Horham, St Mary's Church

Horham, St Mary's Church

The church of St Mary's in Horham is of 12th-century date, with renovations in the 14th and 15th centuries. The sturdy square tower was built about 1500 and rises in three stages to a crenellated parapet. Within the tower is the oldest ring of eight bells in the world, which is fitting, as Horham is famous for its bellringers.

The north and south doorways are Norman, with very nicely carved capitals and chevron mouldings. The font is 15th century, with lions standing guard around the base and a bowl with alternating angels and lions.

One of the most interesting features of the church is a series of 15th-century benches with decorated poppyhead ends, but the real treasure at Horham is a pair of wonderfully carved late Elizabethan or Jacobean chairs in the sanctuary.

Tudor bench end carving

These have delicately carved backs with foliage and roundels depicting the husband and wife donors, and the arms terminate in marvellous carved figures. The screen is another wonderful piece of woodwork; we know exactly when it was created, for the date 1631 is clearly carved upon it.

Across from the church is a memorial to the 95th Bomb Group, which was stationed here during WWII. Appropriately the memorial is in the shape of an aeroplane tail.