It was just a Victorian wooden wardrobe which had stood untouched for years inside the vestry of the village church, or at least that’s what Graeme Horner thought.

Little did he know that when he removed it from All Saints’ Church, Iwade, and left it outside, that the rain would reveal a little piece of history.

Mr Horner, vice chairman of the parochial church council, said: “The rain lifted one of the panels and underneath was an inscription which reads ‘Minister’s Pew the Revd Jn Lough Perpetual Curate Christopher Crayden Church Warden 1792’.

“It must have been the back of the pew and was later used to make the wardrobe with.”

After carrying out a bit of research, Mr Horner discovered Mr Lough was born in 1756 in Newby, Westmoreland, and died in Sittingbourne in 1826 aged 70.

He established a boarding school in Milton in 1824 and was a vicar for Sittingbourne until his death.

Not much is known about Christopher Crayden. Unfortunately, the 74-year-old, who only moved to the village from Sidcup 18 months ago, cut the inscription in two when he chopped it up.

He added: “It’s stored in my garage. I’m going to repair it then frame it and hang it the church. I’d like to have it in place by Christmas.

“I’ve got an interest in local history so it was nice to find something that’s not been seen before although I don’t think many others are as impressed by it.”