St Julian's Church, Kingston Buci

Kingston, as it was originally called, was founded as an Anglo-Saxon settlement—possibly with Celtic influence. The manor was held by Ralph de Buci on behalf of William de Braose, 1st Lord of Bramber at the time of the Domesday survey in 1086, and a church was established by that time. Excavations carried out in the 1960s discovered that the foundations and the surviving nave walls were late Saxon, predating the Norman conquest by a few years. The church was dedicated to Julian of Le Mans during the 12th century. and ancient feature of the church, which survived in a complete form until the 14th century, Restoration in the 19th century renewed some of the windows—for which the Perpendicular…

St Julian's Church is a flint building with stone dressings, and consists of a nave with a north aisle, chancel and central (but partly offset) tower. The Lewknor tomb has ogee mouldings and a series of carvings depicting the Pietà, the Resurrection of Jesus and the Trinity. The pulpit, made in the 18th century, dominates the interior with its size and positioning. The lower deck, an uncommon feature, serves as a separate priest's reading desk.

St Julian's Church was listed at Grade I by English Heritage on 8 May 1950. As of February 2001, it was one of seven Grade I listed buildings, and 119 listed buildings of all grades, in Adur district. The organ was moved from its original home in Brighton Aquarium, and still bears a bronze plaque stating its former location. It has an electric blower, but the original hand pumping mechanism is still in place. The organist sits precariously high in the balcony, and the view over the organists shoulder is not for the faint hearted! The parish covers the area now referred to on maps as Kingston by Sea. The eastern boundary is formed by Kingston Lane and Upper Kingston Lane; on the west side,…