St. James Church, Heyshott, West Sussex, UK - part of The Rother Valley Guide, West Sussex, England, UK

St. James Church
Heyshott
West Sussex

The Rother Valley
West Sussex, England
Heyshott
St James Church

St. JAMES CHURCH
- HEYSHOTT, WEST SUSSEX -

Revd Dr Jonathan Jong [2025]
The Rectory, Mill Lane, Cocking

Revd Chris Boxley [now retired]

map of Heyshott & Cocking

A chapel is known to have existed in Heyshott before 1144.

The church at Heyshott was presumably founded as a chapel to that of St. James at Stedham, it was so styled in 1291 and it continued attached to Stedham until 1882, when it was constituted an independent rectory in the gift of the bishop of Chichester.
Over the south door is the Royal Arms as borne 1714-1800.

Of the three bells
the oldest may be ascribed to William Founder (c.1400)
another to Anthony Wakefield (d.1605)
and the third is by William Eldridge, 1671.
The registers begin in 1690.
source: 'Heyshott', A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 4: 1953

photo left - Ms Kathryn Burrington - English Heritage

The Font

This dates from the early 13thc. and is located at the western end of the nave. The bowl forms a transition from a square at its base to a circle, with a prominent moulded rim, at the top. On each corner of the square is a moulded capital. The result is a tub font with a spade-shape carved on four sides. The interior is lead lined. A piece of the central shaft, with a drain hole drilled through the centre, is kept inside the bowl. The capitals now stand directly upon a low, square, chamfered plinth rather than upon shafts, which would have been the original arrangement.

click here for full image of font.

Richard Cobden regularly worshipped in Heyshott church
His pew was immediately beneath the pulpit, in which this small brass plate may be noticed.

Cobden plaque, St. James

'In this place Richard Cobden who loved his fellow men was accustomed to worship God'
Photo- Contributed by Pam Hadley 2007 - click to enlarge

St. James' is mentioned in the Post Office directories

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last. page edit Jun.2025
prv. page edit Dec.2018
.1st. page edit Feb.2009

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