St Mary Magdalene's Church, Bolney facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Mary Magdalene's Church
The church from the east-southeast
50°59′23″N 0°12′13″W / 50.9898°N 0.2035°W / 50.9898; -0.2035
Location	The Street, Bolney, West Sussex
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Church of England
Website	stmarymagdalenebolney.org.uk
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	11th century
Dedication	Mary Magdalene
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	28 October 1957
Style	Norman
Administration
Parish	Bolney
Deanery	Rural Deanery of Cuckfield
Archdeaconry	Horsham
Diocese	Chichester
Province	Canterbury

St Mary Magdalene's Church is an Anglican church in the village of Bolney, West Sussex. It is a parish church, meaning it serves the local community. The church is dedicated to Mary Magdalene, a friend of Jesus.

The church is very old, possibly built around the year 1100. Over the years, many parts have been added. For example, the tower was built by villagers working together. At the entrance to the churchyard, there is a beautiful gate called a lychgate. It was built in the 20th century using local materials. St Mary Magdalene's Church is a special building, protected as a Grade I Listed building. This means it is very important historically.

History of St Mary Magdalene's Church

Bolney is a village located about 11 kilometres (7 miles) north of Brighton. It sits on an old road that connected London and Brighton. In 1086, a big survey called the Domesday Book didn't mention Bolney or a church here. However, records from the 13th century show the parish existed.

Most experts believe the church was built around 1100, during the Norman era. Some even think parts of it might be older, from the Saxon period. This idea comes from the design of the south doorway, which looks different from typical Norman styles.

The 16th-century tower was built by villagers.

The church was built on a hill overlooking Bolney. You can reach it by a narrow path called a twitten. The original Norman church had a main room called a nave and a smaller room called a chancel. It also had one window in the east wall and a doorway on the south side of the nave. Later, a large window was added to the east end of the chancel around 1300.

A big change happened between 1536 and 1538 when the west tower was built. We know the exact dates because the church's records still exist! John Bolney, a wealthy landowner, led this project. He paid for the tower and organized the villagers. Dozens of people helped by quarrying stone, transporting it, and building the 20-metre (66-foot) tall tower. It was a huge community effort! When it was finished in 1538, a new doorway was added with John Bolney's family symbol and a message saying the tower was "66 Foot high."

The oak and Sussex Marble lychgate was built in 1905.

As more people joined the church, it grew bigger. In 1670, a gallery was added at the west end for the choir. This was common in Sussex churches, so the congregation could face the singers. In 1718, a porch was built on the south side, covering the old doorway. In 1853, the church was made larger with a new section called a north aisle. A clock was added to the tower in 1898 to celebrate Queen Victoria's 60 years as queen.

The Huth family was very important to the church in the 19th and 20th centuries. Henry Huth, who loved collecting rare books, was buried in the churchyard in 1878. In 1905, his son Edward gave the church a "magnificent" lychgate. It was made from local oak, millstones, and a special local stone called Sussex Marble. The churchyard itself has many old trees and Victorian graves. Another of Henry Huth's sons, Alfred Henry Huth, is remembered with a special plaque inside the church.

Church Architecture and Features

The south porch was added in 1718.

The church has several parts: a main room (the nave), a slightly angled chancel, a 20-metre (66-foot) tower at the west end, and a north aisle. There's also a small room called a vestry and an entrance porch on the south side. The nave is about 13 metres (42 feet) long and 6 metres (20.5 feet) wide. The chancel is about 7 metres (23.5 feet) long and 5.5 metres (18 feet) wide.

The church walls are made of rough stone, except for the tower, which uses smoothly cut stone. The roof is covered with Horsham Stone tiles. The tower has two main sections and strong corner supports called buttresses. It has a flat top with "heavy" decorations and weather vanes.

Above the west doorway, you can see John Bolney's family symbol and the message about the tower's height. Inside the tower, there are eight bells! The church is famous for its bell-ringing. The old pub across the street is even called The Eight Bells because of them.

This war memorial plaque includes the name of Captain A Huth.

The south doorway is considered the most interesting part of the church's design. It's tall and narrow, with special carvings that look like "V" shapes. These carvings are similar to those found in other old churches.

On the outside walls, you can find "mass dials." These were like simple sundials that people used to tell time long ago. They are circular markings scratched into the stone with lines for the hours. There's one on the southeast side of the nave and another on the doorframe of the south doorway.

Inside the church, you'll see special plaques and stained glass windows that remember people from the past. There's also a wooden panel above the chancel arch with the coat of arms of Queen Anne, who ruled in the early 1700s. The church also has old and new wooden panels and a font (a basin for baptisms) from the 20th century.

St Mary Magdalene's Church Today

East window by Burlison and Grylls, c. 1905

St Mary Magdalene's Church was officially named a Grade I Listed building on October 28, 1957. This means it's a very important historic building that needs to be protected.

The church serves a large area around Bolney village. This area includes parts of the A23 and A272 roads and stretches towards nearby villages like Cowfold. The church holds regular services, including Eucharist (Communion) and prayer services, on Sundays and during the week.

The right to choose the church's clergy (priests) has changed hands over the centuries. It was once held by Chichester Cathedral, then by the Bishop of Chichester. In 1901, it was given to Edward Huth, who later passed it to Exeter College, Oxford, in 1929.

See also

• Grade I listed buildings in West Sussex
• List of places of worship in Mid Sussex