As you cross the gentle River Ems into West Sussex and Westbourne, the first building you see is the church of St John the Baptist, which dates from at least the early 13th century.
Other evidence also suggests that a church could have been on this site as early as the 11th century. When a major restoration was being carried out in 1865 the Rector said he saw, below the church flooring, ‘large square bases of early Norman pillars’, on which later pillars had been built.
An even more exciting discovery was made in the 1930s, when Roman bricks were uncovered during an excavation. This led the Rector at the time to speculate whether there could have even been a Roman temple on the site. Sadly, nothing official was recorded and no record of any follow-up could be found.
Did you know?
The long avenue of yew trees leading to the north door of the church dates from about 1500 and is widely reputed to be the oldest in the United Kingdom!
The church went through various transformations and extensions over the centuries, with a tower added in the early 16th century and a spire in 1770. This was donated by the Earl of Halifax, who inherited the nearby Stansted Estate. According to popular legend, he asked villagers whether they would prefer a spire or a sermon every Sunday afternoon. They voted for a spire, on the grounds that it would always point towards God, whereas a sermon might not.
The original spire had decorations and galleries, which were removed in 1865, when significant alterations were made to the church.
Boxed pews, galleries and flat ceilings were cleared away, dormer windows were removed, new pine pews were placed in the church and the south porch was built. The original stone north porch was dismantled and rebuilt in oak.
Did you know?
James Covington, master of the boys’ school for 33 years in the 19th Century, was also organist at the parish church for 50 years, as well as being a composer and fine singer.
The graveyard was closed in 1861 when the new cemetery was consecrated in Cemetery Lane. Below is a view of the church from the Ems to the South taken around 1900.
- Find out more about St John the Baptist church at their website – click here