This website was created by Valerie Martin and contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

  

St. John the Baptist Church, Findon.

A STEP INSIDE

Copyright Valerie Martin 1999

I think Findon has a charming ancient church exhibiting the early English style of architecture. St. John the Baptist Church stands at the end of a tree-lined drive and the registers commenced in 1566. Judge for yourself by taking a step inside…

The church consists of a chancel, nave, north aisle, and an adjoining chapel, formerly belonging to the manorial estate of Findon. There is also a sepulchral chapel on the south side. The east window of the chancel is in the decorated style. There are few mural monuments in the church, but numerous inscriptions on slabs. The tower at the west end is surmounted by a shingled spire. Judge for yourself by taking a step inside …

SAXON PERIOD

There was a church in existence, or at least under construction, in the village during Saxon days. There is a deed of contract bearing the date of 1053 for the supply of timber for building a church in Findon. It is thought that the lower portion of the church tower may be work of the Saxon period prior to the Norman Conquest.

NORMAN 1086

The Domesday Book of 1086 recorded that in Findon…

"There is a Church".

The upper portion of the church tower may be of Norman origin but the only characteristic Norman work is the arch over the entrance door to the Manorial Chapel in the south transept. This is comprised of stones that were originally portions of smaller arches. The round stone above may be of the same era and could have been a boss from which it is not hard to believe that an ancient lamp may have hung.

 

Entrance to the church, August 1999.

 

TRANSITION PERIOD 1150-1200

Immediately on the right inside the entrance to the church, is a font. This is believed to be 12th or 13th century work.

Sussex marble font, 1999.

Immediately behind the font stands one of the original pews. It is somewhat low and dare it be said, uncomfortable …

 

The pillars and arches between the nave and the aisle belong to the Transition period. Probably also the archways leading to the church tower and the south transept …

The bell ringers meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 8 p.m. There is a vertical climb up a ladder to the bell tower — only recommended for the adventurous. Two 26-ft. ladders are required to reach the old sanctus bell.

 

 

EARLY ENGLISH 1200-1300

The Chancel, the small chamber to the south of it, the old Manorial Chapel, and almost certainly the walls of the nave are pure Early English. The "small" chamber may have been the cell of an anchorite. The stonework around the windows on the north side of the aisle and probably the walls of the aisle are Early English. The stained glass is comparatively modern and chiefly from the Restoration of 1867.

The oak screen between the old Manorial Chapel and the aisle is thought to belong to the second half of the 13th century and it is probably the oldest remaining in Sussex — with the possible exception of the church at Old Shoreham.

DECORATED or GOTHIC PERIOD 1300-1400

A brass tablet on the Chancel floor is the only ancient memorial tablet. A probable translation of the Latin reads —

Gilbert Le Freynsh died on the 9th day of October in the year of Grace one thousand three hundred and seventy four.

Gilbert French was the Rector of Findon from 1354-1374.

PERPENDICULAR 1400-1525

The two windows in the south wall of the nave belong to this period, also that under the sanctus, or mass bell. This type of bell is rare and very few remain in Sussex.

Probably the roof, spanning both nave and aisle, may have been built in the same period.

Prior to the Restoration of 1867, there was evidence of there having been at one time two gabled roofs — one for the nave and another over the aisle.

 

The fascinating beams running across the nave and aisle were said by Sir Gilbert Scott to be "almost unique".

 

GREAT RESTORATION OF 1867

Extensive alterations were completed when the Reverend Robert Cholmeley was the vicar. These were conducted under the guidance of Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. The following is a summary of the work carried out:

The ceiling (fixed under the present beams) was removed.

The original fixed pews contained high divisions and doors and were an odd mixture of all sizes and shapes. They appeared to have been designed and placed in the church by worshippers quite regardless of their neighbour's pews. It is said they resembled sheep pens. These pews extended almost to the steps of the altar and were replaced by seats at the Restoration (now superseded).

Two Galleries at the west end of the nave were removed.

A porch to the north door was provided.

The Chancel arch was rebuilt and the whole fabric of the church was substantially repaired.

The Chancel screen was set up. The pulpit and lectern were substituted with another described as to resemble a "three-decker".

The lancet window at the west end of the aisle was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, also the window on the south side of the south transept.

 

 

Some of of the stained glass windows in 1999.

 

 

The ancient Purbeck marble bowl and base of the font were replaced by matching marble.

All exterior walls were re-pointed. This meant that a good deal of the ancient history of the church was obscured forever.

The frescoes remaining after the restoration were fragmentary. Over the Chancel arch there had been one that represented the Last Supper but it was obliterated.

1870

Decoration of the Chancel walls was carried out. The four bells were re-cast and re-hung.

1874

The organ was provided in lieu of the harmonium.

1877

The picturesque lych-gate was built.

1887

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1920s — the church interior.

Polished Derbyshire marble steps were placed in the Sanctuary.

Altar rails of oak supported by iron standards were provided.

An altar cross was provided.

The Chancel screen was painted and gilded and the Chancel desks were carved and re-fixed.

A screen between the Chancel and old Manorial Chapel was provided.

Replacing the old central column and four shafts with new Purbeck marble completed the restoration of the font. It is interesting to note that this marble came from Westminster and was quarried not later than the 13th century.

The church in 1924

1947

The Church was listed as a building of special architectural interest (under the Town and Country Planning Act of 1947), on 12th October 1947.

1959

Six bells, including two new ones presented by Colonel Ulric Oliver Thynne of Muntham Court, and the memorial screen to the bell tower, were dedicated on 11th January 1959 by the Bishop of Chichester.

1962

A faculty was granted to place a rebuilt and enlarged organ at the west end of the church.

1965

Faculties were granted to build new choir stalls and a choir screen. Further improvements included the transformation of the south transept into choir and clergy Vestries, the removal of the Chancel Screen, the provision of two wall safes near the north door and the hanging of a sanctuary lamp over the High Altar.

1977

In commemoration of the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II the outer doors to the porch were added. These were constructed of West African afromosia — an alternative to oak. The teak seat outside the north porch was also part of the thank-offering to the Queen.

1983

The Diocesan Architect, Leslie Parsons, designed the present High Altar made by Duke's of Steyning.

The altar in 1999 showing on either side the intricate tile design so characteristic of William Morris (1834-96).

Tiling depicting distinctive angels and flowers created by William Morris the English poet, artist, craftsman and utopian socialist, specially for the Findon Church.   I'm not quite sure how true it is but t is said that William Morris is supposed to have influenced Muslim artists.

These tiles are still in production today.   They were given the prefix of "Findon".  Here is a close-up of the Findon Buttercup (on the left) and the Findon Daisy (on the right).

The old Manorial Chapel in 1999.

 

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E-mail: valeriemartin@findonvillage.com