St Mary's Church, Broadwater facts for kids
St. Mary's Church, Broadwater is a Church of England parish church located in Broadwater, West Sussex. It's named after St. Mary and is part of a group of churches that work together, including Queen Street and St. Stephen's.
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History of St. Mary's Church
The church stands on the site of a much older Saxon building. The Domesday Book from 1086 mentions a church in "Bradewatre." You can still see a Saxon doorway on the south side of the chancel from outside. It was found during repairs in 1936. Other Saxon stone pieces are hidden inside the walls of the current tower.
Building the Norman Church
The church you see today was first built in the Norman style around the mid-1100s. It used Caen stone and flints. Later, parts were added in the Early English Gothic style, using Sussex Weald stone. The ground beneath the church is made of clay, which has meant the tower has needed many repairs over the years. The first church leader, called a Rector, was recorded in 1145. This fits with the idea that the first Norman church, with a tower, short nave, and chancel, was built around that time.
Changes in the 1200s
In the 1200s, the church got bigger. The chancel was made longer, and the nave was both lengthened and widened. At the same time, north and south transepts were added. These helped make the tower stronger. The tower was also made taller to hold bells and is now 60 feet high.
One special part of the church is the western arch of the tower. In the 1200s, the south-west corner of the tower started to sink. Because of this, the arch was reshaped into a Gothic style using the original Norman stones. When you look at it from the nave, you can see both the Gothic and Norman shapes, which is quite unique.
Later Renovations and Updates
The church had more changes in the 1400s. The main entrance, the north door into the nave, was updated, and a porch was added. Windows and pillars in the main part of the church were also changed. A low screen was put in the chancel.
In 1599, Queen Elizabeth I ordered the removal of the altar slabs. You can still see parts of a Medieval altar made of Sussex Marble near the screen in the chancel.
19th Century Changes
- 1819: A west door was added, and a gallery was built at the west end.
- 1826: The small, shingled spire was taken down from the tower. Three small chapels were removed. The north transept was turned into a school. Box-shaped pews were put in the nave, and galleries were built over both aisles.
- 1830: The tower was given a new top with battlements, and a small turret was added over the spiral stone staircase.
- 1852-1855: The tower was made stronger. The spiral stone staircase was filled in, and the turret above it was removed. A new wooden staircase to the tower was built in the north transept. The chancel walls were straightened, the roof was replaced, and the floor was raised and tiled. Most of the old windows were replaced, except for one from the 1400s. The churchyard was closed for new burials. A kind lady named Ann Thwaytes helped pay for some of these changes.
- 1864-1866: The church was closed for two years while the nave roof was replaced. All the galleries and box pews were removed. New pews were installed, and central heating was added. A new pulpit made of Caen stone was put in. The old pulpit was moved to another church. A room for the clergy (church leaders) was built.
20th and 21st Century Updates
- 1887: The west end of the church was rebuilt, and a porch was added.
- 1903: A clock was placed in the tower to celebrate Reverend E K Elliot's 50 years as rector.
- 1938: Six old bells from 1712 were remade, and two new, larger bells were added.
- 1953: A beautiful stained glass window was put in the south wall of the chancel by Cox & Barnard of Hove. It shows John Wycliffe and a group of preachers.
- 1989: The battlements on top of the tower were repaired.
- 2001-2009: The church had a big makeover. New lighting and heating were installed. A better toilet and kitchen were added, along with a room upstairs in the north transept. All the pews were removed from the nave, and some from the chancel. A new limestone tile floor with underfloor heating was put in the nave, and the inner west door was replaced with glass doors.
- 2020-2021: More changes were made. The old kitchen became a toilet, and a larger kitchen was created in the south transept. An extension was added to the south transept to make a bigger creche (a place for young children).
Important Monuments
Inside the church, you can find several important monuments.
Lord De La Warr's Tombs
The most famous monument belongs to Thomas West, 8th Baron De La Warr. It's on the north wall of the chancel. He was buried in the church in 1524. His tomb was found under the nave floor in 2009. His son, also named Thomas, died in 1554. He has a monument made of Caen stone at the east side of the south transept. His third wife, Eleanor Copley, was buried with him.
Brass Memorials
The church has a brass memorial for John Mapulton. He was a rector of the church from 1424 to 1431. He also worked for the Court of Chancery and was an important person for Queen Joanna, who was the widow of Henry IV.
Two well-preserved brasses (metal plates with engravings) were found under old pews in 1826. They were placed in the middle aisle of the nave and then moved in 2007 to stand upright in the north transept. The main brass cross remembers Reverend Richard Tooner, who died in 1445. Below it is a memorial to John Corby, who was Rector from 1393 to 1415.
The church also has a brass dedicated to 11 fishermen. They died in 1850 while trying to save the crew of the Lalla Rookh, a ship caught in a storm off Worthing.
Other Notable Burials
Surgeon John White is buried in the churchyard.
Other Burials
- Reginald West, 6th Baron De La Warr
- Thomas West, 9th Baron De La Warr
- Sir George West (died 1538)
Rectors of St. Mary's
Here are some of the Rectors who have served St. Mary's Church over the centuries:
- Gaz Daly (2016–Present)
- Peter Irwin-Clark (2008–2015)
- John Berry (1998–2007)
- Peter Dominy (1984–1997)
- William Filby (1979–1983)
- Peter Marrow (1953–1978)
- Basil Mowll (1927–1952)
- Edward J Elliott (1906–1926)
- Edward K Elliott (1853–1905)
- John Mapulton (1424–1431)
- John de Corby (1393–140x)
- John de Chyshelle (1259–12xx)
