[Internet-Snagged Pic]

CHAS’ & RUBY’S 2006 UK TOUR: Sunday, May 28th We finally get INSIDE St. Peter’s Church [The one with the Kirk Yard we had visited the night before.]

Except when otherwise indicated, ALL pix were taken by CHAS & RUBY!

Remember the 1846 grave stone that keeps making me CRY? Well, St. Peter’s is the Church that stands guard over it – as well as MANY others.

“Parts of [St. Peter’s] church date to 1292, although an earlier Norman church is recorded
as being in Hever as early as 1115. Worship has been held here for over 875 years.
The church includes the Bullen (Boleyn) chapel built in c. 1465.”

HEY – Let’s finally get this out of the way!
“BULLEN” was Anne’s original last name.
Once she came of age, however, she was sent to attend court in France.
There, the French Folk began spelling her last name, “BOLEYN.”
And, that spelling of her name just STUCK WITH HER from then on.
End o’ story! LOL

Here is a pic of the BACK of St. Peter’s Church, Snagged from the Internet:

I suspect that very few Hever visitors actually explore this unassuming, small church.
But, when Ruby and I were done with the Merrie England Faire, we had some energy left!
So, we popped in to see the church.

I highly recommend it to others!!!

It may be “unassuming and small,” but it is absolutely WONDERFUL.

The “CHANCEL” of St. Peter’s Church.

[Scanned Pic]

[Internet-Snagged Pic]

This GORGEOUS stone-inlaid Carved Brass marks Margaret Cheyne’s tomb, and is located in the FLOOR at the center of St. Peter’s “CHANCEL” It dates from 1419!

The Latin inscription at the foot of her Brass reads:
“Here lies Margaret Cheyne, once the wife of William Cheyne,
who died the 23rd day of the month of August
in the year of Our Lord 1419.
On whose soul may God have mercy. Amen”

Margaret Cheyne was connected by marriage to the Bullens.
Hence, her burial in St. Peter’s Church.

“The interesting and unusual features of her brass:

• the angels holding the pillow on which her head rests.
• the dog at her feet.
  The dog could be a pet dog or it could be a symbol that
  Margaret was a faithful wife; or perhaps it is both.”

The “Bullen Chapel” is immediately next to the “Chancel.”
The Stone Tomb on the right contains the remains of Anne Boleyn’s Father.

[Scanned Pic]

Atop Sir Thomas Bullen’s Stone Tomb is an inlaid BRASS CARVING
“considered one of the finest in England.”

[Internet-Snagged Pic]

“Monumental brass of Sir Thomas Bullen, father of Queen Anne Boleyn. It depicts the full robes and insignia of a Knight of the Garter, including the badge on his left breast and garter around the left knee.”

“HERE LIETH SR THOMAS BULLEN
KNIGHT OF THE ORDER OF THE GARTER
ERLE OF WILSCHER AND ERLE OF ORM
UNDE WICHE DECESSED THE 12
DAI OF MARCHE IN THE IERE
OF OUR LORDE 1538.”

Lastly: Above the alter in the Bullen Chapel
is an amazing stained glass window

“The Astor Memorial Window” dates from 1986,
and is a memorial to “GAVIN, 2nd Baron Astor of Hever, 1918-1984.”

This Scanned Pic better shows the glory of this stained glass.

Gavin was the grandson of William Waldorf Astor.

THAT’S IT for our St. Peter’s Church visit!
AGAIN: I highly recommend visiting this church if ever you visit Hever Castle.

GO TO THE NEXT PAGE:
Monday, May 29th: HEADINGHAM CASTLE

If you have information or suggestions for Ruby & Chas’ 2006 UK TOUR Website
– or PHOTO contributions for it! –
PLZ Email CHAS!
c-d-miller@neb.rr.com
That’s: c-d-miller@neb.rr.com –
those are hyphens/dashes (-) between the “c” and “d” and “miller”