Outside the church

There are several yew trees in the churchyard. It may be that some churches are built on
pagan sites, and that the yews are the remains of the groves in which the Ancient Britons
worshipped. What is more certain, is that Edward 1 actually ordered that yew trees be
planted around churches so that they would act as windbreaks, and protect the church fabric
to some extent. They would also have provided a ready supply of timber for the manufacture
of longbows, but perhaps, that could never be given as the official intention.

Churchyard.

This used to be much smaller than it is today. Hardly any
spare plots were available within only twenty- five years of
the church being consecrated. However, the area was
increased, in 1899, through the generosity of Samuel Lee
Smith, when he donated a quarter of an acre of land
adjoining the northern boundary of the churchyard. A
change of level in the ground marks the original boundary.
Centuries ago, the north side of a church was shunned, as
it was associated with the devil, and people hated the
thought of the shadow of the church falling across their
graves.

The churchyard was closed in 1962. Because
of a lack of space a memorial garden has been
created to ensure that future generations are
able to have cremated remains interred in the
Church yard. Responsibility for the general
upkeep has been taken over by East Malling
and Larkfield parish council. The old
headstones at Holy Trinity are in poor condition,
having weathered rather badly. The oldest
decipherable one is dated 1856 - two years
after the church had been consecrated. The
majority cover the period 1910-1950, and
remind us of the sad losses brought about by
two world wars. Inside the church, adjacent to
the War Memorial, you may have noticed a
circular metal plate commemorating the death
of a young airman in Italy, and his burial at
Monterosso. This is all that remains of a
wooden propeller cross erected in his memory
in the Churchyard. He was the son of a former
headmaster at the Church School.

Vicarage, and other buildings.

There is a large ragstone house, standing in its own grounds, on the south side of the old school
and its associated buildings. It was built in 1881, for Ł 1400, for the curate of Holy Trinity. although it
used to be called the Curate's House, it is now known quite simply as Glebe House. It passed out
of church hands when it was sold in 1936.

The present vicarage - a modern building - stands to the south of the church, not far from the
motorway. It is a matter of considerable regret that we do not have a church hall. We were offered
the old school and its associated buildings after they were closed for educational purposes in
1966. However, financial constraints meant that purchase of all, or any, of the property was
dismissed. Consequently, many of our functions and events are held in the village hall or at Holy
Trinity Scout H.Q. across the road from the church.