Holy Innocents Church, Southwater facts for kids
.JPG)
Holy Innocents Church is a special church in the village of Southwater, West Sussex, England. It's an Anglican church, which means it belongs to the Church of England. Built in 1849, the church has a unique shape, like a cross, called a cruciform design. Inside, you can see many beautiful stained glass windows. These windows were given to the church by the Piper family and former students of Christ's Hospital School. The church area also includes its graveyards, a house, a church room, and a hut for Scouts and Guides.
Contents
Building the Church
The Holy Innocents Church was the first church built in Southwater. It was mostly built in the Victorian era. At that time, Southwater was a small village with only a few farms. The church was designed by James Park Harrison, a well-known architect.
Local Materials and Cost
The church was built using materials found nearby. Stones came from quarries at Stammerham and St. Leonard's Forest. Some materials also came from a pit on Great House Farm. Building the church cost about £1,800, which was a lot of money back then!
Who Helped Build It?
The Fletcher family owned much of the land in Southwater. They generously gave the land where the church stands today. They also helped with money for later additions to the church.
History of the Church
The first stone for the church was laid on December 28, 1848. This day is known as the Feast Day of the Holy Innocents. The church was named "Holy Innocents" because the Fletcher family had sadly lost three of their children early in life.
Opening and First Vicar
The church was officially opened on June 7, 1850, by the Bishop of Chichester, Ashurst Turner Gilbert. At first, priests from Horsham Parish Church helped out. Then, in 1853, Arthur Dendy became the first vicar of Holy Innocents Church. The church has grown a lot since then and now serves many more people in Southwater.
Changes Over Time
The church looks much like it did when it was first built. However, a new room called a vestry was added on the south side in 1909. This room cost £280, and the Fletcher family donated most of the money. They also gave another acre of land for the burial ground that is still used today.
Repairs and Upkeep
Over the years, the church has had many repairs. For example, in 2002, the church needed major work because the ground underneath it was sinking. This work cost over £200,000 and helped make the church strong again.
Special Features
The Holy Innocents Church is a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected. It was listed on November 21, 1995.
Stained Glass Windows
The church has beautiful stained glass windows. The windows on the south and east walls are from the 1800s. The north side has six newer stained glass windows from 1986. These windows show the history of Christs Hospital and were made by Harold Thompson.
Church Records
In 2013, a detailed record of everything inside the church was made. This record is available for people to look at in the church itself and online.
Community Outreach
The church publishes a newspaper called Southwater News ten times a year. This newspaper is part of the church's way of reaching out to the community in Southwater.
See also
- List of places of worship in Horsham (district)
- Southwater Local History Group
