St Julian's Church, Kingston Buci facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Julian's Church |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
The church from the east
|
|
| 50°50′00″N 0°14′48″W / 50.8333°N 0.2466°W | |
| Location | St Julian's Lane, Kingston Buci, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex BN43 6YS |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 11th century |
| Dedication | Julian of Le Mans |
| Dedicated | By late 12th century |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 8 May 1950 |
| Style | Norman; Early English |
| Completed | 13th century |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Kingston Buci, St Julian |
| Deanery | Rural Deanery of Hove |
| Archdeaconry | Chichester |
| Diocese | Chichester |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Julian's Church is an Anglican church located in Kingston Buci, a village near Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex, England. This area is part of the Adur district. Kingston Buci was once an Anglo-Saxon village close to the English Channel.
While modern buildings have changed the area, the church still looks much like it did in the 13th century. It serves the local community and keeps the old Kingston Buci name alive. The church is considered very important for its history and architecture. Because of this, English Heritage has given it a special Grade I listing.
Contents
The Church's Early History
Kingston, as it was first known, began as an Anglo-Saxon settlement. There might have been some Celtic influence too. Around 1086, during the Domesday survey, a powerful lord named Ralph de Buci owned the land. A church was already standing here at that time.
In the 1960s, experts dug up parts of the church. They found that the lower walls of the nave (the main part of the church) were built in the late Saxon period. This means they were built just a few years before the Normans arrived in England.
How the Church Grew Over Time
The church was named after Julian of Le Mans sometime in the 12th century. About 100 years later, in the 13th century, the church got its current shape. The chancel (the area around the altar) and the central tower were built. This created a simple layout with three main sections: the nave, the tower, and the chancel.
At the same time, a two-bay north aisle (a side section) was added to the nave. A small porch was also built on the south side. For a long time, the de Buci family had the right to choose the church's priest. This right, called an advowson, passed to other families in 1356. Since 1826, the Earl of Egremont family has held this right.
The Anchorite's Special Room
One very old and unusual part of the church was an anchorite's cell. This was a small room where a hermit would live a very simple and religious life. These hermits would be walled inside their cell for life. A small window connected them to the church's chancel, allowing them to see and hear services.
At St Julian's Church, the walls of this cell were removed in the 14th century. However, the window (a type of hagioscope) and a door are still there and in great condition. You can even see where the roof of the cell used to be. The door would have been sealed shut once the anchorite was inside.
Later Changes and Updates
In the 14th and 15th centuries, new windows were added to the church. These included tall, narrow lancet windows and Perpendicular Gothic style windows. The Lewknor family, who owned the advowson in the 16th century, built a special Easter Sepulchre at the north end of the chancel. This area holds their family tomb and memorials.
In the 19th century, the church went through a big "restoration" (repair and update). Some windows were replaced, keeping the Perpendicular style. However, the east wall got a large lancet window. The north aisle was improved, and a buttress (a support structure) was added to the outside of the nave.
Church Architecture and Design
St Julian's Church is built mostly from flint stones, with special stone details. It has a nave, a north aisle, a chancel, and a tower in the middle (though slightly off-center). The chancel and tower are the same width, and there are no transepts (side arms of the church).
The walls of the nave are from the 11th century. Even with the rebuilding in the 13th century, the church's overall shape didn't change much. The north aisle was rebuilt in the 19th century, but its large arches are still from the 13th century. A famous expert, Nikolaus Pevsner, described these arches as "beautifully proportioned."
Inside the Tower
The church tower has a special arched ceiling called a rib vault. The arches are shaped and rest on columns with rounded tops. Because the tower is in the middle, its lower part forms the quire, where the choir sings. Outside, the tower has a low, pyramid-shaped hipped roof covered with pantiles.
Special Interior Features
Inside the church, you can find several interesting things. The Lewknor family's tomb is in the Easter Sepulchre. There's a large pulpit with two levels, which is unusual. The church also has an organ in its own gallery, a screen from the 14th century separating the chancel, a rare singing-desk, and some old box pews.
The Lewknor tomb has fancy curved designs and carvings that show scenes like the Pietà (Mary holding Jesus), the Resurrection of Jesus, and the Trinity. The pulpit, made in the 18th century, is very big and stands out. Its lower level is a separate desk for the priest to read from.
St Julian's Church Today
St Julian's Church was given a Grade I listing by English Heritage on May 8, 1950. This means it is considered to be of "exceptional interest" and very important to the country's history. As of 2001, it was one of only seven Grade I listed buildings in the Adur district.
The church's organ was once in the Brighton Aquarium. It still has a bronze plaque that says where it used to be. The organ uses an electric blower now, but the old hand-pumping system is still there. The organist sits very high up in the balcony, which offers a unique view!
The church's parish covers the area now known as Kingston by Sea. Its boundaries follow old lines: Kingston Lane to the east, Eastern Lane to the west (bordering Shoreham-by-Sea), the River Adur to the south, and field edges on the downland to the north. The entire area is about 782 acres.
See also
