Mid Sussex Times, May 5 1977

St Mary Magdalen, Bolney

For half the history of Christianity, Saint Mary Magdalene Church, Tony, has stood foursquare on its prominent site above the ancient village.

Visitors mounting the steps to the Lychgate leading to the parish church are made welcome by the noticeboard on which are the words: "founded in the 10th century," which whets the appetite for inspection of this lovely old building.

The earliest period of architecture is the Saxon, notable examples of which are the south doorway and the two sanctuary semi circular windows.

The massive and imposing tower of Bolney Parish Church seen from the South west c1900

The clock was placed on the western wall as a memorial to Queen Victoria and was dedicated in 1897. Its face will be refurbished in honour of the present Queens Jubilee.

The Piscina – the small recess in the south wall of the sanctuary, level with the altar, is 12th or 13th century, and a window on the south wall of the chancel is of the late 13th century (decorated) style.

The next period found in the churches is the 14th century east window, although the stained glass was installed as recently as the beginning of the century, in memory of Barnard Beckett Hodgson, who died in 1905.

Before entering the church however, note should be taken of the fine Western Tower, of massive proportions, each corner surrounded by a curious conical turret, topped by metal weather vanes. This, and the west doorway can be dated exactly by entries in the churchwardens accounts during the rain of Henry the eighth.

EIGHT BELLS

A churchwardens account book of a later date also has a drawing of the bell ringers at work in their gallery, ringing the eight bells, which are considered to be one of the finest rings in Sussex. It would appear that one of the churchwardens must have also been "mine host” of the eight Bells Inn across the road, for the book was found in the Inn, and bears on its cover the mark of drinking vessels.

Today, unfortunately, there is no local team of bell ringers, but the bells of Bolney are so famous that there is no shortage of visiting teams to keep them in action.

As a memorial to Queen Victoria a clock was placed in the tower, on the Western Wall, and dedicated in 1897. This year its face will be refurbished in honour of the present Queen's Silver Jubilee, and the weathervanes will be re-gilded.

Above the entrance to the south porch is a sundial dated 1850 and not far away, on the outside south-east corner of the nave wall, is a curious small circle, indicating the sight of a small mass clock, very old, so called because it indicated the time of mass. It consists of a hole for a gnomon, or pointer, from which radiate in sized lines enclosed in a circle, like a clock face.

The Lychgate, erected in 1905 by Mr Edward house, of Wykehurst, Bolney, in memory of his parents, although comparatively modern, is of considerable interest because it is composed entirely of authentic Sussex materials – oak, Sussex marble and Horsham roofing slabs. Let into the path are two old Mill stones from the mill formally standing on Bolney Common.

There is a long list of pictures of Bolney on the back of the war memorial screen, starting with William (no surname) in 1293. The present incumbent is the Reverend L. Hardacre, who took over in 1968 and is assiduous in looking after his 1100 parishioners, many of them living in a scattered rural area.

One problem he has is keeping a large churchyard – a peaceful refuge with the A23 traffic streaming by not far away – in good order.

The latest move in this direction to organise monthly “work-ins” when it can be maintained by voluntary labour, for money is a problem here, as everywhere else, to say nothing of the shortage of willing and able bodied paid workers.

writer for the Mid Sussex Times - Harry Nicholson.