis Tower
above. This was used as either an oratory* for a chantry priest*,
or as a sacristan*. During the nineteenth century it was used as a
cloakroom for the girls' school held in the church.
The font dates from 1666 and the initials of the vicar at the
time, Robert Peck are carved on the octagonal bowl. The seventeenth
century pulpit is decorated with Jacobean
strap-carvings.
Most of the windows in the Church date from the late 19th and early
20th century and nine of them were made in Birmingham pot metal by
Mayer & Co of London and Munich.
Ledgend
Saint Dunstan was a skilled musician and metal worker. He was in
his forge when the Devil paid him a visit, disguised as a beautiful
woman. However, St Dunstan spotted the cloven hooves beneath the
dress and grabbed the Devil's nose wit his red-hot tongs. The Devil
escaped by leaping in one bound as far as Tunbridge Wells, where he
plunged his burnt nose into the spring and thus gave that town the
Chalybeate Waters which it retains today.
Another legend has it that, when St Dunstan's Church was built, it
was not correctly orientated and St Dunstan gently pressed the
building with his shoulder and restored it "to the line of
sanctity". In fact he didn't quite finish the job as, according to
the latest Ordnance Survey information, it is still slightly out of
kilter!
St Dunstan
While at his forge the sooty saint
Old Hobson's plough-share laid,
In came Old Scratch, with vile intent,
In form of buxom maid.
In vain all wanton tricks she tries,The blacksmith to
ensnare;
For as beneath her coats he spies.The cloven hoofs appear.
Ha! Ha! quoth Vulcan, Is it so? Your errand you disclose
And for your tricks before you go. By God I'll singe your
nose.
No need had Dunstan far to look. A proper tool to seek
And with his red hot tongs he took.The Devil by the beak.
How hastily at that same time,His patient's rostrum stunk!
While Vulcan pinched, Nick roared and winced,
Like any carted punk.
Safe then from any hellish rout.Mayfeldians! ye may sleep;
Long as the old Satan has a snout.And you the forceps
keep.
If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would
just ask that you could let
Sadexploration know first so he can keep track of the Church
numbers and names to avoid duplication
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