Right, a bit more information about Milton church.
The cross above the legend "Grave Yard" indicates an antiquity. In this case Roman remains have been found in the graveyard. The church itself incorporates Roman work. It is reputed to have been a pagan religious site before the Christians took over, but I've not found any hard evidence to support that. However a large stone near the entrance to the church is reputed to be a pagan altar stone.
The church is the third oldest in Kent, dating from a few years after the coming of St. Augustine in 597. Local claims are that is was actually founded by Augustine. The original part of the church is now the nave. the church was extended in the 11th and 14th centuries. Locals will inform you that when the church was being extended it was decided to move it into the centre of the village which had itself moved to higher ground. The tale continues that each time a stone was moved from the church to the village, it magically went back over night. Augustine had had decided where the church would be, and he would make sure it stayed there!
The tower is the largest in Kent, and the third largest in England in girth. The ringing chamber is 25' square, and the walls are 4' thick. At 78' high is is not exceptional, but the Ordnance Survey established a trig point at the top of the tower. There are 8 bells (tenor 9-2-24 in G). Bells 4-7 were cast in 1681, the tenor in 1890. The number 3 bell was a gift by J Dixon Esq in 1934 in memory of four local ringers killed in WWI. Bells 1 and 2 were cast in 2019.
