Holy Innocents Church, Southwater facts for kids
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Holy Innocents Church is a special Anglican church located in the village of Southwater, which is in West Sussex, England. It was built in 1849 and has a unique cross-shaped design, known as a cruciform footprint. Inside, the church is filled with many beautiful stained glass windows. These windows were given to the church by the Piper family and the "Old Blues" from Christ's Hospital School. The church property also includes the church building itself, its graveyards, a house, a church room, and a hut used by the Scouts and Guides.
Contents
Building the Church
Why Holy Innocents?
The Holy Innocents Church was the very first parish church built in Southwater. It was mostly constructed in the Victorian era to serve the people living in the village, which was then a long area with several farms. Much of the land around the church, including where it stands, belonged to the Fletcher family. They generously donated the land for the church to be built.
The church's name, "Holy Innocents," has a special meaning. It was chosen because the Fletcher family had experienced the sad loss of three of their young children. The church's dedication serves as a memorial to these children. The foundation stone for the church was laid on December 28, 1848, which is the Feast Day of the Holy Innocents.
Who Designed and Built It?
The church was designed by an architect named James Park Harrison (1817-1902). Most of the walls are made from local Horsham Stone. Materials for building came from nearby quarries and pits, including one at Stammerham and another on Great House Farm. The total cost to build the church was around £1,800.
Church Opening and First Leaders
The church was officially opened and blessed by the Bishop of Chichester, Ashurst Turner Gilbert, on June 7, 1850. The area it served became a new parish, formed from parts of Horsham and Shipley parishes. For the first three years, priests from Horsham Parish Church looked after it. The first full-time vicar, Arthur Dendy, started in 1853. The original vicarage (the house for the vicar) was built in 1854. It was later sold in the 1960s when a new vicarage was built on the church grounds. Today, the vicar is Rev Godfrey, who took over from Rev Dominic Newstead in 2010. The church now serves a much larger community than when it was first built.
Church Features and Updates
Changes Over Time
The church building looks much like it did when it was first built, but some changes have been made. A new room called a vestry was added on the south side in 1909 or 1910. This addition cost £280, and the Fletcher family donated £200 of that amount. The Fletcher family also gave another acre of land for the burial ground, which is still used today.
Over the years, the church has had many repairs and decorations. For example, in 2002, the church needed major work because the ground beneath it was sinking. This "underpinning" work, along with other repairs to the stonework, cost more than £200,000.
Special Recognition
On November 21, 1995, the church was given a special status as a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected. The listing noted that it was built with stone and has a tiled roof and a wooden bell tower.
The church is also known for its beautiful stained glass. The south and east walls have stained glass from the 19th century. The north aisle has six stained glass windows from 1986. These windows were created by Harold Thompson and show the history of Christs Hospital.
Church Records and Community News
In 2013, a detailed record of all the church's furnishings was put together by the Horsham Group of The National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts. A copy of this record is available in the church for anyone to look at, and it can also be found online.
The church also publishes ten editions of the Southwater News each year. This newspaper is part of the Southwater Parish Church's efforts to connect with the community.
See also
- List of places of worship in Horsham (district)
- Southwater Local History Group
