Thursday 2 April 2009

St George, West Grinstead

St George's is one of those rural churches which has lost its village. It is approached by small lane off the B2135, which twists and narrows past farms and the rectory, until just two strips of tarmac remain, with grass growing between, hedges encroaching on both sides.

Behind the church, the River Adur flows sluggishly towards Shoreham and the sea, but was until this century navigable for small trading craft, and doubtless gave the mediaeval village an outlet for transport and trade.

The church is pure Sussex: a low tower with a lovely wooden shingle roof, a rustic but generous 16th-century porch, and herringbone stonework on the north walls (but not so nice rendering on the others). The nave roof was originally thatched, but now has a heavy stone roof, possibly from the 15th century. The churchyard is suitably wild and overgrown.

The interior is rather a muddle of styles, but essentially is an Early Gothic building from around 1200. There are elements of an earlier Norman building dating from around 1100 visible in the north wall, including a small Norman window above the porch.

It has a very generous south aisle, almost overshadowing the rather intimate nave, with simple Gothic arches between. But the fittings are special: the pews are identified with the names of individual farms, the location of which is shown on an adjacent map. There was room for one person per farm, and the wives and servants sat further back. The names date from the early 19th century, and are wonderfully evocative of a bygone age.

There are also some splendid funeral monuments, including one to William Powlett by the celebrated Flemish sculptor John Michael Rysbrack, dating from 1746. Powlett and his wife stare longingly at each other across a Roman Urn, but the monument to-day is rather forgotten, hidden behind a jumble of old pews and modern plastic chairs. How the great are humbled...

West Grinstead, off the B1235 Steyning Road, West Sussex

7 comments:

  1. Thank you for posting the history and photo of St. George's. My grandmother -- and her family back to at least 1529 -- were Christened here. I hope to visit the church next spring when I come to the UK to trace my ancestry. I hope the church isn't kept locked.

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  2. Cathy

    Thanks for the comment. There are more photos on Qype if you are interested: www.qype.co.uk/place/43025-St-Georges-church-West-Grinstead-West-Grinstead

    The church is normally locked during the day, so if you want to see it, I'd recommend telephoning the church ahead of time (phone details on qype, too). Someone will usually let you in, especially if you say how far you've come!

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  3. Thank you so much, David. I will be sure to ring the church as I would love to see inside. This is a really interesting blog and I'm having fun browsing the churches and cathedrals. I've added a few of them to the list of gardens and estates we'll visit.

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  4. David,
    I hate to be a pest, but I know you'll know the answer to this. East Grinstead is on virtually all of the tourist maps and in the travel books I have, but there is never a mention of West Grinstead. Are they next to one another or do miles and miles separate them? I'm trying to get an idea of exactly where I need to look for self-catering accommodation when I visit. My great-grandfather was born in Horsham and my great-grandmother in Deptford. He later became the caretaker of Iledden (?) Castle. I'm trying to decide where I should stay. Thanks in advance for whatever help you can offer in this regard.
    Cathy

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  5. Hi Cathy
    West Grinstead is about 10 miles south of Horsham, just off the A272 where it crosses the A24. It's about 15 miles north of Worthing on the coast. It's a tiny village. It's about 40 miles from East Grinstead. Anywhere near Horsham (if you hire a car - it's hard to get to otherwise) should be OK, but frankly anywhere along the coast near Worthing would be easy too. It would be an easy hour's visit from Horsham if you are going there anyway. Hope that helps!
    David

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  6. I just wanted to let you know that, thanks to you, I was able to find St. George's. We stayed at the Travelodge in Horsham. Upon our arrival at St. George's, I phoned the Reverend, who was kind enough to come over to the church and give us a guided tour. My friend and I will be coming back with our daughters in June. Thanks again for all your help. I have some lovely photos of the inside of the church and the churchyard.
    Cathy

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  7. Hello Cathy
    I am so pleased to have been able to help. That is what my blog is all about. I hope you enjoyed your visit to Sussex, and St George's in particular, and thank you for your kind comments.
    David

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