CCT saves another church - St Botolph's in Botolphs, West Sussex
The Churches Conservation Trust 343rd church will be St Botolph's at Botolph's in West Sussex, a 'Wayfarer's Church' which sits within the South Downs National Park.
The Grade I listed Church of St Botolph was once known as St Peter’s by the Old Bridge, and stands in quiet isolation in Botolphs, part of the civil parish of Bramber in West Sussex. Overlooking the River Adur and just off the South Downs Way the idyllic setting lends the church as a perfect refuge for passers by.
The church is a simple building on an Anglo Saxon site with a Horsham Slab roof and the remains of wallpaintings still visible in hints of red and ochre on the chancel arch which dates from around 1050.
Urgent repairs of a cost of almost £400,000 are needed to make the building water tight including repairing the roof, external walls and drainage, work is due to begin in October 2013.
The church is currently open daily to visitors and we're working with the local community to continue providing access to the public. A public event held on 17 April 2013 will determine arrangements for local usage of the building.
Peter Aiers, Director (South East) says
“I’m very pleased to see this idyllic church join our estate, it’s positioning makes it a perfect ‘stop off’ point for walkers on the South Down Way. We are looking forward to working with the local community to support the day to day running of the building and to secure its long term future for the enjoyment of future generations.”