All Saints' Church, Tudeley — Attraction in Tunbridge Wells

Tiny church nestling in the Kent countryside. Its most notable feature is a magnificent set of stained glass windows by Chagall - an extraordinary feature for such a tiny place. A knowledgable friend informs me: The church was rebuilt c.1780, with Victorian additions. It was restored and a new Norman arched east window added in 1967 by Robert Potter, which was to hold the stained glass window in memory of Sarah D'Avigdor Goldsmid, drowned with a companion in a sailing accident in the sea off Hastings, aged 21. Two years previously, she and her mother had visited an exhibition of Marc Chagall's stained glass in Paris, made for the Medical Centre at the Hadassah Hebrew University, Jerusalem. The family had been at the nearby Somerhill estate since 1849, and while her father was a professing Jew, Sarah had been brought up in her mother's Christian faith. It was not easy to get Chagall's agreement to the commission, which was brokered by a mutual friend, Gérard Bauer. The initial commission led on, at the artist's suggestion, to the eventual filling of all the 12 windows with Chagall glass ('C'est magnifique. Je ferai les tous!'), but not until controversy over the fate of existing Victorian windows had been resolved, in 1985, the year of Chagall's death at...

A small church in the Kent Weald that as well as being a place of worship, has the distinction of being the only church in the world that has all 12 of its windows decorated by the Belorussian-French, modernist artist, Marc Chagall. The church itself has been there since the 7th century but the current structure is 18th C. The church is down a short lane off the main road. There's a large, unpaved car park. Access to and within the church is disabled-friendly. The stained glass windows are quite amazing, brought to life even more vividly by the fact that you can get very close to them. As well as the stained glass windows, don't forget the marbled ceiling, the font, the organ, look down at the floor as you walk around and don't forget the original stained glass windows in the Vestry (press the button behind the curtain to illuminate). There's a card reader donation point to the left of the font in the north aisle. Toilets are open only during church services and if there's a pre-booked tour. Several benches in the grounds outside if you want to take in the tranquility. A...

the most special place i was so excited to come here for the organ recital they had on a sunday i wanted to visit to see the chagall windows anyway but it was such a delight to see on the website they were doing a georgian tea party organ recital ! we bought tickets and went from london it was really worth the journey. everyone was so sweet and kind and i really loved the deep bellowing sound of the organ. afterwards we had tea and cake… the best scones i have ever had ! don’t miss the next organ recital they do ! it’s such a sweet lovely beautiful place and the windows are treasures the main window made me cry with the beautiful figure of the girl peaceful sadly under the ocean, but what a way to show your love to make such a...