[Misc] Favourite Sussex Churches

[Lyndhurst 14]

Another vote for St. Mary de Haura in Shoreham. St Marys is just dripping with history and atmosphere and perfectly positioned in the town.

It was the ideal venue for the Shoreham Wordfest Appreciating Shakespeare festival that was held last year. I was surprised how good the acoustics were inside

 

[Javeaseagull]

Although I do not have a favourite church, I vote for any of them that are next to old public houses.

Are there many that fit that criteria within Sussex?

Seaford Parish church from memory

 

[spence]

Driving through Dane Hill the church on the Hill is very impressive.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Seaford Parish church from memory

Saint Leonard’s church next to The Old Plough.

 

[Eric the meek]

Some of the very best visits to churches, are the ones in which you discover things you just didn't see coming.

Here are a couple of examples.

In St. Botolphs, Annington Road, Botolphs, there is a leaflet that tells you that the Romans had built a bridge over the river behind it. They built the bridge to enable the transportation of tin that they had mined in Cornwall, on its onward journey to Pevensey. But why didn't they use ships to transport it?

In St. Mary the Virgin, Shipley, is a leaflet in which you learn that the Knights Templar trained nearby. The Knights were trusted to protect pilgrims on their way to the holy land. Before they left in boats from Shipley (the river was navigable then), the pilgrims were given an itemised list of their wealth, by the knights. When they arrived in the holy land, the pilgrims were able to use these lists of wealth, to borrow money. These were, in effect, the first cheques used anywhere in the world.

 

[Beach Hut]

St Michael's Amberley, the only book my Dad ever wrote is in there called "Dear Amberley"

 

[portlock seagull]

St Mary’s, Balcombe. Beautiful inside and out.

 

[Flagship]

St. Peter's in Preston Park, Brighton has some great old murals. It also has a grave of an officer who died of his wounds inflicted at the battle of Waterloo. Preston Manor is next door and in their walled garden you can see the headstones of all the manor cats and dogs.

 

[Superphil]

St Botolph’s is pretty special, as is the chapel just down the road at Lancing College. St Andrew’s in Steyning is also a stunning building. All Saints Chinch at Wiston is also a lovely spot.

 

[Binney on acid]

Another vote for St. Mary de Haura in Shoreham. My lounge and bedroom have an uninterrupted view of this gem. It'a an architectural gem and is synonymous with peace and tranquility.

 

[Smirko]

The Parish Church @ Twineham always looks good this time of year....

 

[Screaming J]

St Michael's in Plumpton for me, right next to the Agricultural College. My parents were married there, I was christened there and my Grandparents spent 50+ years there in various roles. Whenever I am back in Sussex I always pay a visit or at least drive past on the Underhill Road. The Half Moon (which has my Uncle Jim on its mural indoors) is quite handily placed too.....

 

[The Tassie Seagull]

The Parish Church @ Twineham always looks good this time of year....
View attachment 159149

And my Grandad went down there and rang the bells to celebrate my birth when he got the news of my arrival. Used to be a certificate there mentioning this fact. So if you were in Twineham and woken up in the middle of the night on March 24th 1975 by the church bells, that's my fault!

 

[kevo]

Doing a recce for Sunday’s Arundel Triathlon I came across this 11c Church. St. Leonard’s in South Stoke on the banks of the Arun in a world of its own just a mile and a half from the Black Rabbit.
The 18thC Rectory behind it is my dream house.

View attachment 136647

A beautiful little hamlet and a lovely church. I was surprised to find that the churchyard is used for grazing sheep!

St Mary's, North Stoke (just over the Ghurka bridge), is also very tranquil.

No idea what that pub is you're talking about, though

 

[SK1NT]

St Mary's Church Burpham is lovely and has a great pub opposite.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Church of Potter?

 

[Gwylan]

St Wulfrans in Ovingdean is a beautiful little place, tucked away at the back of the village. Mentioned in the Domesday book too I believe?

I went there last month when walking over the Downs. What a lovely church and in such a beautiful setting. And named after a Sussex saint too.

 

[Dave the OAP]

Another vote for St. Mary de Haura in Shoreham. St Marys is just dripping with history and atmosphere and perfectly positioned in the town.

It was the ideal venue for the Shoreham Wordfest Appreciating Shakespeare festival that was held last year. I was surprised how good the acoustics were inside

I love singing in there.

couple of weeks ago we sang a lovely concert in there, the culmination being Mozart’s Requiem, which is a sublime piece of work…..( shoreham oratorio choir)

the acoustics are certainly excellent

 

[Barham's tash]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Botolph's_Church,_Botolphs

Ditto re my religious leanings but ultimately the sanctity of almost any church and the mindfulness benefits from either exploring or sitting and reflecting in one has been hugely useful for me.

Have two favourites:

The church at Falmer - scattered mum’s ashes there and parents married there

St Mary’s Church - Harrow on the Hill. It’s on one of my local running routes and has fantastic views out from the hill towards Berkshire. Can often see as far as Hog’s back ridge and Windsor Castle. Also was where Lord Byron sat and wrote during his time at Harrow as a pupil. Very serene.

 

[Barham's tash]

Not sure what happened there but replied to wrong post! Sure St Botolph’s is lovely though