St John the Evangelist Church, Heron's Ghyll

St John the Evangelist is a Roman Catholic parish church in Heron’s Ghyll, a small settlement within Buxted in East Sussex. Built between 1896 and 1897 to designs by Frederick Walters, it stands on the A26 road and belongs to the Gothic Revival style. The building is Grade II listed, recognising its architectural importance. Nearby are the older school and presbytery, both paid for by Augusta Fitzalan-Howard in the 1880s. A temporary iron church once stood on the site before the permanent structure was completed. The church was opened in 1897 and consecrated in 1904 after the building debt was cleared. The church’s history is tied to the local Catholic community and notable figures. In 1866, the poet Coventry Patmore began saying Mass in his house after converting to Catholicism. Later, the 15th Duke of Norfolk bought the house for his mother, who funded the first permanent chapel in 1880. Her grandson, James Hope, 1st Baron Rankeillour, acquired the land in 1891 and commissioned the present church. The consecration in 1904 was performed by Bishop Peter Amigo of Southwark. Today, the same priest serves both this church and Our Lady Immaculate and St Philip Neri in nearby Uckfield. Inside, the church presents Gothic Revival features designed by Walters. The interior includes altars and a statue designed by Joseph Cribb, who was associated with the Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic in Ditchling. Behind the altar, three panels were designed by Edgar Holloway with lettering by Alan Taylor. The stained-glass windows were made by Aleksander Klecki. The church offers a quiet place for reflection beside the busy A26, with the older school buildings visible to the southwest.