Broadwater Church

St. Mary's Church, Broadwater, is located in the Diocese of Chichester, in the deanery of Worthing and serves the parish of Broadwater in Worthing in West Sussex. It is one of four churches within this parish alongside Hosanna, Queen Street Fellowship and St. Stephen's Church.

History

The building has a long history that can be dated back as far as the Domesday Book. Not much of the building from the Saxon times remain, however during repair work made in 1939 part of a Saxon archway was uncovered. The building has had many modifications, the most recent being in 2007 when one of the transepts had a mezzanine floor put in to be used for children's rooms.

Memorials

John Mapulton (also known as John Mapilton), rector of the church between 1424 and 1431 was clerk to the Court of Chancery and was chancellor to Queen Joanna, widow of Henry IV. [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=KugHAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PA207&lpg=RA1-PA207&dq=%22john+mapilton%22&source=web&ots=9n2nOnmTUF&sig=pY_icnOdCLAbesxS9J6ismAD_Bc&hl=en] The church contains a brass dedicated to John Mapilton.

The church also has a brass dedicated to the eleven brave fishermen who lost their lives in the "Lalla Rookh" disaster of 1850 while trying to save the lives of the crew of the "Lalla Rookh", a ship caught in stormy seas off Worthing.

Thomas West, 8th Baron De La Warr is buried in the church.Writers Richard Jefferies and William Henry Hudson, as well as surgeon John White are buried in the church's cemetery.

Rectors of St. Mary's

* Peter Irwin-Clark (2008 - Present)
* John Berry (1998 - 2007)
* Peter Dominy (1984 - 1997)
* William Filby (1979 - 1983)
* Peter Marrow (1953 - 1978)
* Basil Mowll (1927 - 1952)
* Edward J Elliott (1906 - 1926)
* Edward K Elliott (1853 - 1905)

* Peter Wood (1797 - 18xx)
* Richard Russell (17xx)
* Richard Basset (1762 - 17xx)
* Samuel Terrick (1745 - 1761)
* Jeremiah Dobson (1714 - 1744)

* William Wade (1670 - 16xx)
* John Wood (1663 - 1669)
* Thomas Porter (1661 - 1662)
* Edward Burton (1646 - 1660)
* G. Chester (1624 - 1645)

* Richard Holden (15xx - 15xx)
* Francis Heydon (1575 - 15xx)
* James Wynnybank (1559 - 1574)
* R Cromar (15xx - 1558)
* Reginald Harrison (1541 - 15xx)
* Reginald Sandys (1535 - 1540)
* John Lewknore (1521 - 1534)

* Jardin Kybow (1481 - 14xx)
* John Lamporte (1478 - 1480)
* Patrick Grebe (1457 - 1477)
* William Treverdon (1445 - 1456)
* Richard Tooner (1432 - 1444)
* John Mapulton (1424 - 1431)
* Thomas Lynche (1416 - 1423)

* John de Corby (1393 - 140x)
* Reginald de Newton (1373 - 1392)
* Walter Gest (1349 - 1372)
* Peter de Conshill (1322 - 1348)

* John de Chyshelle (also known as John Chishull) (1259 - 12xx)
* William (1248 - 1258)

* William (1190 - 1xxx)

A notable curate of the church was George Baillie Duncan.

Reordering Project

The church began a reordering process in 2001 to equip the church for the 21st century. The project was divided in to four phases; heating & lighting, building a mezzanine floor in the north transept for youth work, removal of the pews within the main building and finally creating a separate building behind the church for other community projects.

References