All Saints Church, Highbrook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints Church |
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The church from the southeast
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| 51°03′18″N 0°03′27″W / 51.0549°N 0.0574°W | |
| Location | Hammingden Lane, Highbrook, West Hoathly, West Sussex RH17 6SS |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England https://www.allsaints-highbrook.org.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1882 |
| Founder(s) | Francis Kirby and Caroline Weguelin |
| Dedication | All Saints |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 11 May 1983 |
| Architect(s) | Richard H. Carpenter and Benjamin Ingelow |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1882 |
| Completed | 1884 |
| Construction cost | £4,000 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Highbrook: All Saints |
| Deanery | Rural Deanery of Cuckfield |
| Archdeaconry | Horsham |
| Diocese | Chichester |
| Province | Canterbury |
All Saints Church is a beautiful old church located in Highbrook. Highbrook is a small village, or "hamlet," in West Sussex, England. This church is part of the Church of England, which is a Christian church.
The people living in Highbrook were quite far from their main village church. So, two wealthy sisters, Frances Kirby and Caroline Weguelin, decided to pay for a new church to be built closer to them.
The church was designed by architects Richard H. Carpenter and Benjamin Ingelow. It is made of stone and has a tall, pointed tower called a spire. All Saints Church opened in 1884. It was designed in a style called Gothic Revival, which looks like churches from the 14th and 15th centuries. This church is considered important for its history and design. It has been given a special status called "Grade II listed" by English Heritage.
Contents
The Church's Story
Why All Saints Church Was Built
The area around Highbrook used to be part of a much larger church district called a "parish." This parish was centered in a village called West Hoathly. Highbrook itself is a small settlement. It is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of West Hoathly village.
By the 1880s, Highbrook had many old houses and farms. Some of these buildings were from the 16th and 17th centuries. Even though it was a small place with about 186 people, two wealthy sisters, Frances Kirby and Caroline Weguelin, decided to build a church there in 1882.
They felt that the people in Highbrook had a long walk to the main church, St Margaret's Church, in West Hoathly. That walk was about 2 miles (3.2 km). At that time, many new churches were being built across Sussex. This was because the Church of England wanted more people to attend church.
Many new churches were paid for by the Church of England itself. However, in the late 1800s, rich people often paid for new churches. They sometimes built them as a way to remember a family member or friend. All Saints Church was one of these. The sisters paid £4,000 for it to be built.
Who Designed the Church
The architects Richard H. Carpenter and Benjamin Ingelow were chosen to design All Saints Church. Carpenter had worked on many buildings in Sussex, including a chapel at Lancing College. He and Ingelow started working together in 1872.
They designed All Saints Church in the Gothic Revival style. This was a very popular style for churches in the Victorian era. The church was built using stone found nearby. It was finished in 1884. Even though there weren't many people living in Highbrook, the church was built quite large. It also became its own church district right away in 1882.
Inside the Church
The original money given for the church did not cover the inside decorations. However, beautiful stained glass windows were added between 1885 and 1892. These were made by a company called Clayton and Bell. The large window at the east end of the church was a special memorial to the parents of the sisters who funded the church.
In 1933, the floor in the chancel (the area around the altar) was changed. It was relaid with black and white marble tiles. This work was done by Walter Tower.
Church Design
What the Church Looks Like
All Saints Church is built in the Gothic Revival style. It looks like churches from the 1300s or 1400s. The church has a chancel and a nave. The nave is the main part where people sit. The chancel is where the altar is. There is an arch between these two parts.
On the north side of the nave, there is an aisle. On the south side, there is a porch. The church also has a tower on the northeast side. This tower has a pointed roof called a broach spire. The spire is covered with oak shingles, which are like wooden tiles. The entire church is built from local stone.
Windows and Details
All the windows in the church are tall, narrow windows called lancets. They have decorative stone patterns, known as tracery, which are typical of the Decorated Gothic style. All the windows have stained glass. The largest window is at the east end of the chancel. It has five sections.
The arches and columns inside the church have detailed carvings. These carvings are more fancy than what you might expect in a small village church from that time. Inside, you can also see a special decorated screen behind the altar, called a reredos, made of marble. There are also memorials inside that remember the founding sisters.
All Saints Church Today
All Saints Church was officially recognized as a "Grade II listed" building on May 11, 1983. This means it is considered a "nationally important" building with "special interest." As of February 2001, it was one of many listed buildings in the Mid Sussex area.
The church serves the Highbrook village and the countryside around it. This area is between the B2028 road and the Bluebell Railway line. All Saints Church is now part of a combined church area with West Hoathly. This combination happened in September 1975. The right to choose the church's priest belongs to the Bishop of Chichester.
See also
