Historic Church Tours 2018 - 47 1/2 hours in Sussex - BOOKINGS CLOSED
Over three days we explore many of our Sussex churches as well as other county delights.
BOOKINGS FOR THIS TOUR HAVE NOW CLOSED
Day 1: St Peter’s, Preston Park is where our Sussex odyssey begins. From the outside, St Peter’s is a simple, square-towered church, but once we step inside all is transformed. Its treasures are its 14th-cetnury wall paintings, whose bold colours stand out against the limewashed walls.
Across the park from St Peter’s is Preston Manor. Originally within the estate of the Bishop of Chichester, over the centuries it passed into the hands of the Crown before becoming the home of various wealthy local families. We will enjoy a tour of the house, which has retained its Edwardian furnishings, and discover what life here was like.
We will end our first day at St Botolph’s, Botolphs, a charming flint church that is Saxon in origin. Today it stands alone where a bustling, thriving port once existed and still welcomes many wayfarers who travel the nearby South Downs Way.
Day 2: Look out for the ‘beakheads’ when we enter the 12th-century St Mary Magdalene, Tortington. These boggle-eyed monsters peer down from the chancel arches, but are they friend or foe? We will let you decide.
Arundel Cathedral,designed in the French-Gothic style, was completed in 1873 and will be the next stop on our tour. We will enjoy a tour of the Cathedral and discover more about its history and striking architectural features.
We will continue our journey at St Mary the Virgin, North Stoke. A short drive north of Arundel, St Mary the Virgin is a simple yet elegant building. We will discover its rare stained glass, intriguing stone carvings and traces of medieval wall paintings.
As we move towards the end of the day, our penultimate stop is Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Warminghurst. The church offers fantastic views across to the South Downs and has links to William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania, who owned Warminghurst Park.
Day 2 concludes at St Andrew’s, Hove. Built in the Italian Renaissance style by Sir Charles Barry, the church reflects the burgeoning wealth that swept into Brighton and Hove in the 19th century, bringing with it a little bit of Italy to the English South Coast.
Day 3: Before returning to Brighton and the end of the tour, we will visit St Giles’, Merston also dates from the 12th century, although most of its furnishings date from the 19th century. The largely complete early ecclesiological seating scheme is thought to be of outstanding national historic interest and a wonderful way to end our tour of Sussex.
Meeting point and timings: Meet at Brighton train station at 12.30 on Day 1, returning to the train station by 12.00 on Day 3.
What is included: This two-night tour includes lunch (on Day 2), entrance fees to non-CCT sites, travel to and from the named station to each of the listed sites as well as breakfast, dinner and overnight accommodation.
How to book: The easiest way to book is online, simply click on the ‘Book Now’ button above and complete the online booking process. Alternatively, download and print a booking form, returning it to us at ‘The Churches Conservation Trust, Society House, 8 All Saints Street, London, N1 9RL’, or call us on 0800 206 1463 (Mon-Fri; 09.30-17.00).
Once your booking has been processed, you will be sent a booking confirmation. Your tour itinerary, which will provide you with more detailed tour information including approximate timings of the day, will be sent to you 7-10 days before the start of the tour.
Please note: On all of our tours there is at the very least a fair amount of walking, quite often over worn and uneven surfaces. They are not suitable for anyone with difficulties with everyday walking and stair climbing. All tour details are correct at the time of publication. In the event that details are changed, guests will be notified as soon as possible.
If you have any concerns or questions relating to the tour then please call us on 0800 206 1463 or email us at [email protected].