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I Location

II General Description

The church is largely 19thc. and comprises a W tower, a nave with N and S aisles, a chancel flanked by a vestry (N) and chapel (S). When the church was substantially rebuilt in 1878, the nave arcades were retained.

IV Interior Features

2. Arcades

c. Nave

(i) N and S arcades

The two westernmost bays of the N and S arcades, (bays 2 and 3), comprise round-headed arches of two undecorated orders, the inner order slightly chamfered, carried by circular piers and semi-circular responds. The capitals are carved.

Dimensions

S arcade, bay 2, E respond

The N half of the E respond capital has been renewed and the original S side is badly damaged. It is carved with a row of spade-shaped leaves, separated by two small leaves enframing a drilled hole on the bottom of the basket, and by pointed leaves at the top. Details of the restoration are dubious due to the poor condition of the original section.

S arcade, bay 2, pier

The surface of the foliage carving on the pier capital appears to be original although sections of the impost have been replaced. Each unit of the design comprises a pair of slightly pointed leaves which bend towards one another behind a shorter, centrally placed leaf with a rounded tip; the triangular area between each pair of pointed leaves is filled with another rounded leaf. All leaves have smooth, hollow surfaces.

S arcade, bay 3, W respond

The N half of the W respond capital has been renewed and the original S side is badly damaged. Each unit of the design involves a sharply pointed leaf, with a prominent central rib, rising between two short, curving leaves, in front of a near-circular leaf. On the restored section, the areas between the circular leaves are filled with pointed leaves with prominent central ribs, but on the original section these seem to have been broader and more circular in shape. The surfaces of the leaves are hollowed.

N arcade, bay 2, E respond

The N and S sides of the E respond capital are modern, but there are two original sections in the centre. This is a multi-scallop capital, with a row of drilled holes along the border of the shields and hollowed triangles between the cones.

N arcade, bay 2. pier

There is a new section on the S face of the pier capital, but otherwise the surface of this capital is authentic. It is carved with a row of fluted leaves with rounded tips, separated by projecting triangles. Technically, this capital represents the converse of a scallop capital.

N arcade, bay 3, W respond

The W respond capital, which includes renewed sections on both N and S sides, is a multi-scallop capital, with triangles rising between the cones. Each triangle is composed of three narrower, upright, projecting triangles.

VII History

King Offa is said to have granted land in Bexhill to the Bishop of Selsey in 772, allegedly for the building of a minster. The holding had expanded by 1066. The manor was seizedc.1077 as part of the Rape of Hastings, by Count Robert of Eu who granted the church to the college of St-Mary-in-Castro, Hastings, in aid of the prebends. Two churches, probably Bexhill and Northeye, are mentioned in the Domesday Survey. In 1148 Count John restored the vill and churches to Bishop Hilary of Chichester, as confirmed by King Stephen. The surviving 12thc. nave arcades were erected after the church had been returned to Chichester.

VIII Comments/Opinions

The original nave arcades pierced an earlier wall containing herringbone masonry. There are slight differences between the N and S arcades: the S capitals are shorter than those on the N due to the presence of an additional moulding at the base of the abacus; the S capitals are carved with stylised foliage, while the N capitals, including the fluted pier capital, are variations on the scalloped form; the lower tori of the S bases are fatter than those on the N, and the neckings on the S have rounded profiles while those on the N are roughly chamfered. Despite these differences the arcades belong to the same campaign and it is difficult to deduce which was erected first. The range of capitals can be compared with Icklesham nave, where one also finds multi-scallop capitals, fluted leaves separated by projecting triangles, and rows of pointed and spade-shaped leaves. The two monuments certainly emerged from the same artistic milieu and must be approximately contemporary,c.1160-75. The nave arcades of Battle, St Mary and Herstmonceux, All Saints, although `post-Romanesque', may be later works by the same group of masons.

IX Bibliography