Churches open together for first time since Black Death

Dode and its church were built at some point between 1087 and 1100

Two ancient churches in neighbouring Kent hamlets which were both wiped out by the Black Death will open their doors together to the public for the first time.

Both Dode and Paddlesworth in the North Downs were thriving settlements until the plague hit in 1349.

Paddlesworth, near Snodland, is still a small hamlet but Dode, near Luddesdown, never recovered, and all that remains is its church.

Sunday will be the first time since the Black Death that the churches have been open to the public at the same time and people have been invited to make the 1.5-mile walk between the two.

Douglas Chapman, who owns Dode and began restoring its church 10 years ago, said: “People will get to visit two ancient churches and hopefully they will appreciate the history and work that has gone into them.”

The Black Death was a five-year European pandemic which killed up to 200 million people.

Some of the stonework of St Benedict's decayed, but the church is now being maintained and restored

Mr Chapman said people can learn about the survival and relationship which bonds the churches.

Visitors can expect to see a photo exhibition, old maps and historic documents – with one even dating back to 1367, when the parishes of Dode and Paddlesworth were combined.

At that time, Dode Church was no longer used. Paddlesworth’s last priest was appointed in 1623, and it is thought the church, known as St Benedict’s, closed in 1678.

It was used as a barn and donated to the Churches Conservation Trust in 1976, to be maintained and preserved.

The churches will be open between 12:00 and 15:00 BST.

Dode Church is used for wedding and naming ceremonies, and is open to the public once every six weeks.

The public are able to request a visit to St Benedict's at any time.