Madehurst, St Mary Magdalene

Madehurst is high up on the South Downs in West Sussex between Bury Hill and Slindon. For quite some time, although in regular use, this church had been locked to visitors, but last year I discovered and with a new Incumbant, it has come alive and is regularly welcoming visitors. Sometimes there are home grown veg for sale on a stand by the gate as you go into the churchyard. It is well worth a visit.

Although very heavily restored in 1863-64, the church dates from the 12th and 14th Centuries. The windows contained glass designed by Edward Burne-Jones, but a V1 bomb exploded 250 yards east of the church in 1944 and the glass was destroyed. The chancel though still has three side windows designed by his friend, Henry Holiday which are very good. Madehurst was dominated by a big estate called Dale Park. The house has long gone, but it's walled garden is often open under the National Gardens Scheme. Dale Park was owned by the Fletcher family, who exerted great influence in village affairs. One of the family was a local MP and his very elaborate Medieval style tomb can be seen in the South Transept of Chichester Cathedral. Up on the Downs, hidden away in thick woods, Boundary Stones were erected to mark the northern edge of their lands and can still be found today.