St George's Church, Trotton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. George's Church, Trotton |
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| 50°59′45″N 0°48′35″W / 50.995893°N 0.809682°W | |
| Location | Petersfield Road, Trotton, West Sussex GU31 5EN, United Kingdom |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St George, Trotton |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | Disputed (c. 1240 or 14th century) |
| Dedication | St George |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 18 June 1959 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Decorated |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Trotton |
| Deanery | Midhurst |
| Archdeaconry | Horsham |
| Diocese | Chichester |
| Province | Canterbury |
St. George's Church is an old Anglican church located in Trotton. This small village is in West Sussex, England. Most of the church was built in the early 1300s. However, some parts might be even older, from around 1230. There are clues that an even older church might have stood here before.
The church is named after Saint George, who is the patron saint of England. St. George's Church is very important for its history and architecture. It is a "Grade I listed building," which means it's considered exceptionally important.
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Church History
Historians have different ideas about how old St. George's Church really is. Some think the tower was built between 1230 and 1240. Others believe the tower and the main part of the church were both built in the 1300s. The church porch was added later, in the 1600s.
Inside the church, there is a tomb for Margaret de Camois. She was part of a very important family in the area. Her tomb is in the nave, which is the main part of the church. This is unusual because important family members were usually buried in the chancel (the area near the altar). Some people think this means the church was built on the site of an older, smaller church, and her tomb was in the chancel of that first church.
In 1904, the church was carefully repaired and restored. This work cost about £700 back then. A special time capsule was buried during this restoration. It contained information about the builders, church leaders, and what was happening in the world at that time.
Church Design and Features
St. George's Church is in Trotton, close to the River Rother (Western). It stands between a 15th-century bridge and a 16th-century manor house.
The outside of the church looks simple and plain. It is built in a style called "Decorated Gothic." However, the tower is in an older style called "Early English Gothic." The main part of the church, called the nave, and the chancel are all one open space. They are separated only by a small step.
The tower is at the west end of the church. It holds four bells that are used for change ringing. The largest bell was made in 1908, and the others in 1913. The church walls are made of rubble stone with smooth stone details. The roof of the main church is tiled. It used to have a thatched roof in the 1300s, which was replaced around 1400. The tower has an octagonal (eight-sided) roof covered with wooden shingles.
Amazing Wall Paintings
In 1904, workers removed the whitewash from the west wall of the church. They found a very old wall painting from when the church was first built! Many old churches have wall paintings, but this one was special because it was so detailed and well-preserved.
The painting shows the Last Judgement. In the middle is Jesus Christ. Below him is Moses. To Jesus's right is the "Carnal Man," surrounded by the Seven Deadly Sins. To his left is the "Spiritual Man," surrounded by the Seven Acts of Mercy. It's interesting because these two characters are usually shown on the opposite sides of Christ in such paintings. Most of the red paint is still in good condition, but the Seven Deadly Sins have started to fade.
There are also paintings on the north and south walls. These show members of the Camoys family. The Camoys family were the local lords of the manor. It seems they had the church built mainly for their family. This might explain why the paintings are so detailed. They were meant to be beautiful decorations, not just simple pictures to teach people who couldn't read.
Important Tombs and Memorials
In the middle of the chancel is a large stone tomb. It holds the remains of Thomas de Camoys, 1st Baron Camoys, who died in 1421, and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Mortimer. Elizabeth was the daughter of a powerful earl. Baron Camoys was a famous knight who fought in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. His wife, Elizabeth, is even said to have inspired a character in one of Shakespeare's plays, Henry IV.
This tomb has a very large brass plate on top. It shows the couple holding hands, almost life-size. Experts have called it "one of the biggest, most ornate and best preserved brasses in England."
In the nave, there is another brass plate on a stone slab. This one is for Margaret de Camois, who died in 1310. This is the oldest known brass image of a woman in all of England!
There are other memorials too. In the north-east corner of the chancel is the tomb of Sir Roger Lewknor, who died around 1478. In the south-east corner, you can find the monument to Anthony Foster, who died in 1643.
Churchyard
The churchyard around St. George's Church is also a place of rest. It contains a Commonwealth war grave for a soldier who fought in World War I. He was part of the Queen's Royal Regiment.
St. George's Church Today
St. George's Church was officially given its "Grade I listed" status on June 18, 1959. This means it is considered a building of "exceptional interest" and is very important to the country's history. As of 2001, it was one of 80 Grade I listed buildings in the Chichester area.
Today, St. George's Church is part of a larger church area called a "parish." This parish includes the village of Trotton and other small areas. Services are held at St. George's on the second and fourth Sundays of every month. The church is also open during the day for visitors who want to explore its history and beautiful features.
See also
