St John the Baptist, Westfield, Sussex

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Location

(50°54′28″N, 0°34′18″E)

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Site Location

Westfield

National Grid Reference

TQ 809 152

Boundaries

pre-1974 traditional (England and Wales) Sussex
now East Sussex

Diocese

medieval Chichester
now Chichester

Dedication

medieval not confirmed
now St John the Baptist

Type of building/monument

Parish church

Report authors

Kathryn Morrison

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Feature Sets

Interior Features

Description

The only surviving sculptures from the 12thc. church, which comprised a W tower, single-cell nave and chancel, are the chancel arch capitals.

History

Westfield church and a pit for the ordeal by water were granted to the Abbey of Battlec.1100 by Wenig, who held the manor from William son of Wibert, who had held the manor from the Count of Eu in 1086. The church was mentioned in 1086.

Features

Interior Features

Arches

Chancel arch/Apse arches

Comments/Opinions

The chancel arch capitals probably date from soon after the church was given to Battle, c.1100. The bases of the chancel arch, composed of numerous annular rings, correspond with such a date.

Bibliography

Victoria County History: Sussex, 1, 398, fn4.

Victoria County History: Sussex. IX (Rape and Honour of Hastings). 1937, 93-94.

J. Morris and J. Mothersill (ed.), Domesday Book: Sussex. Chichester 1976, 1976, 9.17.

I. Nairn and N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England: Sussex. Harmondsworth 1965, 622.