Weight: 602 lbs Diameter: 31.25" Bell 1 of 2
Founded by Unidentified (inscribed) 1703
Dove Bell ID: 58932 Tower ID: 22881 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Priors Dean
Overview
Grid reference: SU 727 296
It is a small building, consisting of a nave and chancel, at most 53 feet long and 15 feet wide internally. The church is constructed of flint and rubble, and is rendered. The roof is tiled and is hipped at the west end. Its age is unknown. Its Listing describes it as 11th and 13th centuries, of possibly Saxon origin.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Dimensions:
It is a small building, consisting of a nave and chancel, at most 53 feet long and 15 feet wide internally.
Footprint of Church buildings: 116 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The Rev. Thomas Hervey in his “History of the United Parishes of Colmer and Priors Dean” (1880) refers to an original chancel arch which may have been Saxon. Documentary references indicate that there was a church at Priors Dean in the 12th century. Partial investigation by West Sussex Archaeology in 2003 (publ. 2006) concluded that the nave and north doorway date from 1120-1130, with the chancel dating from the 13th century, based on a window in the south wall. They opined that other aspects of the building would fit with a church built in the 11th, 12th or 13th centuries.
The church was refurbished and altered in 1857, being in very poor condition. Works included a new, enlarged chancel arch, new east windows, a new porch and spire, and replacement of the old box pews with deal bench pews. A new Bath stone font replaced the earlier one, believed to be Norman. Further repairs were carried out in 1884 (Hervey, 1880). A single small older oak pew remains, as does a chair of 1657.
Exterior Description
It is a small building, consisting of a nave and chancel, at most 53 feet long and 15 feet wide internally. The church is constructed of flint and rubble, and is rendered. The roof is tiled and is hipped at the west end. There is an open porch with a timber frame on stone walls. The church is also unusual in that the chancel has a marked four degree inclination to the north from the nave axis.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior has plain whitewashed walls. The nave floor is partially stone, with inset grave slabs, and partially concrete. The chancel floor has red and black tiles. There is a small, round-headed piscina in the south wall of the chancel. All windows are clear glass in deep reveals. There is a stepped wooden bell turret, with a small broach spire with wooden shingles, on the west end of the nave. This is supported on four massive medieval oak posts and houses two bells. Both dated 1703, by unknown founders, they are a treble in A and a tenor in B (report by Nicholson Engineering, 2000).
Bells
Weight: 822 lbs Diameter: 34.5" Bell 2 of 2
Founded by Unidentified (inscribed) 1703
Dove Bell ID: 58933 Tower ID: 22881 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: SU 727 296
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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