Lightening strike in Godmersham

Well I’ve never seen this before. I was visiting Godmersham Church recently. It’s a small village about half way between Ashford and Canterbury. Just to the left of the entrance to the church stands a tree which appears to have received a lightening strike.

A ‘gouge’ runs from as far up as I can see to ground level, following a spiral path.

It is 15 to 20cm deep and is heavily charred within. It seems to me that the bark has begun to grow inwards and so I wondered if this meant it had happened quite some time ago. I guess it was struck near the top and luckily for it, the current ran down the moist outer material to ground. I imagine the moisture instantaneously boils and the material literally explodes with the pressure from gasses produced?

Anyway, it is a sight to behold, and I am very glad the tree survived.