Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Warminghurst facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of the Holy Sepulchre |
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The former church from the east
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 Location in West Sussex
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| 50°56′25″N 0°24′41″W / 50.9403°N 0.4114°W | |
| Location | Park Lane, Warminghurst, Ashington, West Sussex RH20 3AW |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Founded | By late 12th century |
| Dedication | Holy Sepulchre |
| Dedicated | By 13th century |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 15 March 1955 |
| Style | Early English Gothic |
| Closed | 1 April 1979 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Thakeham with Warminghurst |
| Deanery | Storrington |
| Archdeaconry | Horsham |
| Diocese | Chichester |
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is a very old Anglican church in a small village called Warminghurst in West Sussex, England. It is located in the Horsham area. The church building you see today was mostly built in the 1200s. However, there might have been an even older church on this spot as far back as the 1000s.
For many years, this church was connected to other churches nearby, like those in Steyning, Ashington, and Thakeham. Over time, fewer people attended services. The church closed for a while in the 1920s and then permanently in 1979. It was then declared "redundant," meaning it was no longer used for regular worship.
Unlike many old churches, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was not greatly changed in the 1800s. Its inside still looks much like churches did before that time. After it closed, the building started to look a bit neglected. Luckily, the Churches Conservation Trust took care of it. This trust helps preserve important old churches. The church is now a Grade I listed building, which means it's considered very important for its history and architecture.
Contents
History of the Church
Warminghurst is a very old area in the south of the Weald, close to the South Downs. The name "Warminghurst" comes from an old English phrase meaning "the high wood of Wyrma's people." The village itself was never very big and has mostly disappeared since the Middle Ages.
People didn't build houses close together here because the land around the church and manor house was very steep. One of the first mentions of Warminghurst was as part of Steyning, a bigger town nearby. A survey from 1086, called the Domesday Book, mentioned two churches in Steyning. One of these might have been at Warminghurst. We know for sure a church stood here by the late 1100s.
Building the Church
The church you see today is a simple building made of sandstone. It was built around 1220. For a long time, it was owned by a Benedictine abbey in France called Fécamp Abbey. This abbey also owned the mother church in Steyning. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre became independent in the early 1600s.
The church's design hasn't changed much since the 1200s. It's one long room with no wall or arch separating the chancel (the area near the altar) from the nave (where the people sit). The roof is also one continuous line. Light comes in through tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. There's also a round window above the entrance.
The wooden bell-turret at the west end of the church is the oldest part. Its wood dates back to about 1158. The bell inside it was made around 1200, making it one of the oldest bells still around in Sussex.
Changes Over Time
The large window at the east end of the church was added in the 1300s. It has three sections of plain glass and a decorative shape called a quatrefoil at the top. This window is in the Decorated Gothic style.
Around 1700, a large wooden screen was put up inside the church. This screen helped separate the chancel from the nave. It has three arches and a very fancy painting of the Royal Arms of Queen Anne. Other changes in the 1600s included adding wooden altar rails and an altar table. The old lancet windows were also repaired with brick. A porch was built on the south side for the entrance. A small room called a vestry was added on the north side around the same time.
In the 1700s, a tall, three-level pulpit was added. The font (where baptisms happen) also got a unique "font crane," which was an iron bracket used to lift its cover. Around 1770, special box pews were installed. These seats have high backs and can be locked. It's very unusual to find such old box pews still in excellent condition today. Many churches removed them in the 1800s, but this church kept them.
Decline and Preservation
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre's connections to other parishes changed many times over the centuries. In the early 1900s, the church closed for a period, from about 1920 to 1933. During this time, it was damaged by vandals. Repairs were made before it reopened.
Later, during World War II, the church faced more damage and fewer people attended. In 1959–60, a careful restoration was done by John Leopold Denman. He fixed structural problems, improved the east window, and revealed the original wooden ceiling.
Despite these efforts, the number of worshippers continued to drop. On April 1, 1979, the Diocese of Chichester declared the church "redundant." This meant it would no longer be used for regular church services. People worried it might be demolished. However, in 1980, the church was placed under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. This charity looks after important Anglican churches that are no longer in use.
The trust has restored the building, and it is now open for visitors every day. Many people visit for its peaceful atmosphere and the beautiful views towards Chanctonbury Ring. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was given a Grade I listing by English Heritage on March 15, 1955. This means it is considered to be of "exceptional interest" and very important nationally.
Architecture and Features
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The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has a simple design, which has changed little since it was built in the 1200s. It's a long, low building with one main room that includes both the nave and the chancel. There's a porch on the south side, which used to be the main entrance. On the north side, there's a small vestry. The main entrance is at the west end. A bell-turret with a pointed roof sits on the roof at the east end.
The porch and vestry are made of brick, but the rest of the church is built from stone. There is no arch inside to separate the chancel from the nave. A round window from the 1200s is high up in the west wall. Other windows are single, narrow lancets, many of which were repaired with brick in the 1600s or 1700s. The east window is wider, with three sections and decorative quatrefoils. It's a good example of a simple 14th-century window in the Decorated Gothic style. Inside, the roof is also simple, with some exposed wooden beams. It likely dates back to when the church was first built.
Inside the Church
Even though the outside of the church is mostly from the 1200s, the inside has a look that is "typically 18th-century." The light-colored wood, large plain glass windows, and white walls make the interior feel bright.
One of the best features is the late 1700s pine box pews. These pews are very rare and are in excellent condition. They even have decorative patterns on their ends. Another special feature is the rare three-level pulpit, also from the 1700s.
The wooden screen between the nave and chancel has a "splendid" painting of the Royal Arms on its upper part. This painting was redone in 1845. Such paintings, done directly on plaster and then put onto wood, are unusual in Sussex.
North Chapel and Memorials
The north chapel was built in 1619 by Henry Shelley. It was used as a burial place and private chapel for the Shelley family. One family member, Edward Shelley (who died in 1554), is remembered with a small brass memorial. It shows his wife and ten children kneeling in front of him. One son, also named Edward, is shown without his head. He faced difficulties for his beliefs in 1588 and was later honored in 1929.
Other memorials include two large 18th-century tablets decorated with cherub heads. There are also three hanging marble monuments, a style that became popular in Sussex in the 1600s and 1700s.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in West Sussex
- List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in Southeast England
- List of places of worship in Horsham (district)
