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Visitors to St. Mary’s Church, East Guldeford, are now enjoying a greatly improved approach thanks to the successful completion of a new pathway project, part-funded by the Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust.
The Trust awarded a grant of £4,983 towards the relaying of the churchyard path, with additional contributions from the church itself and another supporting trust. This collaborative effort has transformed what was once a difficult and uneven route into a safe, accessible pathway for all.
Across the Romney Marsh, our historic churches are brought to life by a wide range of events organised by local church teams and community groups. From talks and concerts to open days and seasonal celebrations, these events not only showcase the unique character of each church but many events also help raise vital funds for their care and preservation.
The Trust’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 16th May 2026 at St. Peter & St. Paul’s Church, Newchurch, at 2:30pm.
The Members’ Lunch will be held at 12:30pm at Newchurch Village Hall.
Spring is one of the most beautiful times to explore the Romney Marsh. As the landscape comes alive with fresh colour and longer, brighter days, our historic churches offer the perfect places to pause, reflect, and discover centuries of history and character.
Whether you’re planning a day trip, a weekend break, or simply passing through, a visit to the Romney Marsh churches is a wonderful way to experience the unique charm of this special corner of Kent.
Essential conservation work to a south aisle window at St Peter & St Paul, Newchurch was completed at the end of November 2025, funded by the Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust at a cost of £38,000. The stone window frame had become badly cracked and increasingly unsafe. Without intervention, the deterioration would have worsened, posing risks both to visitors and to the historic fabric of the building.
We are pleased to share advance notice of our key annual events. Full details and booking information will be available shortly, but we hope members and supporters will mark the dates in their diaries now.
The Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust has supported a major stonework restoration project at St George’s Church, Ivychurch, one of the largest and most significant conservation initiatives it has funded in recent years.
In January 2026, the UK Government announced changes to funding arrangements for places of worship that have implications for the care and conservation of historic church buildings across England.
The existing Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which had operated for more than 20 years and allowed churches to reclaim VAT on qualifying repair and maintenance work, will come to an end on 31 March 2026.
2025 has been another full and successful year for the Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust, with a wide programme of events, visits and community activities celebrating and supporting the historic churches of the Romney Marsh, as well as projects to maintain and restore the buildings themselves.
A survey by the National Churches Trust (NCT), reported in The Church Times and other media recently, has sounded a stark warning for the future of Britain’s places of worship. Around five per cent of the churches that responded said they were “definitely” or “probably” facing closure within the next five years - a figure that could translate into hundreds of lost buildings across the country.