A medieval building, whether it is domestic or ecclesiastical, needs constant attention. St George’s West Grinstead is no exception and caring clergy, churchwardens and parishioners have over the years lovingly cared for our Church since the first Church was built in Saxon times, although at the time of the Reformation and during the Civil War it is known that churches throughout the Diocese fell into disrepair, often without an incumbent or at best an absentee parson with very few services being held during the year, and then probably only on major feast days.
West Grinstead was unique in many ways in that one of the leading Catholic families of the day, the Carylls, were the Lords of the Manor with their own private chapel in West Grinstead Park. One of our former incumbents in the middle of the 20th century talked to an old lady in her 90’s who lived in Butchers Row (across the river from the Church) who remembered her grandfather saying that by tradition the Caryll family held secret Masses in St George’s with look outs and a hoist system for the pyx to be drawn up into a space with a trapdoor above the altar.
Luckily no such religious intolerance exists today, but constant conservation of a medieval building does. Therefore in the last 25 years several hundred thousand pounds have been spent on the church viz:
- The roof completely stripped and rehealed with the original Horsham stone.
- The spire, having been stripped, was reshingled with local oak shingles.
- Rainwater Goods – all rainwater guttering has been replaced and re-sited to catch all the rainwater from the roofs even in heavy storms.
- Windows. The feramenta (iron bars) had in many cases rotted – these were renewed where necessary, and the windows taken out and restored. (The East Window by Kempe was the most important window to require this work).
- The 13th century wall painting depicting St Christopher and a windmill has been conserved by Ann Ballentine, the leading wall painting fresco conservator in the country. Originally the Church would have been covered with wall paintings of this period. (Possibly by Cluniac monks from Lewes Priory). Subsequently removed by the Victorians in the late 19th century. One must remember that only the parson and the Lord of the Manor could read and there were virtually no books – and the service was in Latin, therefore the parishioners would learn the scriptures from the wall paintings (see Hardham Clayton and Coombes).
- Lighting. A set of six 17th century Dutch style brass chandeliers were acquired from the Haberdashers’ Company and were installed with dimmer switches. The new system has been declared a great success.
Future Works
The Damp. All medieval buildings suffer from the damp, as there were no damp courses in those times. St. George’s is no exception. However removing the rainwater goods and repositioning them has reduced the level of damp in the walls.
The Church architect Colin Kerr who has been in post a year is of the opinion that there is a definite improvement throughout the Church. He has therefore drawn up a specification for all areas where plaster has decayed to be renewed, and after this full re-decoration of the Church with a limewash based paint similar to the trial area in the Baptistry.
When this work is complete the monuments will be restored.
There have been a number of proposals relating to renewing the heating system and putting an eco-friendly system. These various proposals are being examined in detail. The need for a kitchen and toilet at S Georges has long been in the minds of the parishioners and at last the P.C.C. feel the time is ripe to go ahead with these proposals.
A scheme has been agreed that a sink and kitchen unit will be placed on the west wall of the south aisle behind an arrangement of cupboard doors.
Discussions are still taking place as to how the Disabled Lavatory can be situated in the churchyard.
The Fabric committee are meeting regularly to monitor and discuss future works including conservation of Works of Art in the Church.
