Here is a 'squint' at the back of the church, whilst it has been closed it is still there as a reminder of days gone by. Used by the lepers who could not be allowed into the church (Health and Safety) lest they spread disease. The squint gave them a view of the chancel and the proceedings therein
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Part of the Heritage Trail 2000, Horsham District Council erected this plaque to inform travellers of the churches importance in history
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I am not going to dwell too much on history as many scribes far greater than I have works published the like of which I have no hope of making a comparison. It looks like Paganism ruled before Christianity reared its head after 1066. So let us concentrate on the period from the 10th Century and I will try and give bits information as it turns up. Just the bits I find interesting and you, the public, may have overlooked.
After the Norman conquest in 1066, the Normans' set about the task of building churches to give shelter to the common folk, mainly shepherds. They were often built in remote places where only shepherds and a few others worked or tried to carve out a living from the land. They were always painted white to make them immediately visible. They were simply meeting places. Many of these churches remain today, sometimes, like the church at Upwaltham, surrounded by a few farm buildings and cottages. These churches were void of any form of furniture, just a font in some cases, It was not until the 1700's that a bench seat was introduced to seat the elderly or infirm, This was often positioned against a wall, from then on furnishings begin to appear until we have what we have today. A declining stock of churches and a dying religion
After the Norman conquest in 1066, the Normans' set about the task of building churches to give shelter to the common folk, mainly shepherds. They were often built in remote places where only shepherds and a few others worked or tried to carve out a living from the land. They were always painted white to make them immediately visible. They were simply meeting places. Many of these churches remain today, sometimes, like the church at Upwaltham, surrounded by a few farm buildings and cottages. These churches were void of any form of furniture, just a font in some cases, It was not until the 1700's that a bench seat was introduced to seat the elderly or infirm, This was often positioned against a wall, from then on furnishings begin to appear until we have what we have today. A declining stock of churches and a dying religion
Above is an image of the inside of The Priory Church of St Mary and St Blaise at Boxgrove. St Blaise is the Patron Saint of wild animals and people with throat troubles, also associated with woolcombers, Stories vary depending on the country. This HDR image was taken on the 22/12/2013 and is comprised of seven images blended together in Photomatix and fine tuned on Photoshop Elements. It is the only way I could keep the window detail in and allow the shadow detail to come through. This is my favourite church to photograph as it has a history dating back to the 12th Century and perhaps even earlier.
St Giles Church Coldwaltham.
St Giles, patron Saint of cripples beggars and blacksmiths.
The church is close to Stane Street, a road built by the Romans between Chichester and London. The Church dates back to the early C13 but is is possible that a small chapel stood on this site from which the stone font was recovered from perhaps the Saxon period. An C11 gravestone was also discovered and is now stored in the belfry.
The church also houses some fine stained glass windows, examples below
St Giles, patron Saint of cripples beggars and blacksmiths.
The church is close to Stane Street, a road built by the Romans between Chichester and London. The Church dates back to the early C13 but is is possible that a small chapel stood on this site from which the stone font was recovered from perhaps the Saxon period. An C11 gravestone was also discovered and is now stored in the belfry.
The church also houses some fine stained glass windows, examples below
St. Bartholomew's Church, Egdean.
This charming little church is tucked away in the countryside of West Sussex and much to my
disappointment was locked and I could not gain entry to take photograph and record my visit. Why, I ask myself, do the good people of Egdean wish to protect this building from the public? I thought that a church was as much as a refuge for the poor as anything else; it doesn't appear to be keeping valuables within its walls. Perhaps as it was a bad weather day no-one had bothered to unlock it, well it was a Sunday! Saint Bartholomew is the Patron Saint of those with nervous disorders
I will return again in the hope I have better luck and I have misjudged the good Christians of Egdean and can give you a few titbits of information about this church and a few images of the inside.
This charming little church is tucked away in the countryside of West Sussex and much to my
disappointment was locked and I could not gain entry to take photograph and record my visit. Why, I ask myself, do the good people of Egdean wish to protect this building from the public? I thought that a church was as much as a refuge for the poor as anything else; it doesn't appear to be keeping valuables within its walls. Perhaps as it was a bad weather day no-one had bothered to unlock it, well it was a Sunday! Saint Bartholomew is the Patron Saint of those with nervous disorders
I will return again in the hope I have better luck and I have misjudged the good Christians of Egdean and can give you a few titbits of information about this church and a few images of the inside.
St Agatha's Church, Coates, Nr Fittleworth.
This cute little church I found very clean and very short on any information about it. However, it is a typical 'shepherds church' part of it dating back (in my estimation) to the early Norman period. Part of the exterior has the remains of the typical white painted look of the early churches. It has since been extended in flint work to bring it up to what it is today, Inside there is a lovely little font that I was unable to photograph owing to it being used for other things. The front entrance is covered by a lovely porch of oak construction which as obviously been added as has the tower,
St Agatha was a Sicilian who was imprisoned ant tortured to death for resisting marriage. She was then sold to work in a brothel which she again resisted,then followed the imprisonment and torture.
Click on the images below to see the larger image
This cute little church I found very clean and very short on any information about it. However, it is a typical 'shepherds church' part of it dating back (in my estimation) to the early Norman period. Part of the exterior has the remains of the typical white painted look of the early churches. It has since been extended in flint work to bring it up to what it is today, Inside there is a lovely little font that I was unable to photograph owing to it being used for other things. The front entrance is covered by a lovely porch of oak construction which as obviously been added as has the tower,
St Agatha was a Sicilian who was imprisoned ant tortured to death for resisting marriage. She was then sold to work in a brothel which she again resisted,then followed the imprisonment and torture.
Click on the images below to see the larger image
Holy Trinity Church, Bosham
Here is Bosham Church (pronounced Bozzam) dating back to Saxon times and pre christian worship. Bosham is where King Canute (Cnut) forbade the tide to advance and surprisingly he got his feet wet. The king's daughter was around 8 years old when she died and is reputed to be buried in a coffin hewn from stone within the church. Image below shows the commemorative stone. The other images below are the chancel and the sanctuary, and the font which dates back to 12 century is hexagonal and made of Purbeck marble. The final image is of the crypt and a visitor from the past the crypt a 14 century structure was probably a store for valuables or bones.
Part of the Bayeux Tapestry that hangs in the church depicting King Harold riding into Bosham Church before journeying to France in 1064.
The Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Stopham
A pretty little Church in a small village location in the heart of what is thought by some to be the original home of the wild daffodil.There a fields laid to rough where these delightful little flowers have grown for years. They have a tendency to keep the locals awake by blowing their trumpets all night, and if you believe that then you will believe anything. The Church of St. Mary the Virgin houses some finest stained glass windows in the area. Images to follow later.
St John the Baptist's church at Sutton. Tucked away in the West Sussex countryside this church is a real gem mainly for its construction. Built around 1090 it is a good example of a shepherd's church made good. Some lovely stained glass windows I was able to photograph
Didling, Church of St Andrew the Apostle, St Andrew was said to be the brother of Simon Peter and son of Jonah: both were said to be disciples of Christ. Andrew met his death by crucifixion on a Saltire (the Scottish Cross) it is said that by his request he did not want to be crucified on the same style of cross as Christ.
Didling, a "Shepherd's Church", dates mainly from the 13C, but there is said to have been a place of worship there from Saxon times. A saxon font is still housed there to date. It is enclosed on a small plot of land which makes difficult to photograph. There is still room for a local graveyard and a service is held there monthly. Many visitors pass through including two monks who headed off up Didling Down and into the woods...can't think why
It was a dreadful day when the first images were taken, dull outside and raining buckets, no light inside other than candles and nothing to light them with. I do not carry a flash as I rely on available light and there was none. I returned again and rephotographed with more favourable conditions below
Date: April 24th 2014
Didling, a "Shepherd's Church", dates mainly from the 13C, but there is said to have been a place of worship there from Saxon times. A saxon font is still housed there to date. It is enclosed on a small plot of land which makes difficult to photograph. There is still room for a local graveyard and a service is held there monthly. Many visitors pass through including two monks who headed off up Didling Down and into the woods...can't think why
It was a dreadful day when the first images were taken, dull outside and raining buckets, no light inside other than candles and nothing to light them with. I do not carry a flash as I rely on available light and there was none. I returned again and rephotographed with more favourable conditions below
Date: April 24th 2014
West Dean Church of St Andrew the Apostle, brother of Simon Peter.
Another West sussex church with Saxon connections, this time visible in the brick structure by the window in the north side. The herringbone brickwork is a typical Saxon feature as is the round headed doorway into the vestry, which I failed to photograph. At the East end there is a beautiful stained glass window.
Within the grounds of the church stands a Cork Oak tree (Quercus suber) unusual for this country, but good to see. This evergreen oak stands about 25 feet
Another West sussex church with Saxon connections, this time visible in the brick structure by the window in the north side. The herringbone brickwork is a typical Saxon feature as is the round headed doorway into the vestry, which I failed to photograph. At the East end there is a beautiful stained glass window.
Within the grounds of the church stands a Cork Oak tree (Quercus suber) unusual for this country, but good to see. This evergreen oak stands about 25 feet
Graffam Parish Church, another church dedicated to St Giles. Almost totally rebuilt in the 19 C, this lovely little church stands as close to the South Downs as you can get without being on the hills. There has been a church on this site since Saxon times and the font is still there. I arrived just after a wedding had taken place and the floral decorations were still in place. There was an organist still hard at work recording music for the record of the occasion, and a good musician he was too.. People around hampered me in my taking of these photographs but nevertheless, I got a couple worth showing but will revisit sometime in the future
Watts Terracotta Chapel, Compton, Surrey.
This chapel is unique in that it was designed by the wife of the artist G F Watts and built under her direction, by the parishioners of Compton, Guildford in Surrey. There is a web site www.wattsgallery.org.uk for those who are interested it is a good day out but will cost you £7.50 each or £3.50 on a Tuesday (Correct on 10/07/2014) to visit the gallery, however the admission to the chapel is free. It is also unique in that it is constructed almost entirely of terracotta. The interior decoration is Art Nouveau and well worth a look. The images here were taken on a bit of a hurry and therefore the quality is questionable.
Compton village is known as the artists village and well worth a visit whilst you are there
The Parish Church of St. Mary at Stoughton (Saxon Church)
Probably completed in the first 50 years of the 11 century near the end of the Danish Wars in 1016 and the Norman Conquest in 1066.. An earlier church of Roman Construction possibly preceded the current church. Some Saxon features sill remain like the herring bone flint work and the narrow arched windows set high in the walls
one of the tapestries inside the church
St Andrew's Church, Oving West
Sadly there is little said about this church either by leaflet inside the church or on the web. However it is a pleasant buolding which I suspect dates back to norman times. There is an impressive organ!
Sadly there is little said about this church either by leaflet inside the church or on the web. However it is a pleasant buolding which I suspect dates back to norman times. There is an impressive organ!
St Mary the Virgin Church, Aldingbourne, West Sussex
A busy little church of Norman origin, dating from early 12th Century. Again no history reported on the web and a little inside the church. A Saxon font believed to have been taken from a Monastery in Lidsey stands opposite the main entrance and a second font made around 1180 stands opposite. It boasts a piscina where the communion vessels were washed, and a sedilia for the priest to rest during mass.
A busy little church of Norman origin, dating from early 12th Century. Again no history reported on the web and a little inside the church. A Saxon font believed to have been taken from a Monastery in Lidsey stands opposite the main entrance and a second font made around 1180 stands opposite. It boasts a piscina where the communion vessels were washed, and a sedilia for the priest to rest during mass.
Lyminster Church of St Mary Magdalene. Dates back to Saxon times and there is said to have been a church there in King Alfred's time. It was also the site of a Saxon Benedictine Nunnery to the South of the church but there are no signs of it left today. the Nunnery was reformed after the Norman Conquest and the last prioress was appointed in 1450 and the priory was suppressed by Henry V111. The present walls of the church date from 1040.
Folk law says a dragon wreaked havoc in the countryside and it was slayed by Jim Pulk who fed it a poisoned pie. He was buried in the churchyard and his tombstone was later placed inside the church.
Folk law says a dragon wreaked havoc in the countryside and it was slayed by Jim Pulk who fed it a poisoned pie. He was buried in the churchyard and his tombstone was later placed inside the church.
St John the Baptist, Kirdford.
I was attracted to this church by its appearance and on the outside there is some herringbone stonework typical of Saxon times. Inside stands a font of Sussex marble. Despite the Saxon stonework the church is said to be a 12 century construction. The most interesting features lie in the unusual brick built tombs in the church yard. Kirdford, named after a ford over the river Kird to the South of the church, was the last peice of England to be converted to Christianity about AD 681
I was attracted to this church by its appearance and on the outside there is some herringbone stonework typical of Saxon times. Inside stands a font of Sussex marble. Despite the Saxon stonework the church is said to be a 12 century construction. The most interesting features lie in the unusual brick built tombs in the church yard. Kirdford, named after a ford over the river Kird to the South of the church, was the last peice of England to be converted to Christianity about AD 681
St Mary's Church, Slindon will pay a second visit......watch this space
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The church at Selham is well worth a visit, it dates back to Saxon times and is the best example I have seen yet