Parish Church Of All Saints

The Parish Church of All Saints in Strood is a building of group value, with origins in the Norman period and substantial additions and alterations through the 14th century and subsequent restorations. The earliest parts of the church date to the Norman era, including the chancel, chancel arch, and much of the nave, alongside a significant portion of the west tower. The south aisle and further tower alterations were introduced in the 14th century, incorporating a south stair turret. Significant restorations occurred in 1824 and 1884, with the latter led by J. Pearson, who added or rebuilt the north aisle, renewed window tracery (previously removed), and constructed a northeast vestry.

The church's construction utilizes a mix of materials: the oldest sections feature flint with ragstone dressings, while the rest is ragstone rubble with limestone dressings. The west tower is quoined without buttresses and is topped with a battlemented parapet featuring unusually wide merlons. It has three stages, each with a single cusped pointed opening on the north, south, and west sides, and a moulded arch to the west doorway. A polygonal stair turret projects from the south side. The tower is capped with a renewed broach spire. The south aisle and a single bay of the nave's south wall are united under a plain parapet, incorporating renewed three-light windows, one with a transom. A four-light window is found to the east of the aisle. The chancel’s south wall contains a blocked two-light window (formerly for a reading desk) and a single lancet, alongside a two-light square-headed window. The east end of the chancel has three low-set round-headed lancets surmounted by a large wheel window created by Pearson. The northeast vestry, set transeptally with a plain parapet and four-light windows, is also attributable to Pearson, as is the north aisle.

Inside, the nave features a three-bay medieval south arcade with octagonal piers and arches exhibiting two hollow chamfers. A north arcade was added by Pearson. The Norman chancel arch retains partly original abaci, though the flanking openings were renewed by Pearson. The chancel roof maintains its early form, with much-renewed ashlar pieces, high-set ties, and diagonal bracing, alongside some medieval timbers. The nave roof is a 19th-century construction with arched-braced tiles, side and collar purlins, and wind braces. A font dating to the early 15th century is made of stone, featuring an octagonal bowl on a panelled, buttressed stem, accompanied by a contemporary wooden cover. Furnishings from the 19th century include a stone reredos depicting the Last Supper, presented in half-relief behind an open, canopied arcade framed by buttresses and a plinth. A significant wall monument commemorates Thomas Butler (1621), characterized by a cumbersome shafted chest and a wooden pedimented over-mantel inscribed with details. Several minor early 19th-century mural monuments are present in the north aisle, including those of George Gunning (1821) signed by John Bacon, Jr., and Lady Staines (1832) signed Samuel Manning, Jr. The south aisle also contains mid-17th century monuments. The eastern windows have stained glass by Clayton & Bell, depicting a Passion sequence; angels appear in the wheel window. Dixon created the stained glass in the south aisle (east) during the 1880s. A circa 1860s “tricento” style reredos is now housed in the tower.