Holy Trinity Poynings Parish Church

 The Domesday survey of 1087 refers to a church at this location, and there is little doubt it superseded a Saxon place of worship. The Norman building stood for 300 years until the reign of Edward III.  The tiles at the base of the altar are from the original Norman church.

In 1389, Michael of Poynings, Lord of the Manor, died at the age of 51 and his remains with those of his wife were buried in a tomb close to what is now the south transept.  In his will he left 200 marcs for the erection of a new church.

Michael's eldest son, Thomas, supervised the building of the replacement church which is of Perpendicular style, with much of the earlier building being incorporated into the new.  The unusual width of the south transept, sometimes called St Mary's Chapel, reflects the desire to include the founder's grave within its dimensions. The chapel also contains an old tie beam bearing the name of Francis Killingbeck, a former rector who died in 1625.  It is probable that he was responsible for repairs to the roof.

The form of the church is near perfect equi-cruciform, or Greek Cross in design and resembles that at Alfriston.  Its position on a mound exaggerates the overall height.  The building is ninety feet long and seventy feet wide across the transepts.  Four enormous columns support the tower which contains three bells, which are in occasional use.

The tower is 58 feet high, and is accessed by what is probably the oldest surviving wooden ladder in Sussex from the north transept.  The roof underwent major repairs in 1993 and is largely covered in Horsham stone.

When Rev. Samuel Holland became rector in 1806 the church was in a poor state of repair.  Under his tenure substantial repair work was carried out, including the installation of the chancel screen at the entrance to the south transept, until his son T A Holland became rector in 1846.  He also moved the pulpit from the south side of the northwest column.

The north transept now houses the vestry and the organ, although was formerly the Montague Chapel.  In the east window there is a fragment of painted glass dating from 1421, picturing the annunciation.  There are also a few pieces in the north window.

The five light east window of the chancel is a facsimile of the one at Alfriston and of Tarring, West Sussex.  The altar rails date from 1640 following the Archbishop of Canterbury's edict that holy tables should be 'fenced'.  The finely carved angels are the work of Sussex sculptor William Court and were given in memory of Anthony Stanislaus, an airman killed in World War II.

There is a fine triple sedilia in the chancel, a piscina from the Norman church , and a priest's door which may also have been used by the Lord of the Manor.

The west door was blocked at one time to allow entry to a west gallery, now removed.  On the south wall there are traces of a medieval mural over which the ten commandments have been painted.

The font is a good example of the transition from decorated to perpendicular style.

The porch was built over the grave of Michael of Poynings' grandson, Richard, who died in 1420 and the Poynings coat of arms is in the gable.

Next door is the old Georgian Rectory which is now a private house. It has three bays and a Tuscan porch to its front door.

Rectory Ramblings

Dear Friends,

Once again, “the harvest is finished, and the summer is gone,” as the Old Testament writer put it…and it is all downhill from here! Well, at least that is how some people seem to think about it. Admittedly, it will soon be getting colder and as a result the forthcoming electricity and oil bills will get larger…but there are lots of good things to look forward to.

Certainly, we look forward to welcoming you all to Holy Trinity on Remembrance Sunday. The world may still be in a mess, but it is right to remember the fact that had things gone differently in the two World Wars, it is very unlikely that we would have the freedom to gather as we do in a Christian church building. So come and celebrate those who gave their lives for our freedom and come to celebrate and pray for the possibilities of the future.

Before we know it, it will be Christmas again. For some this can be a sad time, and there are those who hate Christmas for that reason, but it ought not to be if we recognise what it is all about. The Old Testament writer, quoted at the beginning, ended his sentence by adding, “yet we are not saved [or rescued or healed.”] Christmas is a time when the focus should be on the extravagant and powerful love of God, which can bring all kinds of healing into our lives. Those who are restless within can know peace; those who are sad can know joy; those who feel lost can discover what it is to be found; those who feel that they are unimportant and unwanted can discover how precious they are; those who are empty can be filled with God’s life…and I could go on! People seem to think that “religion” is out of date and irrelevant….and may be they are right…but Jesus isn’t. So as we move into the Christmas period in a month or so, remember that He is still the One who has come that we might have life in all its fullness.”

So Happy Autumn and Happy Christmas, from Peter and Jean and all the folk at Holy Trinity

Mid Sussex District Council Garden Party Awards

At Danny House

 Jennie and Peter Bonner were nominated to attend this year for all their work for Poynings Church

Sadly for us they have had to leave the village and we wish them all the best in their new home.