St Nicholas Church at Ringwould

I have often looked up at this church when driving into Deal from Dover and the A2 and wondered at its slightly odd appearance. Today l had to go to St Margaret's at Cliff and so, on the way back, turned off and drove into the village and walked up to the church. I am constantly amazed by the history surrounding me. The present church is over 800 years old although there have been buildings here since Bronze age and Saxon times with graves to support this fact. The first Rector of St Nicholas is recorded as Everadus in 1153.
Inside the church are some lovely old brasses, one of which l have used as my extra today (John Upton dated 1530). There is also a memorial to one George Gipps who later became Governor General of New South Wales, Australia, and the area Gippsland just outside Melbourne is named after him. Outside, on the stone work of the original door are several cut crosses which legend says were put there by crusaders returning from the Holy land who would blunt their swords on the first church they saw. In the church yard are two wonderful old Yew trees aged respectfully, 1,000 and 1,300 years old; the older one is now hollow inside and you can hop in and peep out through the fissures at the many old grave stones.