Greatham Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Greatham Church |
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The church from the south
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| 50°56′02″N 0°30′57″W / 50.9340°N 0.5158°W | |
| Location | Off Brook Lane, Greatham, West Sussex RH20 2ES |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 12th century |
| Dedication | Unknown |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 15 March 1955 |
| Style | Norman |
| Groundbreaking | 12th century |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Greatham |
| Deanery | Rural Deanery of Storrington |
| Archdeaconry | Horsham |
| Diocese | Chichester |
| Province | Canterbury |
Greatham Church is a very old church in a small place called Greatham, in West Sussex, England. It's an Anglican church, which means it belongs to the Church of England. People have called this tiny, single-room building "delightful" and "one of the most appealing churches in Sussex." It was built in the 1100s and still looks much like it did back then. The church is a special Grade I listed building, meaning it's very important historically.
Contents
The Church's Long History
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Greatham Church was built around the year 1100. It was made to serve the people living in the marshy areas near the River Arun. This area was mostly farmland, and many early churchgoers were shepherds.
The builders used stones and bricks from old Roman sites nearby. This is why the church walls are a bit uneven. They don't all match in length or thickness.
Changes Over the Centuries
Over time, some parts of the church were changed. The original window at the east end was closed up. In the 1200s, two tall, narrow windows called lancet windows were put in its place. More lancet windows were also added to the north and south walls.
The old entrance on the north side was also bricked up. You can still see the stone door frame from that original entrance.
Later Updates and Discoveries
In the 1800s, the church had some small repairs, but it wasn't changed a lot like many other churches. The old bell tower was replaced with a new one that had a small spire on top. A new entrance with a porch was added on the south side.
A small room called a vestry was built on the north wall, but it was removed in the mid-1900s. During the building of the vestry, five soldiers were found buried near the church wall. They were likely killed during the English Civil War at a battle nearby.
How the Church Was Built
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Greatham Church is a very small and simple building. It was built during a time when old Anglo-Saxon architecture was changing into the Norman style. It sits by itself in the middle of fields, next to an old manor house. It doesn't even have electricity or running water, which makes it feel very old and peaceful.
Building Materials and Features
The church walls are made from different kinds of stone. These include ironstone, chalk, flint, and even some stones from old Roman buildings. You can also see local stones like Pulborough sandstone and Horsham Stone. People have said the walls have a "wonderful texture."
At one corner, there are some roughly carved crosses on the stones. These are called consecration crosses. They were blessed when the church was finished and officially opened for worship. The church has just one main room, with no separate areas for the nave (where people sit) and the chancel (near the altar). The roof is old and has a special design called a king post structure.
Inside the Church
Inside, you'll find an old altar rail from the 1600s. It has a top edge that looks like the battlements on a castle. There's also a tall, dark wooden pulpit from the early 1800s, where the priest gives sermons. The church also has old box pews, which are like small wooden boxes where families used to sit. In the porch, there's a stone slab that might have been part of the original altar. The walls inside are painted white.
Greatham Church Today
Greatham Church was officially named a Grade I listed building on March 15, 1955. This means it's a very important historic building that needs to be protected.
In the past, it was unusual for one priest to look after more than one church. But Greatham and a nearby church, Wiggonholt, shared a priest from the 1400s. Today, Greatham Church has its own parish again. It covers the small area of Greatham and the countryside around it, up to the railway line. It's also part of a larger group of churches called a benefice, which includes churches in Amberley, Parham, and Wiggonholt.
See also
