Churches
Holy Trinity Church |
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The church is over 900 years old and for many years was the only church in Cuckfield. It is situated on the south side of Cuckfield with views from the churchyard to the South Downs.
The Church is first recorded as the church of Holy Trinity in 1202 and in 1250 Richard de la Wych, Bishop of Chichester, appointed the first vicar of Cuckfield, Walter de Warnecamp. The church building was added to in stages throughout its history. The spire was a later addition to the church tower. It was first recorded as being in need of repair in the Churchwardens Accounts of 1593 and in the early 1670s 25,000 shingles were used to re-shingle it. This was done about every 100 years. It was completely destroyed by an accidental fire in 1981 and was subsequently rebuilt. There have been several weathercocks at the top of the spire. Churchwarden’s accounts in 1620 mention repairs to the weathercock and that a new one was put up in the early 1700s. The bird on the crest of the Clutton family was represented on a new weathercock made by Thomas Knowles and erected in 1800s in memory of William Clutton, churchwarden. It was repaired and re-gilded in 1912. The old high pews were sold during the period when Reverend TA Maberley became vicar in 1842 and spent some of his private means on restoring the church over the next 20 years. |
Baptist Chapel |
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| The first Anabaptists met in a local house until an Indpendent Baptist Chapel was established and built in Polestub lane in 1772. It had a chequered history of closures and varying attendance levels and was finally restablished in 1957. The late 1960s saw a rapid period of growth and the chapel buildings were extended and additional accommodation added until finally the oold chapel was sold in 2015 to pay for a new chapel building. |
Congregational Chapel |
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The chapel in Broad Street was established 1821 after a small group of village folk obtained, in 1820, a certificate from the Bishop under the Toleration act, 1819, to meet for worship. The present Church was built in 1869/70 and closed during the 1900s. William Payne was a very active member and generous benefactor of the Chapel The chapel is now used as offices. . |
Weslyan Methodist Chapel |
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| The chapel was originally in London Road but has now closed. |
All Saints Mission Room |
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The All Saints Mission Room stands on the outskirts of Cuckfield in Brook Street. Although it lacked a graveyard, it served the needs of the small community. Originally known as the Iron School Church, it was inaugurated on Advent Sunday in 1879 by the vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Rev. Francis Mount.
Nearly a century later, after careful consideration, services in the building were discontinued due to its dangerous condition. The dwindling number of users made the cost of repairs unjustifiable. The final service was held in November 1968. Affectionately referred to as the Tin Chapel, it transformed into a picture framers and art gallery after 1968. |
St. John’s Mission Room |
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St John’s, Ansty was opened in 1883 and rebuilt and dedicated in 1909 by the Bishop of Lewes as a memorial to T W Best, father of Miss Louisa Best, who had it erected at her expense . It was ministered by the clergy of Holy Trinity Church, until its closure on 25th December 2000. Popular concerts regularly took place in the Mission Rooms, with people walking from Cuckfield to enjoy them. On the 15th January 2001 the Bellringers at Holy Trinity, Cuckfield rang a Quarter Peel to commemmorate the closure of St John’s Church. |