[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I first read about the experience in Kent Life and decided that it would make a good birthday present for my niece, her father and myself. (Better than a Bluewater voucher!) I managed to keep it a secret and told them they would be going for a night away. We parked next door in the Fordwich Arms car park which where we later had dinner booked. As we wandered down the path to the church entrance, my brother exclaimed that he didn’t believe we were going to stay in a church. As we entered and put your Champing notice up we took stock of our surroundings. What a fantastic set up, apart from the magnificence of the church itself, the way you provided easy chairs around a table with all the necessary items for drinks, tea and coffee etc and our beds laid out in the cubicles between the pews made us really feel part of the fabric. The toilet facilities were top-tastic, 10/10. Time to explore….

We had a small picnic with a few nibbles we brought along, some beers and soft drinks opened and we set about exploring our new environment. How much fun it was to sit at the church organ pretending to play (good job it was not working otherwise the local neighbours may have got an impromptu recital). We each took turns preaching from the pulpit, I read from the book of proverbs! We all felt like the vicar of Dibley even though our congregation was only two. We explored the grave yard, river frontage and enjoyed checking on the local social history.

We enjoyed a pub meal and a game of cards before returning to the church for a night-cap and bed. Once ensconced in our comfy sleeping bags it was time for some more fun. I had turned off all the lights so the church was pitch black. Lying in bed with my powerful torch I shone it on the back of my hand projecting a giant claw like shadow off the vaulted ceiling which descended on my brother and niece. She roared with laughter and he told me to behave and stop scaring them. We all slept like logs.

A cup of tea in the morning and a “hello” to an early morning visitor who was keen to photograph the church, surprised that we had spent the night there. We signed the visitors book to say what a thoroughly great experience we had enjoyed, before heading off to Canterbury and The Goods Shed for breakfast, otherwise we may have tried out one of your hampers.

Well done to you all, especially the locals who made our visit so comfortable. I will definitely be trying out another church with my wife next time somewhere different. I would definitely recommend the experience to anyone interested in churches, surprises, making scary shadows, unusual birthday presents and amateur preaching.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]