Day 5: Rye to Sellinge

A long days walk, this one, albeit a flat one across Romney Marsh. We turn away from the sea, and get drainage ditches full of water and no shortage of Romney Marsh sheep. The long day dictates an early start - breakfast at 07:00, and up the road for Mass at St Anthony of Padua (as in 1975) at 08:30.

Then down from the town (on a hill from the days when the sea level was higher)

under the railway alongside the river Rother. Julian tells me that the same train runs on that line today (one of the few things that have not changed in terms of transport hardware since 1979!). It is a 2 car DEMU (nicknamed "Thumpers") which shares the line with a similar 3 car unit. Both are unique to the Hastings Ashford line and the one in the photo is stabled at Eastbourne overnight usually forming the early morning Eastbourne - Ashford train. (In 2005 the Thumpers were eventually replaced by Diesel Turbostars, and you have to go to a preserved railway like the Watercress Line to see one)).

A long morning but still an early lunch, at the Royal Oak at Brookland.

Physically refreshed, we seek spiritual refreshment at the first of the Romney Marsh group of parishes that we visit today. This is St Augustine's, Brookland, with its unique detached belfry.

The next is St George's at Ivychurch

Then Ss Peter & Paul at Newchurch (doesn't look very new to me, but I guess it's relative)

The next stop needs some detective work - it's in the notes as St Rumwold's Church, but the picture is labelled St Andrew's. Are they one and the same? (This church is one we will visit in 2003, along with Ss Peter & Paul above, and it's definitely St Rumwold's. Why the label says otherwise is the only remaining mystery!)

The final church stop of the day was at St Martin's, Aldington. Just 3 miles to go

bring us to Sellindge Village Hall close on 20:00, having (if I remember correctly) fought our way across the construction site for the new M20.