| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| Coordinator: | |
| Coordinator: | |
| Group email: | Sussex History in Churches group or Sussex History in Churches group |
| When: | variable see group page |
| Cost: | donation to churches visited - usually optional |
Hello everyone,
We have at last confirmed our visits for this year and it has been quite a task for sure!
Having done our best to accommodate days that hopefully will suit more members we now have some dates for your diaries:
February 25th 2026 ( Weds) Time : 10.30am
St. Mary’s church London Rd. Balcombe RH17 6PX
March 25th 2026 ( Weds) Time: 2pm
St.Peter's church Church Lane Henfield BN5 9NY
April 28th ( Tues ) Time : 10.30am
St.Margaret's church Ditchling
May 22nd ( Fri ) Time: 11am
St.Mary the virgin church Horsham RH12 1HE
June 30th ( Tues) Time: 10.30am
St, Michael and All angels Southwick
July 16th ( Thurs) Time: 10.30am
St.Peter's church Preston Park
AUGUST ...............We have decided to take a break but do have more visits booked for September and October.
We will send a reminder email a week before each visit and hope that you will all enjoy these churches.
Very best wishes
Ann & Carol
Below is the list of visits in 2025
February St Nicholas Old Shoreham
March 6th @ 2pm St.Mary's church Pulborough
April 3rd @ 10.30am St.George's West Grinstead
May 15th @ 11am St. Michael & All Angels Berwick
June 19th @ 10.15am Arundel Cathedral coach trip with Out & About group
July 3rd @ 10.30am St.Peter's church Twineham
August 7th @ 10.30am English Martyrs Goring
Thursday Sept. 18th @ 10.30am - St,Mary's church Barcombe BN8 5TS
Thursday October 16th @ 11am - St.Mary's church Washington RH20 4AS
For those who joined the visit to Arundel cathedral we think you will all agree what a fabulous day it was. The spectacular flowers and splendour of the cathedral was just so lovely. A massive success for Margaret and our heartfelt thanks to her. Without doubt it will have taken a lot of planning. Thank you Margaret.
March 6th @ 2pm St.Mary's church Pulborough
St Mary's Church is the Parish Church of Pulborough. It is located on a ridge above the Arun River. The church has a chancel from the 13th century and the rest of the building from the early 15th century.
April 3rd @ 10.30am St.George's West Grinstead
May 15th @ 11am St. Michael & All Angels Berwick
June 19th @ 10.15am Arundel Cathedral coach trip with Out & about group
July 3rd @ 10.30am St.Peter's church Twineham
August 7th @ 10.30am English Martyrs Goring
The final dates of the year are still to be confirmed but we will let you know in due course.
All the churches have access and parking for all and in some cases refreshments too. As always we can find somewhere for a cuppa if needed.
As always please let us know if you need a lift or help in any way.
Best wishes
Ann & Carol
Pictures of Previous visits
St Mary de Haura Shoreham. Friday October 25th 2024. 11:00am
Our visit to St.Mary de Haura - or Harbour - in Shoreham, one of our favourite churches, was the last of 2024.
Started in 1103, finished in 1225 to serve the flourishing port of Shoreham, where later King John had his main fleet on the South Coast, there are several periods of building, and loss. The church is a very interesting example of Transitional Gothic Architecture, as well as an original Norman arch, but in the 17th century the church was in disrepair, and most of the Nave was lost, with a repair job at the West end
Much more to see. I love the two "Green Men" carvings in the roof of the South Aisle
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Previous visits.
Tuesday February 27th 2024 : St.Peter’s church, Henfield @ 11am
Friday April 26th - St.Nicholas's church Iford @ 11am
Friday May 31st - St.Mary's Shipley. @ 11am
Tuesday June 25th - St.John's church. Piddinghoe @ 11am
Friday July 26th - St.Ann's church Lewes @ 10.30am
Tuesday Sept. 3rd - St.Bartholomews church Brighton. @ 11am
Friday Sept. 27th - St.Mary & St.Nicholas church Lancing college. @ 2pm
2023
Thursday 19th October 2023 13.30 St Andrew’s Ferring
Church Lane, Ferring, West Sussex, BN12 5HN
Ferring is probably one of the oldest churches in Sussex. At the time of the Doomsday Survey, the 'demesne of ferringes' had two ploughs, while 15 villeins and 14 bordars had five ploughs (a plough being a measure of the arable land which could be worked by a plough with a team of eight oxen).
The first church of St Andrew in Ferring was built between 765 and 791. With it was associated the endowment of land which became the basis of Ferring Manor, an episcopal property of the see of Selsey. Together, church and manor were established as the centre of village life well before the Norman Conquest.
Friday 3rd November 11.00 St. Julian’s Church, Kingston Buci.
St Julian’s Lane, Kingston Buci, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex BN43 6YS.
St Julian’s church is one of the oldest and most interesting in Sussex. Although we don’t know exactly how long there has been a church on this site, we do know that there has been a significant settlement at Kingston Buci for centuries and there may have been a primitive church here since the early 2nd Century. The present church replaces a Saxon one – which is mentioned in the Domesday Book – the remains of which were discovered in 1964. Despite its impressive age and amazing history, St Julian’s is still very much a working church.
Previous visits 2022
February 28th ( Tues) St.Andrews, Bishopstone Seaford BN25 2UD
March 28th ( Tues) St.Nicholas, Brighton @ 2.30pm
April 25th ( Tues ) English Martyrs, Goring @ 11.30am
May 23rd ( Tues) St.Mary the Virgin, Shipley @ 11.00am
Nov 22 All Saints church, Patcham @ 11am Tour & talk with Sue Taylor Meet in the Church Lounge - downstairs in the Church centre. Teas and Coffees will be provided. (Donations in church )
Dec St. Margaret of Antioch, Isfield
Oct 13 Chapel at Lancing college @ 1.45pm £5 per person includes tour & talk
We visited St Augustine’s Church in Scaynes Hill on Thursday 8th September at 14.30
This was very interesting, as it is a Victorian church with a fascinating history which was explained to us. It also has a magnificent tapestry for the East Wall, lovingly created by church members. There is also a very practical and attractive annex containing a dining room and kitchen. We were treated to a delicious tea, with home made cakes and scones. Thank you for such friendly hospitality St Augustines!
Our trip to St.Andrews, Bishopstone Seaford BN25 2UD in 2024
- To be more eco friendly and fuel prices soaring it would be lovely to car share so if anyone can offer a lift or needs a lift then please let us know and we will do our best to link you together
If anyone has a suggestion for a visit then please do let us know and we will do our best to organise it. Send us a message by clicking on the icon on the right or below.
All Patcham u3a members are welcome to join in. Carol or Contact Ann for further details