12-13th Century
From this time onwards each passing century has marked the building with its style. About the year 1200 the tower was begun with its fine example of a Sussex Cap (a low “flat” spire), now bearing a superimposed steeple clad with oak shingles. At ground floor level this provided more room as it incorporated a south transept. At this time the south door was the main entrance because it faced the river and was the most convenient way for people to enter the building. Towards the end of the thirteenth century the present ground plan began to take shape including the Lady Chapel, to form the eastern end of the south aisle, extending from the tower. The font, at the west end of the tower, may also be from this period, but the cover is recent being made by the local Blacksmith to commemorate Queen Elizabeth 2nd’s coronation in June 1953.

14th Century
In the fourteenth century the Lady Chapel was rebuilt to house the Halsham family tombs, decorated with well known memorial brasses depicting family members and their dogs. Sir John Halsham fought at Agincourt. The church contains many architectural treasures, Norman, Early English and Gothic arches. Between the Lady Chapel and Chancel one can trace remains of a stone rherodos and stone piscina whilst a beautiful oak porch, with Horsham Stone roof, the main entrance today, was added with a new north door in the fifteenth century. At some time, probably also in the fifteenth century, the thatched roof of the main building was also replaced by the massive Horsham stone roof we see today.

Elizabeth 1
During the reign of the first Elizabeth, English gradually replaced the use of Latin in services and many traces of Catholicism were removed by the English Reformation. The Church of England was established and maintained a strict church discipline. Taxes were levied for non-attendance and the Church Wardens had greatly increased responsibilities. Many trials and tribulations still lay ahead for West Grinstead parishioners, not the least of which was the necessity of keeping the building in good repair. About this time a report on the state of the church building noted:

“…the church is very much at default, especially in the roof, whereby it raineth down in the church. Also the steeple hath the like fault…”.

Maintenance
Maintenance is an ongoing problem which still faces us today. Nevertheless the parishioners were able to lay a decent floor and in 1795 a new peal of six bells was hung in the tower. Today these are rung from the ground floor with a twenty five foot draught, one of the longest in Sussex, and no guides for the ropes.

Memorials and Monuments
Worship was difficult for a variety of reasons including political and social. Tithes and taxes were payable so the local inhabitants were perpetually raising funds (rather like today) and cannot have found life easy. Despite such problems important local families were able to enrich the fabric with memorials. Today St George’s is well known for its rich collection of monuments, in addition to the famous Halsham brasses referred to above. The memorials to the Powlett family by Rysbrack, to the Carylls by Smith and to the Burrells by Flaxman are outstanding examples of funerary art.

Pews
The early front box pews were removed in 1890 and replaced by older massive oak pews from the back of the nave which are numbered and even today show the names of sixty six farms and great houses round the parish. With the exception of two great houses there is room for one person only per name. Originally there were eighty five names. Each owner or tenant supposedly sat in the appropriate pew, with wives sitting in the rear of the nave behind. The servants attended evening service, but history does not recall where the children sat.

Musicians Gallery
A musicians gallery was located at the west end of the nave with probably a few musical families providing the basis for service accompaniment. The instruments included 1 flute, 1 clarinet, 2 violins, 1 ‘cello, 1 pitch pipe and a barrel organ, the Sexton being put on to turn the handle when necessary. The present organ, built by Forster and Andrews of Hull for All Saints Church, Hessle in 1846 was removed to West Grinstead in 1891 when Victorian restoration work was carried out in the church including the demolition of the gallery and the installation of choir stalls in the chancel.

Pulpit
Luckily our Victorians were not too heavy handed and much escaped their attention. Visitors are impressed by the Jacobean style pulpit with its original sound board canopy. Sadly the hour glass is now lost. A peculiar hinged panel is located in the chancel roof above the altar which can be opened and closed by a rope from the church floor. The real purpose and age of this is conjectural.

Murals and Glass
On the north wall of the nave there remain traces of an early mural depicting St Christopher carrying the Christ-child. A picture beside it indicates how the mural probably appeared in the past. There are five stained glass windows and a monochrome coat of arms of George IV. The lectern pedestal depicts the Green Man on its east and west faces. The Green Man can be found in many Christian Churches, although his appearance could be pagan. Frequently he was portrayed on roof bosses and is thought to have signified a travelling herbalist.

Lighting
The lighting at this lovely medieval Church was installed in the middle of the last century. A propitious conversation between one of the Churchwardens and Donald Buttress, who was Surveyor to the Fabric at Chichester Cathedral at the time, resulted in the purchase of a set of chandeliers for the Church. The chandeliers had been installed in the Haberdasher’s Hall in the 1950′s and the Hall was subsequently rebuilt at the end of the last century, and the chandeliers were surplus to the Livery Company’s requirements.

The chandeliers are highly suitable for a medieval Church as they were cast in the 17th century Dutch manner.

The new system is fitted with a dimming facility so that the chandeliers appear to be candle lit.