St Mary, Chithurst, Sussex
I Location
- Site Location
- Chithurst
- National Grid Reference
- SU 842 230
- County
-
traditional:
Sussex
now: West Sussex - Diocese
-
medieval:
Chichester
now: Chichester - Dedication
-
medieval:
not confirmed
now (or name of monument): St Mary - Type of building/monument
- Parish church
II General Description
A late 11thc. church. The single-cell nave is entered through a plain W doorway, and includes herringbone masonry. The square-ended chancel has a plain arch. The church contains a plain font.
V Furnishings
1. Fonts
(i)
-
-
Font from NE
Located to S of W doorway. A plain, lead-lined tub font on separate, superimposed, octagonal and square plinths with no intermediary stem. There are tool marks on the surface, and there is a repair on the rim to the NW, indicative of a lock.
Dimensions
| circ. | 2.185 m |
| ext. diam. | 0.69 m |
| int. diam. | 0.525 m |
| h. (excl. plinths) | 0.395 m |
VII History
There was a church in Chithurst in 1086. VCH mentions tombstones - some carved with double crosses - outside the church, some of which may be 12th century.
VIII Comments/Opinions
IX Bibliography
- M. F. Drummond-Roberts, Some Sussex Fonts Photographed and Described. Brighton 1935, 23
- P. M. Johnstone, 'Chithurst Church', Sussex Archaeological Collections 55, 1912, 97-107
- J. Morris and J. Mothersill (ed.), Domesday Book: Sussex. Chichester 1976, 11, 9
- I. Nairn and N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England: Sussex. Harmondsworth 1965, 186-87 (no mention of font).
- Victoria County History: Sussex. 4 (Chichester Rape) 1953, 5-6, with plan.