THE
P RTAL
well was restored by Kemsing
Parish Council as a Millennium
project and in recent years
pilgrimages have re-started.
Miracles have been reported,
especially associated with eye
trouble. There has also been a
significant number of conversions
to the Catholic Faith. It seems that
St Edith has been restored to her
rightful place.
August 2018
Page 13
Edith, it is essential visiting.
We walked across the road from
The Bell to the well and the little
garden surrounding it. Water still
runs in the stream next to the
well, but “health and safety” have
ensured that you cannot get to the
water actually in the well, Oh well,
a sign of the times perhaps.
Next we walked to the Parish
Enough of talking - it was time
Church. Comper had a large hand
for action. We drove the short
in the interior decoration. It is
distance to Holy Trinity Catholic
stunningly beautiful. We were
Church in Otford. It is a modern
welcomed by Jean Walker who
building, but contains a fine
took us round the building. We
shrine and statue of St Edith. At
took some pictures to give our
Holy Trinity we were joined by
readers just a glimpse of what a
Antony’s friend, Barry Authers. They showed us round beautiful church St Mary the Virgin, Kemsing is.
the little church.
No visit to Kemsing is complete without
Antony said, “This is the famous statue.
going to the Heritage Centre. This is run by
It was originally intended to be in brass
the indefatigable Erica Cole. The records,
resin, but this is all we could afford. Then
the artefacts, the documents, ancient and
a rich friend said that if you can’t do it in
modern maps; they have everything. It
brass resin why don’t you do it in bronze?
is a work of art. For the Heritage Centre
We really did not have the money for it in
opening times and address, go to their web
bronze. Out friend just asked us how much
site at http://www.kemsingheritagecentre.
we needed. I can’t remember how many
org.uk/.
thousands it was but it was a lot, and there Barry Authers
it is. It is by Peter Birkett.”
Finally, what of St Edith’s Feast Day? It is 16th
September. Every year on, or about, this day, pilgrims
The statue is indeed fine and a worthy addition to once again gather at Kemsing for devotions on her
the church and the cult of St Edith. We noticed that honour. The statue is sometimes brought to the village of
in the statue