All Saints Church, Buncton

All Saints Church stands in the quiet hamlet of Buncton, beneath the South Downs in West Sussex. Built in the 11th or 12th century as a small chapel of ease, it has remained almost unchanged for centuries. The stone chapel sits behind a wooded ravine, giving it a secluded feel. Nikolaus Pevsner described its exterior as having “extraordinary” blocked Norman arches. The church’s simple two-room layout—nave and chancel—reflects its early purpose. English Heritage has recognised its importance by listing it at Grade I. The church’s history is tied to the land around it. A Roman villa once stood half a mile away, and tiles from its ruins were reused in the chapel’s walls. The chancel was shortened in the 14th century, and a Decorated Gothic window was added. A strange 12th-century carving of a figure with exposed genitals once adorned the chancel arch, but it was destroyed in 2004. The church has served different parishes over time, most recently as part of a larger benefice. Inside, the nave has high original windows and plain Norman doorways. The chancel’s east window is in the Decorated Gothic style, dating to the 14th century. A piscina and aumbry from the same period remain in place. The church’s flint walls and Roman tiles add to its ancient character. Despite its small size, it holds a quiet dignity, unchanged by modern restorations.