St Mark's Church, Hadlow Down

St Mark’s Church stands in the small village of Hadlow Down in East Sussex. Built in 1834, it is an Anglican church dedicated to St Mark the Evangelist. The stone building has a tall spire and a well-regarded churchyard managed as a nature reserve. It is the only remaining place of worship in the village today. English Heritage has listed it at Grade II for its architectural and historical importance. The church was extended in 1913 after structural issues with the original spire. The church owes its existence to Benjamin Hall, owner of Buxted Lodge, who petitioned the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1834. At the time, villagers had to travel over three miles to reach the nearest churches in Buxted or Mayfield. Hall raised funds with support from local figures including the 3rd Earl of Liverpool and the Vicar of Mayfield. The church was designed by William Moseley and built by a local firm, opening in 1836. It was later remodelled by George Fellowes Prynne in 1913 after damage from dry rot and structural strain. Inside, the church has a nave with aisles, a chancel, and a porch at the base of the tower. The chancel includes a Lady chapel on the south side and a vestry. The roof is arch-braced, and the walls are built from local stone. The churchyard now supports a variety of wild flowers and is maintained as a nature reserve. Among those buried there is Brigadier-General Edmund Costello, a Victoria Cross recipient. The building remains a living place of worship and a quiet point of interest in the village.