St Peter's Church, Ardingly

Ardingly developed as a settlement during the Saxon era, when a forest clearing (leah in Old English) was created on a piece of high ground near a tributary of the River Ouse, which runs across this part of the Weald. The area cleared for settlement included a hill 398 ft high, William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey has been identified as the likely founder of the 11th-century church. His son, William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey, granted the advowson of the church to Lewes Priory in about 1100. The lower section of the tower also dates from the mid-14th century, as does a tomb in the chancel which bears the (now damaged) effigy of a priest. The priest has a lion couchant at his feet,…

The church was built of stone in the Decorated Gothic style. A hood-moulded piscina and aumbry, both dating from when the church was built, are also visible on the chancel walls. An archway separates the chancel from the vestry, but there is no arch leading into the nave. The roof has king posts inside. The outside walls are buttressed. Medieval stained glass is still visible in some of the chancel windows. The nave has two unequal bays. Its roof, built higher than that of the chancel and dating from the 15th century, has tie beams and king posts. The aisles incorporate reworkings of some 14th-century work (in particular, capitals and responds on the pillars) and may even include some older…

St Peter's Church was designated a Grade I Listed building on 28 October 1957. The church holds two services every Sunday: a Holy Communion service, using the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, and a Morning Worship service. A youth group and Sunday school are also run. The parish, 3811 acre in size and with the church at its centre,