St Mary's Church, West Chiltington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, West Chiltington |
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The church from the northeast
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| 50°57′15″N 0°26′57″W / 50.954232°N 0.449305°W | |
| Location | Church Street, West Chiltington, West Sussex RH20 2JW |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Founded | 11th century |
| Dedication | Mary |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Norman |
| Administration | |
| Parish | West Chiltington |
| Deanery | Storrington |
| Archdeaconry | Chichester |
| Diocese | Chichester |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Mary's Church is an old and important church in West Chiltington, a village in West Sussex, England. It's an Anglican parish church, meaning it serves the local community. The church building is from the 12th century, which makes it very old!
It's considered a "Grade I listed" building. This means it's a very special historical place. St Mary's Church has many interesting features. These include a very long "squint" (a narrow opening to see the altar), a porch that might be the oldest in Sussex, and many old wall paintings. People say it looks like a charming French village church.
Contents
History of St Mary's Church
The village of Chiltington was mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. This old book also recorded that there was a church here even back then. We're not sure if any parts of that first church are still in the building today.
However, experts believe the current church was built in the early 1100s. The main parts, like the walls of the nave (the main seating area) and the chancel (the area around the altar), might even be from the 11th century. A side section, called the south aisle, was added around the year 1200. Later, in the 1600s, a tall, pointed roof called a spire was built.
The church was repaired and updated between 1880 and 1882. For a long time, people didn't know which saint the church was named after. But in 1541, an old document was found that showed it was dedicated to St Mary.
Architecture and Design
St Mary's Church is a beautiful example of old architecture. It was built between 1100 and 1150. This was a time when Norman architecture (a heavy, rounded style) was slowly changing into Early English Gothic (a lighter, more pointed style).
The church has a main hall (the nave), an altar area (the chancel), and a side section (the south aisle). The chancel arch, which separates the nave from the chancel, is very thick. It has two arches, one inside the other.
There are still two original round-headed Norman windows. One is in the south aisle, and the other is in the chancel. The only stained glass in the church is in the chancel's east window.
The Hagioscope or Squint
One of the most interesting features is the "hagioscope," also called a "squint." It's a very long, tunnel-like opening, about 9 feet (2.7 meters) long. It goes from the south aisle right through a pillar into the chancel. This special opening allowed people sitting in the side aisle to see the priest during the most important part of the church service, when the bread and wine were blessed.
The church roof is made of Horsham slabs, which are common in churches in this area. The spire, built in 1602, is made of oak wood shingles.
Church Bells
In 1864, a survey found four bells at St Mary's Church. Each bell was quite large and heavy. One bell had the date 1602 on it. Another bell from 1665 had the names of two church wardens from that time.
Later, in the 1960s, one of the old bells was remade. A new bell was also added in 1950. This new bell was put in place to remember a person named John Junius Morgan.
Amazing Wall Paintings
The church is famous for its old wall paintings, also known as frescoes. These paintings were hidden for a long time and were only discovered in 1882. They were later carefully cleaned and saved by experts.
These paintings date from the 12th to the 14th centuries. They include two main sets of pictures from the 13th century that show stories from the Bible.
What the Paintings Show
The oldest important painting is a round picture at the east end of the south aisle. It was found in 1967 and shows a cross made from an endless knot of rope. The south aisle also has 12th-century pictures of angels and important religious figures called Apostles.
On the south wall of the nave, there are paintings showing scenes from the Passion of Christ. These include:
- Jesus entering Jerusalem
- The Last Supper
- Jesus washing his disciples' feet
- The Betrayal of Christ
- The Flagellation of Christ (Jesus being whipped)
- Jesus carrying his cross
- The Crucifixion (Jesus on the cross)
- An angel at the tomb
On the north wall, there are scenes about the birth of Jesus. These include:
- The Annunciation (when Mary was told she would have Jesus)
- The Visitation (Mary visiting Elizabeth)
- The Nativity itself (the birth of Jesus)
- An angel and shepherd
There are also decorative designs from the 14th century on one of the pillars and on the underside of the arches in the south aisle.
Christ Standing on a Wheel
In a window opening on the north side of the nave, there's a 14th-century painting. It shows Jesus standing on a wheel, surrounded by tools used in different jobs. He has his arms raised, as if to show his wounds. The tools include scissors, a butcher's knife, a carpenter's square, and a weaver's shuttle. There are also two dice above his shoulder.
Many other old churches in England have similar paintings. This painting is a warning against working on Sunday. The message is that if you work on Sunday, you are causing new wounds to Jesus.
St Mary's Church Today
St Mary's Church was officially recognized as a "Grade I listed" building in 1955. This means it's considered very important, even for the whole country. In the Horsham area, it's one of only 38 buildings with this special Grade I listing.
The church serves a large area around West Chiltington village. This includes nearby small communities like Gay Street, Broadford Bridge, and Coneyhurst.
The church holds regular services:
- Sundays: 8:00 am Holy Communion, 10:00 am Sung Parish Mass.
- Wednesdays: 9:30 am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, 10:00 am Holy Communion.
- Thursdays: 9:30 am Rosary, 10:00 am Said Mass.
The church is open every day for visitors who want to explore this historic building. Also, on the first Thursday of each month, there's a free "Village Cafe - Refresh!" event in the Church Hall, offering tea, coffee, and cake.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in West Sussex
- List of places of worship in Horsham (district)
- St John the Baptist's Church, Clayton
- St Botolph's Church, Hardham
