Chancel

In the chancel, two interesting small brasses. One is to Joanna, first wife of William Mareys who died 31st October 1431. Her body is encircled in a shroud and in her hands she holds a heart with the words 'Jesu Mercy'. William was an esquire to Henry V and his uncle Cardinal Beaufort. William's father John contributed towards the cost of knighting the Black Prince. The small rectangular brass to John Belk (died 30 March 1633) tells an interesting piece of social history. The Belk(e) family came from Sweden and for about 500 years lived at Cobrahamsole (a house down the road). An earlier member Thomas was mayor of Faversham in 1569. John's grandson Michael was Justice of the Peace for Sheldwich during the time of the Commonwealth (1653-9) and was part of the tribunal who condemned Charles I. During that time before the monarchy was restored, vicars were not allowed to marry people - it had to be the J.P. Sheldwich was a centre for marriage and Michael married 103 couples at St James'. They came from miles around, often no doubt on foot. In comparison, we marry two or three couples a year!

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