Churches - Bevendean History Project
Stanmer Church continued
Church Interior
Inside the church, stone walls and carved wooden fittings predominate. Jude Jones,
the designated carpenter and estate foreman of the Earls of Chichester
and also an active member of the church in the 19th century, designed
and constructed all the wooden fixtures. The chancel roof is panelled
and has moulded rib vaults and intricately decorated ceiling bosses.
The nave roof of four bays also has trefoil-headed panelling.
Stanmer Church looking east from the main door
A plastered stone reredos dates from the mid-19th century. It is
flanked by panels depicting the Ten Commandments, designed by Jones. He
was also responsible for the pulpit, altar and lectern. His son,
Francis Jude Jones, succeeded him in his roles in the Stanmer Estate
and was also a capable carpenter, designing a new set of entrance doors
in 1965 as a memorial to the 7th Earl of Chichester.
The gallery at the west end of the church which houses an organ built in 1839.
Five memorial tablets and stones were moved from the old church. The
oldest non-Pelham memorial dates from 1626, and commemorates Deborah
Goffe, the mother of William Goffe (one of the judges at the trial of
King Charles 1). Another commemorates Sir John Pelham, his wife and
their son, all of whom died in the 16th century. They are shown
kneeling below the family coat of arms. Other memorials to the Pelham
family are housed in the south transept.
Churchyard
The churchyard contains an unusual well house, rebuilt at the same time as the church, with a rare vertically-mounted donkey-wheel dating from the 18th century or possibly earlier. Donkey-wheels are a smaller version of the more common horse-gin. The animal walks a circular path around the well, turns a wheel attached to a pump, for drawing water from the ground.
Churchyard
The churchyard contains an unusual well house, rebuilt at the same time as the church, with a rare vertically-mounted donkey-wheel dating from the 18th century or possibly earlier. Donkey-wheels are a smaller version of the more common horse-gin. The animal walks a circular path around the well, turns a wheel attached to a pump, for drawing water from the ground.
Several members of the Pelham family are buried in the churchyard, mostly on the south side of the church.
Stanmer Church Today
Stanmer Church was listed at Grade II on 2 November 1954. The well
house has a separate listing, also at Grade II; this was granted on the
same date.
Stanmer Church which was in the Parish of Stanmer with Falmer was declared redundant in 2008, with the final service taking place on 28 December 2008.
The vicar at time of closure was the Rev. Canon Andrew N. Robinson AKC.
See the Stanmer Preservation Society website for details of when the church is open.
Stanmer Church which was in the Parish of Stanmer with Falmer was declared redundant in 2008, with the final service taking place on 28 December 2008.
The vicar at time of closure was the Rev. Canon Andrew N. Robinson AKC.
See the Stanmer Preservation Society website for details of when the church is open.
