557:
489:
31:
549:
423:
540:—typically a smiling naked woman with exposed genitalia, common in churches in the Republic of Ireland but rarely seen elsewhere, and reputedly associated with pagan sites, Celtic fertility rites or medieval anti-immorality teaching. About 30 such carvings exist in Britain. In December 2004, an unknown person entered the church and destroyed the carving with a chisel, smashing it into dozens of pieces.
485:; compared to many ancient churches in Sussex, the church remains "delightfully unrestored". Some modest renovation was also carried out in 1906. Ancient churches which have survived intact or with minimal alteration often indicate a moribund local economy and loss of local population: local worshippers neither needed nor could afford to update their church.
568:
All Saints Church is a small, simple building with a tall, narrow profile. It is built mostly of flint, in common with many Sussex downland churches; some stone rubble and masonry is also visible, and recycled Roman tiles can be seen. It has been described as being "a little like a stone barn", and
535:
of the chancel arch had a strange carved stone figure dating from the 12th century. Although it is common for Norman churches to have carved or painted representations of human faces or figures, Buncton's was a very unusual example: an 8-inch (20 cm) sculpture of a person of indeterminate sex
430:
The church had a chancel with a squared-off east end and a nave with no aisles, with a chancel arch between them. This "two-cell" style was characteristic of small Sussex churches of the 11th and 12th centuries, especially those around the South Downs. The walls of both parts are quite high, and
666:
Services at the church have rarely been more frequent than monthly in recent centuries. This frequency was recorded in 1724 and the early 19th century; for part of that century no services were held in winter, and worshippers travelled to
Ashington instead. Weekly worship took place for a time
599:
The chancel measures 14.5 by 20 feet (4.4 m × 6.1 m): these unusually short proportions are evidence of the work carried out in the 14th century to cut its length back. It is lower than the nave, which has original Norman doorways in its north and south walls. The latter is now
527:
name was
Ashington with Buncton. In 1977, Ashington with Buncton and Washington with Wiston parishes were united into a single large benefice; this legal entity still exists, but by the end of the 20th century All Saints was in the parish of St Mary's Church in Wiston. St Mary's was declared
341:
and chancel which made up the simple two-room building, had a bizarre 12th-century carving of a person of indeterminate sex exposing their genitalia—until 2004, when an unknown vandal destroyed it with a chisel. The church is still used for
Christian worship, and
662:
on 15 March 1955. Such buildings are defined as being of "exceptional interest" and greater than national importance. As of
February 2001, it was one of 38 Grade I listed buildings, and 1,726 listed buildings of all grades, in the district of Horsham.
476:
at this time, and some richly decorative Norman-era masonry arches were inserted in the exterior walls on the north and south sides. They came from another building—possibly Sele Priory—at some point between the 14th century and the
639:— although the mysterious carved figure with exposed genitals no longer exists. Paintings on the adjacent wall of the nave have mostly been lost as well. The maximum height of the chancel arch is 14.8 feet (4.5 m).
393:. Most sources date its construction to the late 11th or early 12th century; others offer no more confident attribution than 12th-century, "1066 to 1200" or "mostly Norman". An article published in volume 38 of the
499:
There have been many changes in the parochial arrangements of the church, and for most of its existence it has been a subordinate church within a larger parish. It was recorded as a
464:
The chancel was altered in the 13th century, and the east end was further changed a century later. It was shortened, the east wall was rebuilt with square masonry blocks, and a
272:
1541:
1266:
47:
1536:
431:
have been called "too tall for so small a church". Some rubble and tiles from a nearby Roman building were used in its construction; an east–west
1546:
695:
1236:
1128:
511:. In the 15th century, though, All Saints lost its parish status as it was linked with St Peter and St Paul's Church in neighbouring
1049:
745:"A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 2 – Bramber Rape (North-Western Part) including Horsham. Ashington – Churches"
623:
The chancel arch is large and contemporary with the nave. Square plinths with decorative moulding support shafts with unusual
604:
with the remains of a segmental arch above. The doorway in the north wall survives in good condition, and is flat-arched with
870:"A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 2 – Bramber Rape (North-Western Part) including Horsham. Ashington – Manors"
1280:
1129:"The Church of England Statistics & Information: Lists (by diocese) of closed church buildings. Diocese of Chichester"
1094:
635:
that they are almost circular. The imposts are carved with a series of characteristic Norman designs such as squares and
617:
561:
465:
1054:
1516:
1497:
1478:
1459:
1432:
1413:
1394:
1364:
1345:
837:"A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 2 – Bramber Rape (North-Western Part) including Horsham. Ashington"
395:
389:
The settlement's church was built on a rural site, considered a "picturesque setting", at an unknown date during the
329:, and hardly changed or restored since, the stone chapel stands behind a "delightful ... wooded ravine" beneath the
646:
inserted in the 14th century. Pevsner observed that it "manages to get a lot of character into tiny dimensions".
596:. The arches serve no apparent structural purpose; their insertion, in the 14th century, was merely decorative.
1305:
1050:"Buncton Chapel Of All Saints, Steyning Road, Buncton, Wiston, Horsham, West Sussex (Grade I) (1354113)"
350:
it at Grade I for its architectural and historical importance. The church is also known as
Buncton Chapel.
569:
its isolation is enhanced by its position in the middle of a field reached through a tree-lined hollow.
1244:
612:. Three original windows survive in the nave; all are placed very high on the walls. The chancel's
674:
The parish, whose legal name is Wiston with
Buncton, covers those two villages at the foot of the
1102:
874:
841:
749:
609:
573:
520:
504:
407:, although a wide-ranging study of Sussex church architecture 15 years later suggested a date of
260:
231:
869:
836:
744:
624:
512:
432:
375:
236:
152:
105:
1139:
1309:
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616:, in contrast, were inserted in the 13th century or later. Its larger east window is in the
248:
589:
588:
shapes, while the other is made up of intersecting arches and has elaborate decoration and
436:
426:
The mysterious carving on the chancel arch, pictured shortly before its destruction in 2004
306:
8:
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478:
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209:
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1390:
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1341:
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1135:
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later in that century, but in modern times services have reverted to monthly, with a
110:
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189:
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98:
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mile (0.8 km) away, near the original
Buncton manor house. (The villa's
1530:
1443:
1386:
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537:
500:
404:
399:(1892) dated it to 1150–1180 and attributed its construction to the monks of
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125:
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49:
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87:
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30:
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to that church. (Ashington had been split from the parish of nearby
458:
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The outside of the north wall of the chancel incorporates a pair of
683:
605:
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548:
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482:
412:
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481:. The only significant structural alteration was a 19th-century
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334:
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302:
267:
243:
83:
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1070 for the nave and chancel arch—partly based on the lack of
382:, one of the six ancient subdivisions of Sussex. The medieval
279:
444:
158:
1306:"Benefice of Ashington, Washington and Wiston with Buncton"
576:
Norman-era blocked arches, described as "extraordinary" by
528:
redundant by the
Diocese of Chichester at the end of 2009.
386:
has vanished, but a 17th-century replacement still stands.
338:
333:
and has been called "a real piece of hidden Sussex". The
1340:. Brighton: The Royal Pavilion, Art Gallery and Museums.
1267:"Images of England — Statistics by County (West Sussex)"
682:
and A283 roads. It is one of two parishes in the wider
523:
in about the 12th century.) By 1535, the parish and
1336:
Beevers, David; Marks, Richard; Roles, John (1989).
1121:
1044:
358:Buncton existed as a settlement at the time of the
686:of Ashington, Washington and Wiston with Buncton.
1542:Church of England church buildings in West Sussex
1335:
1223:
1187:
1185:
1183:
1181:
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997:
313:, one of seven local government districts in the
1528:
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468:window was inserted. The church also gained an
321:. Built in the 11th or 12th century as a small
1040:
1038:
696:List of places of worship in Horsham (district)
507:occasionally administered the church at nearby
1441:
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552:Decorative blocked arches on the chancel wall
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536:showing its genitals. It was similar to a
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1537:12th-century church buildings in England
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879:. British History Online. pp. 65–67
846:. British History Online. pp. 62–65
754:. British History Online. pp. 70–73
555:
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443:passed close to the chapel, and a large
421:
1507:Whiteman, Ken; Whiteman, Joyce (1994).
958:
956:
954:
952:
891:
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825:
806:
791:
713:
620:style and dates from the 14th century.
1547:Grade I listed churches in West Sussex
1529:
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930:
867:
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560:The chancel arch, looking towards the
18:Church in West Sussex , United Kingdom
1487:
1468:
1359:. Newton Abbot: David & Charles.
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943:
897:
415:. This date would make the church a
991:
949:
1229:
1191:
678:and a large rural area between the
649:
13:
1403:
1138:. 21 February 2011. Archived from
1055:National Heritage List for England
962:
671:on the third Sunday of the month.
14:
1558:
1425:The Old Parish Churches of Sussex
396:Sussex Archaeological Collections
1383:The Buildings of England: Sussex
1192:Lee, Adrian (20 December 2004).
1473:. Rainham: Meresborough Books.
1427:. Malvern: Folly Publications.
1328:
1224:Beevers, Marks & Roles 1989
1194:"Pagan whodunnit grips village"
1013:Beevers, Marks & Roles 1989
998:Beevers, Marks & Roles 1989
600:blocked, and has a crude stone
543:
419:–Norman transitional building.
1511:. Seaford: S.B. Publications.
1492:. Newbury: Countryside Books.
1:
701:
581:
515:. Thereafter it served as a
408:
35:The church from the northwest
1490:The West Sussex Village Book
1357:The Saxon Churches of Sussex
1079:Whiteman & Whiteman 1994
925:Whiteman & Whiteman 1994
642:Interior fittings include a
362:in 1086, when it was called
273:Rural Deanery of Storrington
7:
1338:Sussex Churches and Chapels
868:Hudson, T. P., ed. (1986).
835:Hudson, T. P., ed. (1986).
743:Hudson, T. P., ed. (1986).
689:
439:, on the lower part of the
10:
1563:
1509:Ancient Churches of Sussex
801:Swinfen & Arscott 1984
370:whose land lay within two
353:
1471:Exploring Sussex Churches
1099:A Church Near You website
461:was discovered in 1848.)
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786:Nairn & Pevsner 1965
706:
366:. Its origins lie in a
1406:Mid Sussex Church Walks
1202:. Times Newspapers Ltd/
875:Victoria County History
842:Victoria County History
750:Victoria County History
1408:. PP (Pé Publishing).
1279:. 2007. Archived from
1243:. 2010. Archived from
1105:. 2009. Archived from
654:All Saints Church was
565:
553:
496:
427:
1423:Salter, Mike (2000).
1355:Fisher, E.A. (1970).
1310:Diocese of Chichester
1095:"Wiston with Buncton"
559:
551:
491:
425:
1488:Wales, Tony (1999).
1469:Vigar, John (1986).
1109:on 26 September 2012
1103:Archbishops' Council
637:herringbone patterns
631:with such extensive
437:Sussex Greensand Way
186:Heritage designation
669:Eucharistic service
592:, with some use of
580:(who dated them to
284:Wiston with Buncton
59: /
1404:Pé, Diana (2006).
1283:on 14 October 2012
1247:on 26 January 2013
1237:"Listed Buildings"
1204:News International
566:
554:
497:
428:
337:arch, between the
63:50.9133°N 0.3726°W
1442:Swinfen, Warden;
1385:. Harmondsworth:
1379:Pevsner, Nikolaus
1272:Images of England
1136:Church of England
608:and wedge-shaped
503:in 1323, and its
492:The 14th-century
374:of the parish of
291:All Saints Church
288:
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221:Late 11th century
178:Functional status
135:Late 11th century
111:Church of England
24:All Saints Church
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660:English Heritage
650:The church today
618:Decorated Gothic
584:1160). One has
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578:Nikolaus Pevsner
574:Romanesque-style
562:Decorated Gothic
466:Decorated Gothic
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344:English Heritage
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360:Domesday survey
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1145:on 16 May 2012
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297:church in the
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1448:Hidden Sussex
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1434:1-871731-40-2
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1415:0-9543690-2-5
1411:
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1396:0-14-071028-0
1392:
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1387:Penguin Books
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173:Architecture
106:Denomination
82:Water Lane,
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1171:Fisher 1970
1030:Fisher 1970
986:Salter 2000
820:Fisher 1970
676:South Downs
627:which have
564:east window
479:Reformation
401:Sele Priory
384:manor house
378:within the
331:South Downs
319:West Sussex
145:Sele Priory
88:West Sussex
66: /
1531:Categories
1375:Nairn, Ian
1316:18 October
1251:3 December
1209:18 October
1149:5 November
1113:18 October
1061:12 January
944:Wales 1999
898:Vigar 1986
883:14 October
850:14 October
758:14 October
702:References
633:chamfering
531:The north
521:Washington
433:Roman road
413:buttresses
403:at nearby
317:county of
249:Chichester
237:Canterbury
196:Designated
153:Dedication
140:Founder(s)
51:50°54′48″N
1287:2 January
1199:The Times
877:of Sussex
844:of Sussex
752:of Sussex
610:springers
606:voussoirs
590:mouldings
513:Ashington
459:hypocaust
376:Ashington
364:Bongetune
165:Dedicated
143:Monks of
54:0°22′21″W
1446:(1984).
1381:(1965).
690:See also
684:benefice
625:capitals
586:beakhead
525:benefice
483:bellcote
372:exclaves
307:district
295:Anglican
232:Province
79:Location
963:Pé 2006
644:piscina
505:rectors
494:piscina
474:piscina
452:⁄
405:Beeding
354:History
335:chancel
315:English
311:Horsham
305:in the
303:Buncton
268:Deanery
261:Horsham
244:Diocese
190:Grade I
168:By 1873
147:(attr.)
132:Founded
117:History
95:Country
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656:listed
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509:Wiston
472:and a
470:aumbry
435:, the
348:listed
299:hamlet
293:is an
280:Parish
210:Norman
181:Active
159:Saints
122:Status
1143:(PDF)
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707:Notes
629:abaci
445:villa
417:Saxon
368:manor
205:Style
1513:ISBN
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