The small parish Church of St Mary and St David in Kilpeck, Herefordshire, is a very simple Norman country Church. Its well off the beaten path; the sort of place where you wouldn't expect to find anything exciting. You'd be wrong, for Kilpeck is one of the most fascinating historic churches in the UK, if not one of the most interesting historic buildings of any sort.

The highlight of historic churches in Kent is undoubtedly Canterbury Cathedral, but a short drive from the cathedral lies an undiscovered gem, buried amid green lanes and wooded countryside.

I’m talking about the Ancient Church of St Nicholas, Barfreston. The small hamlet of Barfreston - its not really big enough to be called a village - stands on the route travelled by thousands of Medieval pilgrims on their way to the shrine of St Thomas Becket at Canterbury. A likeness of Becket is carved over the south door, the first known example in England.

When St Augustine came to Kent in 597, he built a cathedral Church within the Roman city walls. A monastery grew up around the cathedral, and remains of the old monastic buildings can still be seen in the cathedral precinct. St Augustine's Church lies beneath the nave, but little of it can be seen today. In its place we see a magnificent building, begun by Archbishop Lanfranc in 1070.