Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield

From his base at the episcopal see of Selsey, which he founded, the 7th-century bishop Wilfrid converted many of the pagan inhabitants of the Kingdom of the South Saxons (present-day Sussex) to Christianity. Primitive wooden or wattle and daub churches were built throughout the kingdom, especially in forest clearings. The village of Cuckfield is thought to have been founded at one such clearing in the dense forest of Andredesweald, which covered much of the north of Sussex; so a church may have existed in the village from about the 8th century, when Wilfrid's mission penetrated that part of the kingdom. A church was not recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. The first documented evidence…

Holy Trinity Church is Gothic in style, combining elements of the Early English and Decorated styles. The plan consists of a chancel with chapels to the north and south, a four-bay nave with aisles to the north and south and porches on each side (approximately level with the second bay from the west end), a west tower with a staircase on the south side, and a vestry (the former Sergison chapel) attached to the north chapel. A Kempe window, featuring Michael the Archangel, and another, known as 'The Redemption' next to it in 1889. At least four windows in the church have been attributed to him. Clayton and Bell's work, dated 1869 and 1879, is in the south aisle as well as similar dated…

Holy Trinity Church was designated a Grade I listed building on 10 September 1951. despite the site being the lowest land in the area (305 ft above sea level). The parish covers a mostly rural area in Mid Sussex. The only settlements are Cuckfield itself and the nearby hamlets of Ansty and Brook Street. Both formerly had chapels of ease of their own. and was served by Holy Trinity's curates and their assistants. It was opened in 1879 by the vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Rev. Francis Mount. At Ansty, also in 1879, Rev. Mount opened a tin tabernacle. This was enlarged with a proper chancel in 1883, Thoughts of closing the church first arose in 1998, when finding enough clergy and laypeople to…