St Andrew and St Mary, Fletching
Although the tower is Saxon (around 1000 AD) the main body of the church dates from 1265. Simon de Montfort’s knights who were killed at the Battle of Lewes are said to be buried, in full armour, beneath the chancel. The body of Edward Gibbon, famous for his “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire” and a great friend of the first Lord Sheffield, (who lived at nearby Sheffield Park and with whom the author spent much of the last six years of his life) is buried in the Sheffield Mausoleum in the North transept.

St Bartholomew, Maresfield
This Grade I listed building has many interesting features, including a Norman window, Early English nave, C12th font, Jacobean pulpit and a George III coat of arms. There is also an iron tombstone dated 1667 and several fine Victorian stained glass windows.

Christ Church, Fairwarp
Although not old by the standards of many of the churches in the area, Christ Church is particularly noted for its fine Della Robbia stained glass windows and its Reid Dick memorials.
www.christchurchfairwarp.org.uk

St Denys, Rotherfield
Built of local sandstone this church dates from the C11th – C13th, with C13th wall paintings. The font is Norman, the tower and porch are C15th. The east window is of fine stained glass, designed by Burne-Jones and made by William Morris. In the churchyard is a 1500 year old yew tree.
www.rotherfield-countryside.org.uk

St Giles, Horsted Keynes
This church was built on a pre-Christian site and is a Grade I listed building. Amongst its many interesting features are a Saxon door, Norman arches and many fine stained glass windows. Former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, whose home was at nearby Birch Grove, is buried in the churchyard.
www.stgileschurchhorstedkeynes.org.uk

Church of the Good Shepherd, Five Ashes
This charming little church was originally a First World War army hut, believed to have come from Eastbourne airfield. It was moved to Five Ashes in 1921 and a porch and belfry were added.

St Margaret, West Hoathly
The foundations were laid in the late C11th and the church dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch. Local sandstone was used for the building, which has weathered to reveal the presence of iron and gives a very pleasing mellow appearance. The chapel was built in about 1270 and dedicated to St Mary the Virgin. The tower was the last major addition, built in the C15th. There are two rare iron grave memorials, which have been mounted on the south wall of the chapel. The steeply terraced churchyard affords magnificent views along the Ouse valley to the South Downs.

St Margaret the Queen, Buxted Park
Built in the mid C13th, this church, one of the first to be dedicated to Margaret of Scotland, used to be in the centre of the village. It is now isolated in the park of the former manor house, now a hotel. In the C18th the lord of the manor, Lord Liverpool, decided he wished to enlarge his parkland and live in privacy, away from the villagers. He offered to build houses for the inhabitants elsewhere in the parish but they refused his offer, so he allowed their homes to fall into disrepair and a new village was eventually founded half a mile away. For some 50 years the rector of St Margarets was Christopher Wordsworth, brother of the poet. The late rector is now buried in the churchyard. The pulpit is C16th, as is the chancel ceiling painting depicting hops. The church has some very fine stained glass windows.

St Mary the Virgn, Hartfield
This striking 13th century church of St. Mary's with its fine spire is a magnificent local landmark. Built of local sandstone, the church is approached through a picturesque 450 year old Lych-gate which is incorporated in part of an even older Tudor cottage. There is a marked nature trail through the large churchyard; leaflets are available in the church.
For further information and contact details, click here

St Michael and All Angels, Withyham
Following a devastating lightning strike in 1663, the second church to have been built on this site was almost totally destroyed. Rebuilding of the main body of the church was completed in 1672, and of the Sackville Chapel a few years later. By 1680 the magnificent memorial to young Thomas Sackville, (who died at the age of 13), by the sculptor Caius Gabriel Cibber had been installed in the chapel. Thomas is shown with his hand resting on a skull, a sign that he predeceased his parents, the fifth Earl and Countess of Dorset, who are also depicted, as are several of his siblings. Other memorials are by Flaxman and Nollekens and two of the stained glass windows are by C.E.Kempe. The ashes of Vita Sackville-West, (poet, writer and gardener) are entombed in the Sackville family vault; they are contained in an inkpot!
www.withyham.org.uk

St Thomas of Becket, Framfield
The history of the present church dates back to the C13th; it was one of the first in Britain to be dedicated to St Thomas a Becket. Much of the church was destroyed by fire in 1509; it was repaired with financial help from churches in four counties. Then one Sunday morning in 1667, just after the morning service, when the churchgoers had left, the tower collapsed. It was not rebuilt until 1891.
www.framfieldchurch.org.uk