WHY TWO CHURCHES?

The parish of Hamsey, which includes the villages of Hamsey, Offham and Cooksbridge, lies immediately north of Lewes in East Sussex.

The parish possesses two churches both dedicated to St. Peter. The ‘Old Church’ is situated on a hillock in Hamsey in a deep curve of the River Ouse. The ‘New Church’ is to be found three quarters of a mile away on the A275, surrounded by the cluster of cottages that forms the village of Offham.

It is unusual for a parish to have two churches, but the reasons here are quite simple.

The Old Church (Hamsey)

In the 1850s the ancient parish church of St. Peter, Hamsey was in a state of poor repair. It had served the parish for more than eight hundred years and was now isolated and far from the houses of most of the parishioners. The ancient village of Hamsey, with its manor house, which once surrounded the church had long since disappeared. Travelling to services in winter was difficult because of the muddy ground. When faced with the choice of restoring the ‘Old Church’ or replacing it, the decision made was to build a new church at Offham, which was then the chief centre of population in the parish.

Fortunately St. Peter’s, Hamsey, was not demolished as had been the plan. It was left in its derelict state and used as a mortuary chapel for the parish. In the 1920s a group of parishioners including Elsie, Lady Shiffner, had it repaired and began the series of summer services which are still popular eighty years later. St. Peter’s, Hamsey, is still worth a visit.

The New Church (Offham)

Consecrated on 21st July 1860, and still sometimes referred to as the ‘New Church’, St. Peter’s, Offham, was designed by the architect Ewan Christian in the Early Decorated Style. The cost of the building was £2,363 plus internal fittings. The church is constructed of flint and sandstone with a tower and shingled spire.

The records tell us that one of the celebration events at the consecration was a game of stool ball between Offham and Lindfield. There was a return match between the two villages at the centenary celebrations one hundred years on!

EXTERNAL FEATURES

The Tower

The two most remarkable features of the church are perhaps its tower and its setting. Pevsner comments that the church has ‘quite a powerful design’ and the tower dominates the building, in the same way the tower does at Hamsey ‘Old Church’. The setting of the church is remarkable; standing as it does on a chalk ridge it can be seen for miles. Its position in a bend of the A275 is also impressive.

The Porch

The church is unusual in that its main door and porch face north, rather than the usual south. This is caused by its site as the land to the south of the church falls away steeply.

WHAT TO SEE INSIDE

The Apse

The interior of the church is spacious and pleasing. An unusual feature is the apse at the east end. Such a semi-circular construction is usually associated with Norman or Romanesque styles. The apse has five lancet windows all filled with patterned stained glass.

The Windows

The church has impressive stained glass. Perhaps the finest window is on the north wall of the church and represents scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. It is by Charles Kempe and his glazier’s mark – a sheaf of corn within a castle tower – can be seen in the bottom right hand corner of the window.

Three of the windows come from the workshop of Capronnier in Brussels. The main west window has strong colours and represents the Nativity. It is particularly impressive on a sunny evening. The second Capronnier window, on the south wall of the church, portrays the Resurrection of Christ. The third Capronnier window was destroyed in a particular violent storm in 1981 and, because of cost, was replaced with clear glass.

Of the two remaining stained glass windows, one on the north wall depicts Christ giving the Sermon on the Mount and the other, on the south wall, portrays three resurrection miracles performed by Christ – the raising of Lazarus, of the little girl, and of the son of the widow of Nain. This last window was restored in 2000 in honour of the millennium.

The Processional Cross

The processional cross that stands by the choir stalls was made by a local craftsman out of the wood of the old choir pews in Hamsey church.

The Candlesticks

The fine brass candlesticks were given in memory of Mr. Reginald Rust, a faithful member of the church choir.

The Organ

The organ, built by Hills of Lewes, was installed in 1893 at a cost of £326. It replaced a miniature 18th century instrument which is now in Southease church. The present organ is judged to be a remarkable instrument.

The Bell

Although very large, the tower / steeple contains only one bell. It is one of a pair and was brought up from Hamsey Church where its twin has remained. It was cast by William Hull of Malling in 1682.

The Baptismal Rolls

Behind the font hang the Baptismal rolls. All children baptised in the parish have their names entered on these rolls and they are brought up to date regularly. This underlines the important point that both churches are in the last resort loved and cherished not because they are beautiful or historical buildings but because they are centres of prayer and worship and in their way ‘gates’ to heaven.

The Parish Map

In commemoration of the millennium a group from the parish created a map of the parish using fabric and embroidery and representing the key geographical features of the parish and a selection of its significant buildings. This is housed in the church except when it is taken out to be exhibited.

WORSHIP

Of the two churches, St. Peter, Offham, is now the principal. Every Sunday the Eucharist is celebrated and is the centre of life of the congregation.

There is no heating or electricity in St. Peter, Hamsey, so it is only used for regular services in the summer months and for a very popular Carol Service two Sundays before Christmas, when it is filled to capacity as people flock in with their candles and rugs.

Baptisms and weddings can be performed in either church

Details of these services and other ad-hoc events are posted on this web site at the appropriate times.