St Cosmas and St Damian Church, Keymer facts for kids
St Cosmas and St Damian Church is a special Anglican church in the village of Keymer, West Sussex, England. An Anglican church is part of the Church of England. This church was rebuilt in 1866. It replaced an older building that looked a bit like Saxon churches. It's the main church, called the parish church, for Keymer. Now, it's part of a bigger parish that includes three villages in Mid Sussex. The church has a very unusual name, dedicated to twin saints named Saints Cosmas and Damian. These saints were Christian heroes from the 300s. The church is also a listed building (Grade II), which means it's an important historical building.
Quick facts for kids St Cosmas and St Damian Church |
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St Cosmas and St Damian Church, February 2009.
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| 50°55′19″N 0°7′50″W / 50.92194°N 0.13056°W | |
| Location | Keymer Road, Keymer, West Sussex BN6 8RB |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Liberal Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Edmund Scott |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1866 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Clayton with Keymer |
| Deanery | Hurst |
| Archdeaconry | Chichester |
| Diocese | Diocese of Chichester |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
Contents
History of the Church
Early Beginnings of Keymer Church
The area of Keymer was mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. This was a big survey ordered by William the Conqueror. It showed that William de Watevile owned the land for William de Warenne, who built Lewes Castle nearby.
A church already stood on this spot back then. It was connected to Lewes Priory, which was a large monastery. The church was given to the Priory in 1093.
Rebuilding the Church in 1866
The church building you see today still has parts from the 1100s. The walls of the chancel (the area around the altar) and the round end part called the apse are from that time. Not much changed about the church until 1866.
In 1866, the church was rebuilt by an architect named Edmund Scott from Brighton. He designed many churches in his hometown. He made sure the new church looked similar to the old one, keeping its 1300s style.
Church Bells and Graveyard
The church has six bells. One was added in 1791, another in 1866, and four more in 1911.
The church also has a large graveyard. Here, you can find several war graves and a war memorial. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has identified five soldiers buried there. Three fought in the First World War, and two in the Second World War.
There isn't enough space for new burials in the old churchyard anymore. So, a new burial ground was created in a field across from the church. This area is now managed by Hassocks Parish Council and is called the Hassocks Burial Ground and Garden of Remembrance. The stories of the men named on the War Memorial have been researched and shared, so their lives are not forgotten.
Church Patronage
The church's patron is Brasenose College, Oxford, which is a college at Oxford University. This means they have a special role in supporting the church.
Why the Church Has a Rare Name
Saints Cosmas and Damian
The name of this church, St Cosmas and St Damian, is very unusual for a church in the Church of England. Only three other churches in England have this name: one in Challock, Kent; one in Blean, Kent; and one in Sherrington, Wiltshire. There's also an old church near Leominster in Herefordshire with the same name that is no longer used.
Saints Cosmas and Damian are believed to have been twin brothers. They worked as doctors in the Roman province of Syria. They were very smart in science and medicine. They were known for treating people without asking for any payment. Sadly, they were put to death in the year 303 during a time when Christians were persecuted.
Church Architecture
Building Materials and Design
The church walls are built from flint. The stones are arranged in an uneven way, which looks a bit like "crazy paving."
The church has a small tower and a steeple with a small, two-part spire on top. This is located at the southwest corner of the building.
Inside the Church
The church's layout includes a chancel with a rounded apse (from the Norman era), a main area called the nave, and side sections called aisles. There is also a porch at the south end.
The south aisle was built during the 1866 reconstruction. The north aisle was added later, in 1890. Some of the old stone decorations around the east window were kept during the rebuilding. You can also see what might be part of an original piscina (a basin used for washing sacred vessels) in the apse, though its basin is missing.
The Church Today
Parish and Services
The churches in Clayton and Keymer have been connected for a long time. However, their parishes were officially joined on July 25, 1978.
St Cosmas and Damian Church is now one of three churches in this parish. The other two are St John the Baptist's Church in Clayton, which is a very old (11th-century) and important Grade I-listed building, and St Francis of Assisi's Church in Hassocks, built in 1975. This parish covers all three villages and the countryside around them. Its eastern edge follows the border between West Sussex and East Sussex.
The church was given Grade II listed status by English Heritage on June 21, 2007. This means it's recognized as a historically important building.
Usually, there are two Sunday services each week. On the first Sunday of the month, there is no early-morning service. Other services are held on Wednesdays and on alternating Saturdays. The church is open to visitors during daylight hours.
Conservation Area
The area around the church was made a Conservation Area in January 1989. This means it's a special place that is protected because of its historical and architectural importance. Mid Sussex District Council, who gave it this status, noted that "the church [being] sited on higher land which can be seen from all approaches" was one of the key features that made the area special. This area includes the old central part of Keymer village.
Gallery
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War Memorial to the south of the church.
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The church from the main entrance.
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