The Parish Church Of All Saints

The Parish Church of All Saints

Church dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, with some 14th-century windows. The tower, transepts and chancel date from around 1150, while the nave dates from the 13th century. A major restoration took place in 1870, during which the south porch was added, the exterior was refaced, many window stones were renewed, and the nave and transept roofs were replaced. The building is constructed of flint with stone dressings and tiled roofs.

The plan is cruciform, comprising a nave of five bays, chancel, transepts, a central tower (which originally had a spire), and a south porch.

The central tower has two stages and was re-quoined on the south with two-light lancets with central column to the bell stage, a gargoyle on the east side, and a later crenellated parapet. The west end of the nave features a two-light arched window with trefoil above and diagonal buttresses. The north side of the nave retains the outline of the arch to a north aisle, perhaps never completed, and a blocked arched doorway below, along with two trefoil lancets and a two-light trefoil-headed window with quatrefoil above. The south side has a lancet window flanked by a buttress, and below the gabled 19th-century south porch is the south doorway. This doorway is Transitional in style, dating from around 1200, with two orders of roll-mouldings and pairs of joint-shafts. The east windows of the gabled transepts date from around 1300 (north) and around 1350 (south); the north transept has an arched window with triple trefoil-headed window, while the south transept has a triple arched window with reticulated tracery. Built into the east wall of the south transept is a 17th-century tombstone of Sussex marble commemorating William Peachy, a blacksmith noted as a maker of swords for Cromwell's officers. The chancel has a lancet window dating from around 1200 on each side, diagonal buttresses, and a triple lancet east window.

Inside, the nave has a 19th-century roof with tie-beams and arched braces with trefoil inserts, 19th-century pews, and a hexagonal wooden pulpit. The nave's north wall retains a chalk and clunch arch leading to a north aisle from around 1250, which may never have been completed. The windows in the transepts and nave retain their original openings, although most of the stonework has been renewed; exceptions are the east window of the north transept and the east window of the south transept, which remain in their original 14th-century condition. The north transept contains an oak cupboard dating from the time of Charles II. The tower contains massive oak beams inscribed "IG - 1655 - TC" (initials of church wardens), which support three bells. One bell dates from around 1570 and is engraved "Hail Mary full of grace"; another is dated 1634 and was recast in 1969; the third dates from 1702 and was cast by Clement Tosiar. An octagonal stone font stands on an upturned scalloped 12th-century capital base, possibly from Boxgrove Priory. The font retains sawn-off iron staples that were used to lock it against the theft of holy water for use in witchcraft. A carved font cover, probably dating from the 17th century, accompanies it. The chancel walls slope internally and the roof is original, arch-braced with collars. The low window on the south side suggests that an anchorite cell was once attached.

Despite some alterations made during the 1870 restoration, this is a substantially medieval cruciform church with an impressive central tower.