St Andrew's Church is the parish church of Alfriston, East Sussex, England. This Grade I listed building[1] was built in the 1370s and is also known as the 'Cathedral of the Downs'.[2] It sits on a small, flint-walled mound, indicating that it was the site of a pre-Christian place of worship,[3] in the middle of 'the Tye' (the local village green), overlooking the River Cuckmere, and is surrounded by the flowered graveyard. It is built in the form of a Greek cross.[4]
No records or monuments indicate who commissioned the church's construction. A consistent architectural style throughout indicates that it was built all at once. Typically, completing such a building before tastes and building techniques have changed is possible only when an individual or family has sponsored the construction, and that person would be buried in the church's graveyard or entombed within. However, St Andrew's does not have any grand tomb or memorial, nor any records indicating who a patron might be. Additionally, there was no Lord of the Manor for Alfriston at the time.[3]
However, on the left-hand side of the south porch there is a Canonical sundial, dating from the 14th century. The stone with the carved sundial was originally on the south wall and was moved to its present location when the porch was built.
The church's architectural style has been described as an obvious example of the transition from Decorated to Perpendicular.[5] It has a ring of six bells in the central tower and is unusual in that the bells are rung from the floor of the chancel. The oldest bell dates to about 1400, two date from 1698 and one from 1811. The later three were recast in 1928 when a 6th bell was added. The remaining bell dates to 1819 and was recast in 1955.[4]
andrew, church, alfriston, andrew, church, parish, church, alfriston, east, sussex, england, this, grade, listed, building, built, 1370s, also, known, cathedral, downs, sits, small, flint, walled, mound, indicating, that, site, christian, place, worship, middl. St Andrew s Church is the parish church of Alfriston East Sussex England This Grade I listed building 1 was built in the 1370s and is also known as the Cathedral of the Downs 2 It sits on a small flint walled mound indicating that it was the site of a pre Christian place of worship 3 in the middle of the Tye the local village green overlooking the River Cuckmere and is surrounded by the flowered graveyard It is built in the form of a Greek cross 4 St Andrew s Church AlfristonSt Andrew s Church AlfristonLocation in East Sussex50 48 23 N 0 9 28 E 50 80639 N 0 15778 E 50 80639 0 15778 Coordinates 50 48 23 N 0 9 28 E 50 80639 N 0 15778 E 50 80639 0 15778OS grid referenceTQ 52151 03001CountryEnglandDenominationChurch of EnglandPrevious denominationRoman CatholicHistoryStatusActiveFounded1366 1366 DedicationSt AndrewArchitectureHeritage designationListed buildingGrade IDesignated30 Aug 1966StyleGreek CrossSpecificationsLength115 feet 35 m Nave width70 feet 21 m Bells6 Contents 1 Features 2 Exterior 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksFeatures EditNo records or monuments indicate who commissioned the church s construction A consistent architectural style throughout indicates that it was built all at once Typically completing such a building before tastes and building techniques have changed is possible only when an individual or family has sponsored the construction and that person would be buried in the church s graveyard or entombed within However St Andrew s does not have any grand tomb or memorial nor any records indicating who a patron might be Additionally there was no Lord of the Manor for Alfriston at the time 3 However on the left hand side of the south porch there is a Canonical sundial dating from the 14th century The stone with the carved sundial was originally on the south wall and was moved to its present location when the porch was built The church s architectural style has been described as an obvious example of the transition from Decorated to Perpendicular 5 It has a ring of six bells in the central tower and is unusual in that the bells are rung from the floor of the chancel The oldest bell dates to about 1400 two date from 1698 and one from 1811 The later three were recast in 1928 when a 6th bell was added The remaining bell dates to 1819 and was recast in 1955 4 Every year the church hosts a model Christmas Nativity on the altar Next to it is the Alfriston Clergy House owned by the National Trust NT Exterior Edit Canonical sundial Position of the sundialSee also EditList of current places of worship in WealdenReferences Edit Historic England Parish church of St Andrew Alfriston 1043353 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 27 November 2019 Franks Alan 17 April 2009 Times Walks Seven Sisters Alfriston East Sussex The Times Retrieved 6 July 2010 a b Why exactly was St Andrew s Church built Sussex Express 11 December 2009 Retrieved 6 July 2010 a b Godfrey Walter Piper Cecil Fox Wilson Frank 2006 A Guide to St Andrew s Church Alfriston p 2 Betjeman John 1968 Collins Pocket Guide to English Parish Churches The South London Collins p 387 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to St Andrew s Church Alfriston Parish Church Of St Andrew at English Heritage Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Andrew 27s Church Alfriston amp oldid 1104583654, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
