St Mary, Slaugham, Sussex

I Location

Site Location: Slaugham
National Grid Reference: TQ 256 280
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

: Church Plan

The church has a 13thc. W tower and a nave with a late 13thc. S arcade and aisle, much rebuilt and enlarged in 1827. The chancel was extended in the 14thc. On its S side is the Covert Chapel of 1613, and on the N are two modern vestries.

III Exterior Features

1. Doorways

(i) Nave, N wall

: Nave, N doorway (blocked)

A reset, blocked, round-headed doorway of one order with simple jambs carrying a plain arch on projecting, chamfered impost blocks.

Dimensions

h. of opening	2.42 m
w. of opening	0.94 m

V Furnishings

1. Fonts

(i)

: Font, from NW

: Font, E face (fish)

: Font, W face (foliage)

Nave, second bay. A slightly tapering square, Sussex marble font with a circular, lead-lined interior; it is chamfered at the bottom of the basin and provided with mouldings for a central and four angle colonnettes. While the central column and bases are worn and probably original, the angle colonnettes are new. The plinth is modern. The bowl is carved on all four sides: a long, two-dimensional fish on the E; four round-headed arches on the S and N, and three upright foliage sprays on the W. The foliage consists of thin stems each issuing two pairs of symmetrical scrolls, in a manner reminiscent of ironwork. The upper part of the font (0.02m - 0.06m) has been repaired in plaster, affecting the arches on the S and N.

Dimensions

h. of bowl (inc. chamfer)	0.365 m
w. of bowl (top)	0.69 m
w. of bowl (bottom)	0.68 m
int. dia.	0.575 m

VII History

Slaugham is not mentioned in the Domesday Survey.

VIII Comments/Opinions

The font can be dated to the late 12thc.

According to the VCH, the threshold of the doorway is 3'6" above present nave floor level.

IX Bibliography

Victoria County History: Sussex 7 (Rape and Honour of Lewes). 1940, 184-86.
A. K. Walker, An Introduction to the Study of English Fonts with Details of those in Sussex. London 1908, 66-67.