St Cosmus & St Damian Church, Blean

St Cosmos and Damian at Blean lies on the Crab and Winkle way, a foot and cycle path from Canterbury to Whitstable which you can access from the back of the churchyard. This part of the way was originally part of the Salt Way by which salt from the salt pans at Seasalter was transported through Whitstable and on to Canterbury from the 8th Century onwards. You can still see the mounds of 13th Century salt pans at Seasalter. There was a Roman villa to the South West of the Church. If you look carefully at the attached close up photo of the West wall of the church, you can see bits of thin, bright orange-red Roman bricks which probably came from the villa. Around 598, monks who accompanied St. Augustine from Rome may have dedicated the villa's chapel to St. Cosmos and St. Damian. The chapel is mentioned in the Domesday book but was rebuilt in 1233. At one time the church had a moat, the remains of which can still be seen over the fence on the South and West sides of the graveyard.
Sep 7th, 2022

A beautiful little church in 'the middle of no ware'. A few benches just outside the Church gate, perfect for a picknick. Also, a small wooden building in the Church yard with public toilets; men, women, disabled.
Jul 16th, 2022

Went here for a christening, nice small church tucked out of the way. Simple service very friendly.
Jun 12th, 2022

Beautiful but not open
May 16th, 2022

Very welcoming Christian community Delightful small church with an historical sense of the local community An atmosphere of peace and reflection
Jan 31st, 2022