St Andrew's Church, Alfriston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Church, Alfriston |
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 St Andrew's Church, Alfriston
Location in East Sussex
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| 50°48′23″N 0°9′28″E / 50.80639°N 0.15778°E | |
| OS grid reference | TQ 52151 03001 |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 1366 |
| Dedication | St Andrew |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation |
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| Designated | 30 Aug 1966 |
| Style | Greek Cross |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 115 feet (35 m) |
| Nave width | 70 feet (21 m) |
| Bells | 6 |
St Andrew's Church is the main church for the village of Alfriston in East Sussex, England. This amazing building was constructed in the 1370s, which means it's over 600 years old! It's so grand that people sometimes call it the 'Cathedral of the Downs'.
The church sits on a small, raised area made of flint stone. This might mean that the spot was a special place for worship even before the church was built. It's located right in the middle of 'the Tye', which is the village green, and looks out over the River Cuckmere. Beautiful flowers surround its graveyard. The church has a unique shape, built like a Greek Cross, meaning all four arms of the cross are the same length.
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Who Built St Andrew's Church?
It's a bit of a mystery who paid for St Andrew's Church to be built. There are no old records or special monuments inside that tell us. The church's design is very consistent, suggesting it was built all at once. Usually, a project this big would be sponsored by one person or family. That person would often be buried inside or near the church.
However, St Andrew's doesn't have any grand tombs or memorials. There are also no records of a main sponsor. Plus, there wasn't a "Lord of the Manor" (a powerful landowner) in Alfriston at that time who would typically fund such a large building.
What Special Features Does the Church Have?
The Ancient Sundial
On the left side of the church's south porch, you can find a Canonical sundial. This sundial is very old, dating back to the 14th century, just like the church itself. It was originally on the south wall of the church and was moved to its current spot when the porch was added later.
Architectural Style and Bells
The church's design shows a mix of two old building styles: Decorated Gothic and Perpendicular Gothic. This makes it a great example of how architecture changed over time.
St Andrew's has a set of six bells in its central tower. What's unusual is that the bells are rung from the floor of the chancel (the part of the church near the altar). The oldest bell is from around 1400. Two bells are from 1698, and one from 1811. These three were melted down and reshaped in 1928, and a sixth bell was added then. The last bell is from 1819 and was reshaped in 1955.
Christmas Nativity Scene
Every year, the church sets up a model Christmas Nativity scene on the altar. This shows the story of Jesus's birth and is a popular tradition.
Alfriston Clergy House
Right next to the church is the Alfriston Clergy House. This historic building is now looked after by the National Trust, an organization that protects important places in England.
Images for kids
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A close-up of the Canonical sundial.
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The sundial's position on the church wall.
See also
