Mr. Wm. Parry [son of Mr. S.S. Parry], who succeeded his father as sexton at Heyshott church where he remained for 41 years, and made the fine pulpit. I remember him as an old man ringing the three bells with one rope in each hand and one on his foot; the bell's weights were 5, 10, and 15cwt.
 
The church was lit, no doubt, by candlelight. In my young days I remember the paraffin lamps made entirely of glass - one could see the wicks in the bowls. On many occasions I helped Mr. Wm. Parry to fill them. They were held on cast iron brackets screwed to the wall. These were used until calor gas was installed in 1947. It was not until electricity came to the village in 1952 that it was installed in the church. Until this time the church was heated by the old type of cast iron enclosed solid fuel stove, which was situated at the west and north end of the aisle.
 
When Mr. Wm. parry was very old he would crawl to the church pushing wood along in front of him to light the fire. He was, as is obvious, a very dedicated man. He was also very lovable and greatly missed when he died on 6 December 1943. His sons and daughters placed a plaque to his memory behind his pew on the west wall and also to his wife who was the church caretaker for 41 years.
 
The three bells.
 
Of the three bells the oldest may be ascribed to Wm. Founder [c1400] shields inscribed.
 
The second bell has 'praise God'; A. W. - M. W. Most likely that of Anthony Wakefield [d.1606].
 
The third bell has inscribed on it 'Wm. Eldridge made me' on 1671.
 
In the middle ages the rector drew his tithes in kind and when corn was cut he would go round with the farmer and take every tenth shock. The rector in 1445, Robert Codly, took tithes by force and was fined at the assizes 3 years running. The neighbouring rector of Cocking, at about the same time, appeared 5 times at the assizes charged with highway robbery and assault.

 
Embroidered Church Kneelers,
 
Hassocks and Cushions.
 
Work started on the embroidering of the kneelers hassocks and cushions in October 1974, a mammoth task to undertake in a small community like Heyshott, but the village people soon got together and within a few short weeks had obtained canvas and wool, made frames and soon began designing and embroidering pictures. Many designed their own, but Mrs P.B.Kent, Mrs M. Walker, designed many of the kneelers and cushions. Some 50 had been completed and made up and were used within two years, a fine achievement.
 
The Lady Chapel Alter rail cushions were designed by Mrs. P. B. Kent. The three cushions have a pleasing design of different crosses and were worked by Mrs. E.H.Flux, Mrs. P.M.Morton, Mrs.N.J.Dickenson, and Mrs. P.B.Kent.
 
Among the many designs are pictures of the church, crook and lamb, lilies, primroses, tudor roses, crosses, cows, unicorns, shells, sheep, bells of the church, dove of peace, chalice on a bible, and other designs. Many persons gave donations to have the hassocks, kneelers or cushions made with their initials on them.
 
A hard backed book is kept with a complete record of all the information relating to the designer, embroiderer or donator, with address, held by the Womens Fellowship of Heyshott.

 
Mr. Martin of Heyshott made an archaelogical find on the side of a round barrow on the top of Heyshott Down when he came across a bronze age burial urn, which belonged to the end of the period 600-900bc.
 
In recent times a chalice was discovered being used in a church in America. It had 'Heyshott' on it and bore the date 1657, which was during the Protectorate of Cromwell, an unusual period for chalices to be made. No other Heyshott is known to exist in the world.
 
During 1972 an archaelogical excavation was made in the south-west corner of the nave, where the organ once stood. At this point of the excavations produced a find of a kiln and the pottery fragments which have been examined, seem to suggest that the kiln was used to make domestic pottery in the mid 13th. century.
 
During the same excavation a pillar piscina of perhaps an earlier church or chapel was found. The piscina was being used to prop up a tombstone re-used as a paving slab.
 
There is a large brick vault just south of the font which cut into the end of the kiln flue. The flue ran north-south with the kiln at its southern end.
 
In 1824 a dagger was found in a chalk pit at Heyshott. It was made of bronze and measured 187mm. in length, it was of middle Bronze Age, c.1400-1200bc., it has an ogival and a straight midrib, with spade shaped butt. Also two rivet holes with the surviving rivets.
It was found by J. Mellersh Esq, and was presented by him to the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford. For a small fee, a photograph can be obtained from the museum on request. Ref:- No. NC421.