outside the church

a small and humble building

St Andrew's is a small and humble building - a single-celled church (only 46 feet long), with nave and chancel under a continuous roof and a wooden 19th century north porch.

It is worth pausing to enjoy its idyllic setting, alone in the fields at the foot of the rolling downs. It stands sedately aloof from the winding road from Harting to Cocking, at the end of a little lane. From its pretty churchyard are pleasant views over the Sussex countryside to the north, and the towering downs to the south.

A fine old yew tree, which is much taller than the church, overshadows its east end; this was nearly cut down by mistake, but fortunately a member of the congregation, Mr Anthony Armstrong Willis ("A.A." of Punch Magazine) was passing by and stopped it. An old headstone (1708) with a skull at the top may be seen near the east wall, and another (1777) stands against the nave wall on the north side.

The church itself could not be more simple and unprepossessing, but it has great charm and atmosphere. It lacks the airs and graces of many of our greater churches, but there is an endearing beauty in its quaintness and rusticity.

The rubble north and south walls have been faced with warm coloured rendering and the east and west walls have been rebuilt or refaced with brick. Original stones form the quoins at the corners and the base-course. Beneath the tiled roof may be seen the ends of the old roof rafters. Most of the windows are simple single lancets (c. 1220) in the Early English style of architecture. The two in the south side of the chancel were added towards the end of the 13th century. The larger rectangular opening nearby may be 15th century, and has a modern top.

The single bell in the 19th century bell-cote was made by the Salisbury bellfounder John Wallis in 1623, but it arrived here only recently, to replace a bell by the same maker which was stolen in 1979.

The humble porch shelters the 16th century north doorway, through which we enter the church.