St Wilfrid's Church, Haywards Heath facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Wilfrid's Church |
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The church from the south-west
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| 50°59′57″N 0°06′17″W / 50.9992°N 0.1046°W | |
| Location | Church Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Liberal Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 12 October 1863 |
| Founder(s) | Anne and Frances Dealtry |
| Dedication | Wilfrid |
| Consecrated | 1865 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Designated | 10 September 1951 |
| Architect(s) | George Frederick Bodley |
| Style | Decorated Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1863 |
| Completed | 1865 |
| Construction cost | £6,000 (£419,000 in 2025) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Haywards Heath, Saint Wilfrid |
| Deanery | Rural Deanery of Cuckfield |
| Archdeaconry | Horsham |
| Diocese | Chichester |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Wilfrid's Church is an Anglican church in Haywards Heath, a town in West Sussex, England. It is the main church for the area, known as the parish church. St Wilfrid's is also the "mother church" for two other Anglican churches in the town.
The church was designed by George Frederick Bodley in the Decorated Gothic style. It was built between 1863 and 1865. At this time, Haywards Heath was growing quickly. The church stands on the highest point in the area. Because of its important design and history, English Heritage has given it a special Grade II* listing.
Contents
How Haywards Heath Grew
Before the mid-1800s, Haywards Heath was not a town. It was mostly open heathland (an area of open land with low-growing plants). There were a few small farms. Roads crossed the heath, leading to nearby villages like Cuckfield and Lindfield. These villages had churches as early as the 1100s.
The heath was first mentioned in records in the early 1500s. It was used for gathering troops during the English Restoration. This was when King Charles II brought back the English monarchy. The heath was also a place where pigs were sold. Most of the land belonged to large estates owned by powerful local families.
The Railway Arrives
In the early 1800s, new ways to build railways were developed. One of the first railway lines planned in England was to connect London with the popular seaside town of Brighton. This was about 50 miles (80 km) south.
Many routes were suggested between 1823 and 1837. Finally, a plan by John Urpeth Rastrick was chosen. It suggested a direct route through Cuckfield. However, people in Cuckfield and Lindfield did not want the railway to go through their villages. They argued that the line should go through the empty heathland between them instead.
This idea was agreed upon in 1837. Building work happened very quickly. The London and Brighton Railway opened between Norwood and a temporary station at Haywards Heath on 12 July 1841. The line was extended to Brighton on 21 September 1841.
A New Town Needs a Church
The new railway station made it easy to travel to London and Brighton. The land around the station was mostly empty and not very valuable. Within 20 years, homes and businesses started to appear. The population, which was about 100 in 1841, grew a lot.
In 1858, a law called the Inclosure Act made more land available for building. The heath was fully divided up in 1861. At this time, there was no permanent Anglican church in Haywards Heath. The growing town was still part of the Parish of Cuckfield.
The first Anglican church services in Haywards Heath were held in a carpenter's workshop. It was in a loft, and people had to climb a ladder to get in. Clergy from Cuckfield led these services for several years. Then, Reverend Robert Wyatt moved to Haywards Heath and took over. His family was involved with Anglican worship in the town for 74 years.
Building St Wilfrid's Church
In 1856, two sisters, Anne and Frances Dealtry, lived nearby in a large house called Bolnore. They paid for Haywards Heath's first school to be built. It was decided that the building would also be used for church services. The first service was held in December 1856. Children started attending the school, which was named St Wilfrid's, in 1857.
Soon after, plans were made for a permanent church. A spot east of the school, on the highest part of the heath, was chosen. The Dealtry sisters laid the foundation stone on 12 October 1863. This day is known as St Wilfrid's Day.
George Frederick Bodley was chosen to design the church. It was built in less than two years and cost £6,000. The stone used for the church came from a quarry just outside the town and was given for free. The Bishop of Chichester, Ashurst Turner Gilbert, officially opened St Wilfrid's Church on Whit Monday in 1865.
More work was done on the church in the years that followed.
- In 1880, vestries (rooms for clergy) and an organ were added.
- In 1890, Bodley added a clerestory (an upper part of the nave with windows) to the nave (the main part of the church).
- A clock was added to one side of the tower.
- The churchyard (the area around the church) was made larger in 1899.
- A lychgate (a covered gateway to a churchyard) was added at the southern entrance in 1909.
On 20 February 1866, St Wilfrid's became a "District Chapelry". This meant it was almost a parish on its own. In 1910, it officially became a parish. In 1911, the parish was made even bigger. Reverend Robert Wyatt was the first leader of the church. He served for 35 years, and his son took over for another 39 years. The churchyard stopped being used for burials after 1918, as a new cemetery was opened in the town.
St Wilfrid's Church was given its Grade II* listing by English Heritage on 10 September 1951. This means it is a very important historic building.
What Does St Wilfrid's Church Look Like?
St Wilfrid's Church was built in the Decorated Gothic style. This style was popular in the mid-1800s. The main material used was sandstone from local quarries. The roof was made of tiles.
The nave (main part of the church) has five bays. It has buttressed (supported) north and south aisles (side sections) and a clerestory (upper wall with windows). These windows are shaped like quatrefoils and cinquefoils (four- and five-lobed shapes). A single-bay chancel (the area around the altar) extends from the nave.
The tower has three levels and a shallow, eight-sided top. It is supported inside by transverse arches. William Morris created some of the stained glass windows, which show saints. The east window has a more modern design from the early 1960s. Some of the stained glass was repaired by a company called Cox & Barnard.
Special Memorials and Features
Inside the church, you can find several memorials:
- An eagle-shaped lectern (a stand for reading) was given for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887.
- A cross in the churchyard was dedicated in 1903 to local people who died in the Second Boer War.
- An altar piece remembers the London Rifle Brigade. They used the church when they were based in Haywards Heath during World War I.
- Stained glass windows show soldiers fighting and in hospital during World War I.
- A brass plaque remembers John Mason Neale. He was a warden at Sackville College nearby. He also translated and wrote many hymns and carols, including "Good King Wenceslas".
The Parish of St Wilfrid
The parish of St Wilfrid covers a large part of southern Haywards Heath and the countryside around it. Until 2003, it included two other churches. The new Bolnore Village area, which does not have its own church, is part of this parish.
Other Churches in the Parish
- Church of the Presentation: This was Haywards Heath's second Anglican church. It started in a temporary iron building in 1882. It grew and was extended in 1886. A permanent brick building was opened in 1897. This new church could hold 170 people. The old iron building was used as a church hall until the late 1900s.
- Church of the Good Shepherd: This church is in the Franklands Village housing estate. It was built in 1964–65 by architect William Newman. Before that, services were held in the estate's Village Hall. The building has wooden walls, large glass areas, and steep roofs. It stopped being used for worship in 2003. The area it used to serve is now covered by the Church of the Ascension. There are plans to use the building for community activities in Franklands Village.
See also
