Botolphs

St.Botolphs in the district of Beeding & Bramber

Somewhere near the church it is believed that a bridge was constructed by the Romans to carry the 'tin road' which linked the tin mines of Cornwall with Pevensey, which was the chief port for traffic across the channel. But here we shall concentrate upon the church itself and perhaps I can write a piece upon the lost Roman bridge elsewhere on the website.

Although the church and area is now just a shadow of its once thriving community it retains a air of solidity and earthiness and a calming of spirit about it that you will be glad you visited this place.

The river here was much wider than it is today with the estuary allowing many ships to sail up to the port of 'Portus Adurni', now called Bramber. The church was dedicated to St. Peter and known as 'St. Peter de Vetere Ponte' (St. Peter of the old bridge).

The village then came under the Manor of Annington, in which the Domesday Book was recorded as being a busy agricultural area. The village also had links with the shipping that used the estuary and there was a wharf here at which ships could dock.

As with many rivers, time took its array of tools and re-shaped the land. Silting of the river and estuary caused the waters to recede and by Tudor times the village had lost both its prosperity and population.

Large parts of the church are Saxon, although the precise date of founding is unknown, it remains one of the oldest Saxon churches in Sussex. A suggested date of 950AD is placed upon it by experts, in particular the south wall of the nave, chancel arch and wall, and date from the original construction. There is a carved pulpit with a notable canopy as seen above but the wall paintings are all but gone. It has a pyramid cap and gabled porch and the arches of the once north aisle can be seen from outside.

Inside the church is further information on the development and history of the church and I have re-produced some of it below;

Main points of interest

Circa 950AD

The south wall of the nave and the small window at the west end of it, the chancel arch and wall and some of the mural paintings still just visible on it, are Saxon.

C 1250

The Saxon apse replaced by the present chancel with two low-sided windows instead of the usual one (possibly "squints" giving slant views from the churchyard for lepers of the nearby hospital to hear the service and join remotely in the mass being celebrated at the altar). A north aisle added to meet the growing needs of the population. The tower was also added at this time.

C 1300

The church became known as St. Botolph's (previously known as "St. Peter's by-the-old-bridge") St. Botolph, a Saxon hermit - is the patron saint of travellers and fishermen; sometimes called the "boat-easer". His day is June 17th.

C 1450

Removal of the north aisle (which had become unnecessary owing to the receding of the sea and shrinking of the river and its change of course, and the consequent moving away of the population). The arches filled in making the present north wall.

1530

The parish annexed to that of Bramber as the population had become so small.

1536

Three bells , cast by the famous John Tonne, provided. They are amongst the oldest dated bells in sussex

C 1600

Jacobean pulpit, from which Archbishop Laud preached c.1640

1630

Date carved on the south door of the church.

C 1660

The Royal Coat of Arms on the west wall: probably put up at the time of the Restoration of King Charles the Second.

Detail of the Saxon arch

Saxon arch detail

The unusual history

Churches with bells can usually list the dates when towers were rebuilt, frames replaced, extra bells cast, or modern fittings added. Not so St. Botolph's. Our three bells were cast in 1536 by John Tonne and installed by him in wooden frame in the church tower - and there they sit to this day. That is the wonder of the bells of St. Botolph's, a complete medieval bell installation as the maker intended it. There has been routine maintenance over the years but this lovely chime of three bells in their special frame are of importnat historical note.

The unanswered mystery

Why were the bells put there at all? In any other church this would be easy to answer - no mystery at all in fact. But this is St. Botolph's, our history is allways unusual. Botolph's village had grown with the wharfs of Bramber port. As the river Adur silted and receded, so the wharfs closed. Men were no longer needed to service the shipping industry. Whilst Bramber shrank, Botolph's faded away, leaving the tiny village we know today.

By 1450 the village was so small that the north aisle of St. Botolph's was pulled down, and by 1534 the village was so tiny that the parish was united with Bramber, and never had its own priest again. No one can explain why, with the parish wound up in 1534, the decision was made to install new bells in 1536.

The damage

How it happened or when it happened, we do not know, but it happened. At some point, many, many years ago, the No:2 bell was very seriously damaged, with a very large chunk broken off the lip. The bell was left in place, but has never rung since.

A survey of towers in the 1930's reported the No:2 bell as shored-up, un-ringable, and clearly redundant for a very long time. In 1998 the new Rector of Beeding & Bramber with Botolphs announced his desire to have the broken bell restored, so that all three bells could ring together again in the new Millenium.

Then the bad news

The good news came quickly - with modern methods the cost of repair to the damaged bell would be just £900. However, there was no time for rejoicing. The inspection of the damaged No:2 bell threw light on other prblems, previously hidden.

Over time, the No:1 & No:3 bells (which still ring) had not received proper maintenance - both are now in need of urgent attention if they are to avoid potentially fatal damage.

Also, apparently unnoticed, the bell frame has (over many years) slipped in one corner and is now seriously out of alignment. The stress this has put on the church tower has caused serious cracking of the fabric which is now dangerous.

In places cracks allow clear vision through the thick tower walls to daylight outside! The little appeal to have the broken bell mended has become a big appeal to preserve the whole tower and bell installation from any further damage or decay.

Parish Priests

C. 1150 - Hugh - Priest-in-charge at Vertere Ponte (chaplain)

C. 1180 - Henry - Priest-in-charge at Vertere Ponte (chaplain)

1200 - Br. William - Monk at Seles and Priest-in-charge at Vertere Ponte

C. 1250 - Sir Henry - Vicar of Botolphs (old bridge)

C. 1260 - Philip - Vicar of Botolphs (old bridge)

C.1260-72 - John - Vicar of Botolphs (old bridge)

C. 1280 - Sir John - Vicar of Annington

Records are not available for the 14th century

1409 - W.Bratyingburch - Vicar of Botolphs

? - Richard Watuyn - Vicar of Botolphs

1438 - John Corbyn - Vicar of Botolphs

1440 - William Stokes - Vicar of Botolphs

1441 - John Walley - Vicar of Botolphs

C. 1530 - Master Jarson - Vicar of Botolphs

1555 - William Biffe - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

? - Thomas Phipps D.D - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1602 - Stephen Goffe M.A - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1603 - Nathaniel Vurtue D.D - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1607 - John Wrench - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1609 - Thomas Docker A.M - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1620 - Laurence Davenport - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1623 - Thomas Cheese - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1645 - Thomas Cowdray M.A - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1658 - Charles Allen M.A - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1697 - William Turton B.D - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1715 - Vincent Cooper B.D - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1720 - Phaniel Bacon D.D - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1734 - Thomas Green D.D - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1783 - Thomas Grantham B.D - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1830 - John Morland Rice D.D - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1864 - One Lost Record

1891 - Henry D. Meyrich M.A - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1913 - L. C. Hamerton M.A - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1929 - R.P.E.Richards M.A - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1937 - Roger de M.Young M.A - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1952 - Ernest Streete A.K.C - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1965 - John E. Pearson - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1970 - Alan D.A. McRae - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

1973 - Derek J. White B.A - Rector of Bramber cum Botolphs

Parish united with St. Peter, Beeding (1987)

1987 - Derek J. White B.A - Rector of Beeding & Bramber with Botolphs

1998 - Timothy J.N. L'Estrange M.A - Rector of Beeding & Bramber with Botolphs