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List of places of worship in Horsham District facts for kids

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The Horsham District in West Sussex, England, is home to many churches and other places of worship. The main town, Horsham, and the surrounding villages like Billingshurst, Henfield, Pulborough, Steyning, and Storrington have a long history of Christian faith. You can find many old Anglican churches, some built in Anglo-Saxon or Norman times. There are also Roman Catholic churches, including chapels within convents and even England's only Carthusian monastery.

Since the 1600s, other types of Protestant churches, known as Nonconformist churches, have also been important here. These include Plymouth Brethren, Baptists, Methodists, and United Reformed Church congregations. William Penn, a famous Quaker, lived and preached in this area, so there's still a strong Quaker presence. You can even find one of the last chapels of a unique local group called the Society of Dependants in Warnham. Horsham town also has a mosque.

Many of these religious buildings are very special, with nearly 50 of them having "listed status" from English Heritage. This means they are protected because they are important historically or architecturally. There are three levels of protection: Grade I for buildings of "exceptional interest," Grade II* for "particularly important" buildings, and Grade II for buildings of "special interest."

Exploring Places of Worship in Horsham District

Horsham UK locator map
Horsham district is in West Sussex

Horsham is a large, mostly countryside area in southeast England. It covers about 530 square kilometers (205 square miles) between the North Downs and South Downs. Much of it is part of the Weald, a wooded area, and many parts are protected as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Over a third of the people in the district live in the old market town of Horsham, which has grown a lot and now has about 45,000 residents. Other big villages include Billingshurst, Henfield, Pulborough, Steyning, and Storrington. Many of the 32 villages and hamlets in the district have very old churches, especially from the 1200s.

The Christian faith arrived in Sussex around the 600s with St Wilfrid. It became more widespread in the 700s when St Cuthman came to Steyning and started St Andrew's Church. The Weald, which was heavily forested, used to be a place for pagan worship. But by the 800s, Sussex was mostly Christian thanks to missionaries like Cuthman, who traveled around preaching and setting up places of worship.

All Saints Church, Crawley Road, Roffey, Horsham (April 2018) (2)
As more people moved to Horsham in the 1800s, new Anglican churches were built, like All Saints in Roffey.

Many early churches in Sussex were simple, with just two main parts: a nave (where people sit) and a chancel (near the altar). As worship became more detailed and towns grew, many of these Saxon buildings were made bigger or rebuilt. So, many churches in Horsham District have Norman or early Gothic architecture styles.

During the Victorian era (1837-1901), many old churches were "restored" or updated. Sometimes these changes were quite big. This happened for a few reasons:

  • New ideas in the Anglican church meant churches needed different features, like bigger chancels.
  • Some churches were falling apart because they hadn't been looked after for a long time.
  • More people living in bigger towns meant churches needed to be larger.

Architects like Gordon Macdonald Hills, Samuel Sanders Teulon, and George Gilbert Scott, Jr. worked on many of these old churches in the 1800s.

Roman Catholic worship has continued in the area since before the English Reformation (when England broke away from the Pope), even though it was against the law for many centuries. Wealthy families sometimes used secret rooms to hold Mass. You can still see an example of this at the Priest's House next to the Church of Our Lady of Consolation and St Francis in West Grinstead. Before permanent churches were built, Mass was sometimes held in private homes. Today, three of the district's Roman Catholic churches are connected to monasteries or convents, like St Hugh's Charterhouse Monastery at Parkminster.

Protestant Nonconformist groups have also had a long and successful history here. Many different denominations built chapels and meeting places from the 1600s to the 1800s, both in towns and in the countryside. Many of these buildings are still used today.

Methodist groups, especially the Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists, were very active in Horsham town. Wesleyan chapels also became popular in rural areas. The first Wesleyan chapel in Horsham was built in 1832. This led to new chapels in places like Southwater, Dragon's Green, Faygate, Mannings Heath, and Partridge Green. Some of these are still open today, like Steyning Methodist Church.

Billingshurst Unitarian Church, Billingshurst (IoE Code 299110)
Nonconformist places of worship include Billingshurst Unitarian Chapel, which was built in 1754.

Baptist worship wasn't as widespread as in East Sussex, but Horsham town became a center for Strict and Particular Baptists in the 1800s, with three chapels: Hope, Rehoboth, and Jireh. General Baptists started in the 1660s under Matthew Caffyn. Members of the Horsham General Baptist Chapel (built in 1721) started a mission in Billingshurst in 1754. Both groups later became Unitarian, and their chapels are still in use.

The United Reformed Church, which was formed in 1972 by combining the Congregational Church and the Presbyterian Church of England, has four churches in the district. The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) have been in the area since the 1600s, even when they faced difficulties. William Penn lived nearby and preached at places like a former meeting house in Steyning, now called Penn's House. The famous Blue Idol, a Quaker meeting place since 1691, is also in the area. Horsham Friends Meeting House dates from 1786.

Plymouth Brethren are also very active in Horsham town. Their first meeting house was started in 1863. Other places of worship for Christian Scientists, The Salvation Army, and Jehovah's Witnesses also exist.

The only non-Christian place of worship in the district is a mosque in Horsham town. The Muslim community found a permanent home for it in 2008, in a building that used to be the Jireh Independent Baptist Chapel.

Who Belongs to Which Religion?

According to the 2021 census, about 146,778 people live in Horsham district.

  • Nearly half (49.28%) said they were Christian.
  • A large number (42.08%) said they had no religion.
  • About 0.87% were Muslim.
  • Smaller numbers followed Hinduism (0.55%), Buddhism (0.4%), Jewish (0.19%), or Sikhism (0.07%).
  • About 0.45% followed another religion, and 6.12% didn't say.

Compared to England as a whole, Horsham district has a higher percentage of Christians and people with no religion, and a lower percentage of other religions.

How Churches are Organized

Different types of churches have their own ways of organizing things.

  • All Anglican churches in Horsham district are part of the Diocese of Chichester, which is led by the cathedral in Chichester. The district's churches are then divided into smaller groups called "deaneries." For example, churches in Horsham town and many surrounding villages are in the Rural Deanery of Horsham.
  • The seven Roman Catholic churches in the district are managed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton, whose cathedral is in Arundel. These churches are also grouped into deaneries.
  • Some Baptist churches in the district are part of the South Eastern Baptist Association, which helps about 150 Baptist churches in southeast England.

Images for kids

  • Amberley St Michael

    St Michael's Church, Amberley

  • St Peter and St Paul's Church, Ashington - geograph.org.uk - 46919

    St Peter and St Paul's Church, Ashington

  • St James's church, Ashurst

    St James's Church, Ashurst

  • St Mary's Church, Billingshurst

    St Mary's Church, Billingshurst

  • St Gabriel, Billingshurst

    St Gabriel's Church, Billingshurst

  • Billingshurst Unitarian Chapel

    Billingshurst Unitarian Chapel

  • Trinity United Reformed Church, Billingshurst

    Trinity United Reformed Church, Billingshurst

  • St. Botolph's church, Botolphs, West Sussex

    St Botolph's Church, Botolphs

  • St Nicholas' Church, Bramber (IoE Code 298337)

    St Nicholas' Church, Bramber

  • St John's Church, Broadbridge Heath

    St John's Church, Broadbridge Heath

  • Plymouth Brethren Chapel, Broadbridge Heath

    Brethren Meeting Room, Broadbridge Heath

  • All Saints, Buncton

    All Saints Church, Buncton

  • Coldwaltham Church 3

    St Giles' Church, Coldwaltham

  • Church of St Saviour, Colgate - geograph.org.uk - 429645

    St Saviour's Church, Colgate

  • The Blue Idol in Oldhouse Lane - geograph.org.uk - 257749

    Blue Idol, Coolham

  • St John the Evangelist's Church, Coolhurst

    St John the Evangelist's Church, Coolhurst

  • St Peter's Church, Cowfold, West Sussex - geograph.org.uk - 86098

    St Peter's Church, Cowfold

  • St. Hugh's Charterhouse, Parkminster

    Parkminster Monastery Church, Cowfold

  • St. Andrew, Edburton

    St Andrew's Church, Edburton

  • Greatham Church

    Greatham Church

  • St Boltoph's Church Hardham - geograph.org.uk - 710569

    St Botolph's Church, Hardham

  • Henfield C of E parish church

    St Peter's Church, Henfield

  • Henfield Evangelical Free Church, Henfield

    Henfield Evangelical Free Church

  • Henfield Roman Catholic Church

    Corpus Christi Church, Henfield

  • St Mary's Church, The Causeway, Horsham (IoE Code 298126)

    St Mary's Church, Horsham

  • Holy Trinity Church, Rushams Road, Horsham

    Holy Trinity Church, Horsham

  • St Leonard's Church, Cambridge Road, Horsham

    St Leonard's Church, Horsham

  • Brighton Road Baptist Church, Horsham

    Brighton Road Baptist Church, Horsham

  • Hope Strict Baptist Chapel, Oakhill Road, Horsham

    Hope Strict Baptist Chapel, Horsham

  • Rehoboth Strict Baptist Chapel, New Street, Horsham

    Rehoboth Grace Baptist Church, Horsham

  • Trafalgar Road Baptist Church, Trafalgar Road, Horsham (April 2018) (3)

    Trafalgar Road Baptist Church, Horsham

  • First Church of Christ Scientist, Guildford Road, Horsham

    First Church of Christ, Scientist, Horsham

  • Christian Life Centre, East Street, Horsham

    Christian Life Centre, Horsham

  • Kingdom Faith Church, Foundry Lane, Horsham (April 2018) (3)

    Kingdom Faith Church, Horsham

  • Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Stanley Walk, Horsham

    Kingdom Hall, Horsham

  • Horsham Methodist Church, London Road, Horsham

    London Road Methodist Church, Horsham

  • Madina Mosque (Formerly Jireh Independent Chapel), Park Terrace East, Horsham

    Madina Mosque, Horsham

  • Appleyards Bible Church, 72 Brighton Road, Horsham (April 2018) (4)

    Appleyards Bible Church, Horsham

  • Brethren's Meeting Room - geograph.org.uk - 612976

    Arthur Road Meeting Room, Horsham

  • Friends Meeting House, Worthing Road, Horsham (IoE Code 298208)

    Horsham Friends Meeting House

  • St John the Evangelist's Church, Springfield Road, Horsham

    St John the Evangelist's Church, Horsham

  • Horsham Salvation Army Corps

    Salvation Army Citadel, Horsham

  • Horsham Unitarian Church, Worthing Road, Horsham (IoE Code 298204)

    Horsham Unitarian Church

  • Horsham United Reformed Church, Springfield Road, Horsham

    Horsham United Reformed Church

  • St Nicholas' Church Itchingfield - geograph.org.uk - 802353

    St Nicolas' Church, Itchingfield

  • Plymouth Brethren Chapel, Littlehaven, Horsham

    Brethren Meeting Room, Littlehaven, Horsham

  • Holy Trinity, Lower Beeding

    Holy Trinity Church, Lower Beeding

  • Church of the Good Shepherd, Mannings Heath

    Church of the Good Shepherd, Mannings Heath

  • St Mark's Church, North Heath, Horsham

    St Mark's Church, North Heath, Horsham

  • St Andrew's Church, Nuthurst, West Sussex - geograph.org.uk - 86085

    St Andrew's Church, Nuthurst

  • Parham St Peter

    St Peter's Church, Parham

  • St. Michael's, Partridge Green

    St Michael and All Angels Church, Partridge Green

  • Partridge Green Methodist Church, Partridge Green

    Partridge Green Methodist Church

  • St Mary's Church, Pulborough

    St Mary's Church, Pulborough

  • Pulborough United Reformed Church

    Pulborough United Reformed Church

  • All Saints Church, Roffey

    All Saints Church, Roffey

  • St Andrew's Methodist Church, Roffey

    St Andrew's Methodist Church, Roffey

  • Rudgwick Church - geograph.org.uk - 843423

    Holy Trinity Church, Rudgwick

  • Rudgwick Chapel - geograph.org.uk - 248745

    Rudgwick Chapel

  • St Mary Magdalene's Church, Rusper - from the southeast

    St Mary Magdalene's Church, Rusper

  • Shermanbury churchyard

    St Giles' Church, Shermanbury

  • St Mary's Church, Shipley, West Sussex (NHLE Code 1180756)

    St Mary's Church, Shipley

  • St Peter's Church, Slinfold (IoE Code 299579)

    St Peter's Church, Slinfold

  • Slinfold Chapel (United Reformed Church), Slinfold

    Slinfold Chapel

  • Church of the Holy Innocents, Southwater (NHLE Code 1259780)

    Church of the Holy Innocents, Southwater

  • Kings House, Worthing Road, Southwater (April 2018) (2)

    Kings House, Southwater

  • St Andrew's Church, Steyning (IoE Code 298687)

    St Andrew's Church, Steyning

  • Steyning Methodist Church

    Steyning Methodist Church

  • Church of Christ the King, Steyning

    Church of Christ the King, Steyning

  • St Mary the Virgin Church, Storrington

    St Mary the Virgin Church, Storrington

  • Storrington Chapel

    Storrington Chapel

  • Storrington Methodist Church

    Trinity Methodist Church, Storrington

  • Our Lady of England, Storrington

    Priory Church of Our Lady of England, Storrington

  • Sullington St Mary

    St Mary's Church, Sullington

  • St Mary's Church, Thakeham

    St Mary's Church, Thakeham

  • Kingdom Hall, Thakeham

    Kingdom Hall, Thakeham

  • St Johns Church, Tismans Common - geograph.org.uk - 243115

    St John's Church, Tisman's Common

  • Upper Beeding Priory Church

    St Peter's Church, Upper Beeding

  • Upper Beeding Baptist Church

    Upper Beeding Baptist Church

  • Chapel at The Towers Convent, Upper Beeding

    The Towers Convent Chapel, Upper Beeding

  • St Margaret's Church, Warnham in 2007

    St Margaret's Church, Warnham

  • St Mary's, Washington, West Sussex

    St Mary's, Washington

  • West Chiltington Church - geograph.org.uk - 985122

    St Mary's Church, West Chiltington

  • St George's Church, West Grinstead (NHLE Code 1284797)

    St George's Church, West Grinstead

  • West Grinstead RC church

    Church of Our Lady of Consolation and St Francis, West Grinstead

  • Wiggonholt Church

    Wiggonholt Church

  • St. Peter's church, Woodmancote

    St Peter's Church, Woodmancote

  • Amberley Pottery - geograph.org.uk - 1333820

    Former Amberley United Reformed Church

  • Former Methodist Church, Ashington, West Sussex (Geograph Image 2420575 6ef902ab) - Cropped

    Former Ashington Methodist Church

  • Former Congregational Chapel, Barns Green

    Former Barns Green Chapel

  • Former St Mary's Mission Chapel, Coolham

    Former St Mary's Mission Chapel, Coolham

  • Former Cootham Mission Church (now Village Hall), Cootham

    Former Cootham Mission Church

  • Former Pastor Mustow's Mission Hall (now Cootham Cottage), Chapel Lane, Cootham

    Former Pastor Mustow's Mission Hall, Cootham

  • Former Bethel Baptist Chapel, Crabtree, West Sussex

    Former Crabtree Bethel Chapel

  • Former Shipley Methodist Chapel, Dragon's Green

    Former Shipley Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Dragon's Green

  • Former St Francis' Church (Anglican and Methodist), Faygate

    Former St Francis' Church, Faygate

  • Former Nep Town Mission Chapel, Henfield

    Former Nep Town Mission Chapel, Henfield

  • St Mark's Spire

    Former St Mark's Church, Horsham

  • Denne Road Gospel Hall, Horsham

    Former Denne Road Gospel Hall, Horsham

  • Former Railway Mission Hall, Oakhill Road, Horsham

    Former Railway Mission Hall, Horsham

  • Former Salvation Army Citadel, Barttelot Road, Horsham

    Former Salvation Army Citadel, Horsham

  • Former Methodist Chapel, Mannings Heath

    Former Mannings Heath Methodist Chapel

  • Former Congregational Mission Room, Maplehurst

    Former Maplehurst Congregational Mission Room

  • Former Mare Hill Congregational Chapel, Mare Hill, Pulborough

    Former Providence Congregational Chapel, Marehill

  • St Mary's Church - North Stoke - geograph.org.uk - 631286

    Former St Mary the Virgin's Church, North Stoke

  • Roman Catholic church, Pulborough

    Former St Crispin and St Crispinian's Church, Pulborough

  • Jarvis Hall, Jarvis Lane, Steyning (IoE Code 298766)

    Former Jarvis Hall, Steyning

  • Penn's House, Steyning (IoE Code 298764)

    Former Penn's House, Steyning

  • Holy Sepulchre Church, Warminghurst - geograph.org.uk - 46960

    Former Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Warminghurst

  • Former Society of Dependents Chapel, Warnham

    Former Dependants Chapel, Warnham

  • The Old Chapel, Watersfield

    Former Watersfield Baptist Chapel

  • Watersfield chapel 2

    Former Watersfield United Reformed Church

  • St Mary, Wiston House (Cropped)

    Former St Mary's Church, Wiston

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List of places of worship in Horsham District Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.