St Botolph's Church, Hardham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Botolph's Church, Hardham |
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The Romanesque paintings
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| 50°56′55″N 0°31′22″W / 50.948551°N 0.522789°W | |
| Location | Church Lane, Hardham, West Sussex RH20 1LB |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | Arun Churches |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 11th century |
| Dedication | St Botolph |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 15 March 1955 |
| Style | Anglo-Saxon; Norman |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Hardham |
| Deanery | Rural Deanery of Petworth |
| Archdeaconry | Horsham |
| Diocese | Chichester |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Botolph's Church is a special old church in Hardham, West Sussex. It's a Church of England parish church, which means it's a local church for the community. This church is so important that it's a Grade I listed building.
What makes it truly amazing are its ancient wall paintings. They are some of the oldest and most complete paintings found in England! These paintings, from the 12th century, were hidden for a long time. They were only found again in 1866. They show us what a church looked like inside many hundreds of years ago. The church building itself is simple and hasn't changed much since it was built. It even has a very old bell.
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History of Hardham Church
Hardham village is close to the main A29 road. This road actually follows an ancient Roman road called Stane Street. Hardham was once a "posting station" (a place where travelers could rest) after leaving the Roman city of Noviomagus Reginorum (which is now Chichester).
The church itself is very old, built either in the late Saxon times or early Norman times. Most people think it was built in the 11th century. It was definitely finished by 1125. The church's design is simple and strong, typical of early Norman buildings. Some of the stones and tiles used by the Romans were even used to build parts of the church, especially in the chancel (the area around the altar).
Special Residents and Changes
Around 1250, a special person called an anchorite lived in a small stone room attached to the church. An anchorite was someone who chose to live alone and pray. This anchorite was a woman named Myliana. A small opening, called a squint, was made so she could see into the church and receive Communion.
Later, in the late 1200s, some new, tall, narrow windows called lancet windows were added to the main part of the church (the nave). In the 1300s, the chancel also got two new windows.
Many churches in small villages like Hardham didn't change much over time. This is because the villages didn't grow much, and there wasn't a lot of money to rebuild or add new designs. So, St Botolph's kept its original simple look for centuries.
Discovering the Hidden Paintings
In the 19th century, a porch and a small tower for the bell were added. This was also when the amazing wall paintings were found again! They had been covered with white paint in the 13th century. In 1862, a small part of the white paint was removed, and one painting was found. Then, in 1866, the rest of the paintings were uncovered. Even though they are a bit faded, you can still see them clearly today.
Church Design and Features
St Botolph's Church is made up of just two main parts: the nave (where the people sit) and the chancel (the area near the altar). This two-part design is common for old churches in the South Downs area. The walls are very thick, about 2 and 3/4 feet (0.8 meters) wide. They are made from rough sandstone and flint. Many Roman stones and tiles were reused in the walls. For example, one corner has about 16 Roman tiles still held together with their original mortar!
A small bell tower, covered with wooden shingles, sits on the east end of the nave. A porch sticks out from the north side. The outside walls are covered in white plaster, which was common for churches a long time ago.
Inside, the nave and chancel are separated by a simple arch. This arch shows the plain but strong style of early Norman builders. Some parts of the church, like the square end of the chancel, might even show Saxon influences. There's also a doorway on the south wall that has been bricked up. It might have been an entrance from the Saxon era. The roof, with its main central beam (called a king-post), is probably the original one.
High up in the nave walls are two small windows. There are also some original Early English-style lancet windows. The porch and bell-turret were added much later, in the Victorian period. The squint, which allowed the anchorite to see into the chancel, was cut into the south wall during the Middle Ages.
Inside the church, you can see a font (for baptisms) from the 15th century. It has eight sides. The wooden benches are also from around the same time. The rails around the altar were added in 1720. One of the church's two bells might be from the early 12th century, making it one of the oldest in Sussex! The other bell was made in 1636.
The Amazing Wall Paintings
Discovering the Art
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In the early 12th century, a very rich monastery called St Pancras' Priory in Lewes helped decorate the inside of St Botolph's Church. They covered the walls with many beautiful paintings, called frescoes. These paintings are part of a group of artworks found in several churches in the area, known as the "Lewes Group."
What's special is that the frescoes cover almost the entire inside of the church. They are famous for how old they are, how much of them there is, and how well they were painted. People call them "the fame of Hardham" and "one of the most important sets in the country." However, these amazing paintings were covered up with white paint in the 13th century. They stayed hidden for hundreds of years!
When Were They Painted?
Experts believe the paintings were created in the early 12th century. They show the "Anglo-Norman" style of that time, similar to old books and even the famous Bayeux Tapestry. One painting, showing St George in battle, helps confirm this date. It was likely painted after the First Crusade (1095-1099).
How They Were Made and Kept Safe
The artists painted the frescoes in three steps. First, they put a thick layer of plaster on the walls. Then, they put a thinner layer of plaster over this in smaller sections. Finally, they painted each section while the plaster was still wet. This is the true fresco technique. The colors they used came from cheap, local materials like red and yellow dirt, white lime, black carbon, and green from copper.
Since they were found in 1866, the paintings have been carefully looked after and restored many times. This helps protect them from moisture and other damage.
What the Paintings Show
The wall paintings tell four main stories:
- The story of Adam and Eve.
- The life of Jesus.
- Scenes of Judgement and Apocalypse (including scenes of Hell).
- The Labours of the Months (scenes of daily life throughout the year).
The paintings are in two rows along each wall. There used to be words above the scenes explaining them, but only a small part of these words remains.
The Lamb of God
Above the arch leading to the chancel, you can see the Lamb of God. It's surrounded by a bright circle, with an angel on each side.
Stories of Jesus's Childhood
Along the top of the east, south, and north walls of the nave, there are paintings showing events from Jesus's childhood. These include his birth, angels telling shepherds the good news, the wise men's journey, King Herod ordering the killing of innocent babies, the wise men worshipping Jesus, Joseph's dream, the wise men's dream, and Jesus as a child in the Temple.
One of the few remaining Latin inscriptions is above the scenes of the Annunciation (when Mary was told she would have Jesus) and the Visitation (Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth). It says: "The Virgin is saluted. The barren is proved fruitful."
Jesus's Baptism
On the east wall of the nave, there's a painting of the Baptism of Christ, though it's not very clear anymore.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
These paintings tell the story of the rich man and the poor man from the Bible. They show what happened to them both before and after they died. You can see parts of the rich man's feast, Lazarus's soul going to heaven, and the rich man's death.
St George's Story
Scene 20 is very important for dating the paintings. It shows "St George in battle." This painting was almost certainly made after the First Crusade (1095-1099). Other scenes show St George being held by torturers, being tortured, on a wheel, and being buried. These are the earliest known paintings of St George in a British church!
Hell Scenes
A group of four paintings showing the "Torments of the Damned" (scenes of Hell) cover the entire west wall of the nave.
Adam and Eve's Story
In the chancel, above the arch, are scenes of Adam and Eve. One painting is very clever, made to look like a fabric hanging. It shows Eve being tempted by a serpent that looks like a dragon. Another unique painting shows Eve milking a cow! The figures in these paintings are often stretched out and dramatic.
Jesus's Passion and Resurrection
Paintings of Jesus's suffering and coming back to life are on the chancel walls. These include the Last Supper, Judas betraying Jesus, Jesus being whipped, his burial, the three Marys at the tomb, and Jesus washing his disciples' feet.
Apostles and Christ in Majesty
Paintings of the Apostles and Elders cover the upper parts of the north and south walls of the chancel. A painting of Christ in Majesty (Jesus as a powerful king) was originally on the east wall, but it was destroyed when a window was added later. Only the angels on either side remain.
St Botolph's Church Today
St Botolph's Church was given a Grade I listing on March 15, 1955. This means it's considered a building of "exceptional interest" and is very important, even nationally. It's one of 38 Grade I listed buildings in the Horsham area.
The church serves the small village of Hardham and the countryside around it. Services are held every Sunday, usually following the traditional Book of Common Prayer.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in West Sussex
- List of places of worship in Horsham (district)
- St John the Baptist's Church, Clayton
