Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Warminghurst

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre stands in the quiet hamlet of Warminghurst in West Sussex. It is a small sandstone building with 13th-century roots, though a church may have existed on this spot as early as the 11th century. The single-room structure has changed little since it was built, with a long nave and chancel under one roofline. Its oldest feature is the timber-framed bell-turret at the west end, dated to about 1158. The church once belonged to a Benedictine abbey in Normandy before becoming independent in the 17th century. The building survived without Victorian restoration, preserving its original appearance. Inside, a three-arched wooden screen from around 1700 separates the nave from the chancel, topped with Queen Anne’s Royal Arms. The church also holds a rare 17th-century font crane, used to lift the font cover, and a set of well-preserved box-pews from 1770. Its east window, dating to the 14th century, is in the Decorated Gothic style with plain glass and quatrefoils. Visitors find a tranquil, unaltered medieval church with sweeping views south towards Chanctonbury Ring. The simple stone walls and unbroken roofline give it a timeless feel. The blocked south porch still holds its original door, while the north vestry was once a private chapel. The bell inside, cast around 1200, is one of the oldest in Sussex. The church’s Grade I listing reflects its architectural and historical importance.