Trinity Congregational Church

Protestant Nonconformism—Christian worship which stood apart from both the Established Anglican Church and Roman Catholicism—was successful and influential in Sussex from the 17th century. Although East Sussex had greater numbers of Nonconformists and more chapels, some parts of West Sussex were hotbeds of Protestant dissent. Among these was the ancient hilltop town of Arundel, on the River Arun inland from the English Channel coast. Several groups founded congregations there in the 17th century, including Presbyterians, Quakers and Baptists. A period of decline for Nonconformist worship was reversed in the late 18th century, and a group of Independent Christians (who advocated…

Robert Abraham's design represents a "brief appearance" of the Romanesque Revival style in the architectural history of Nonconformist chapels in Sussex. and notes its similarity to the "gloomy" town hall and council offices of 1836 by Abrahams. The façade is of knapped flint with galletting and stone quoins, dressings, buttresses and string-courses. The side walls have red and grey brickwork and knapped flint. The stone used for the window and door surrounds, string-courses and buttresses was quarried at nearby Pulborough. Inside, the original gallery on the north wall (surrounding the entrance) survives, but those on the west and east sides have been removed. There was originally a garden…