Church

St Mary Magdalene, Whatlington

St Mary Magdalene, Whatlington

St Mary Magdalene on Whatlington Road is a Grade II* thirteenth-century parish church near Battle, East Sussex, with an 1862 north-west tower and an award-winning restoration after a 2010 fire, in the Diocese of Chichester.

Location
Whatlington, Sussex
Country
England
County
Sussex
City / town
Whatlington
Address
Whatlington Road, Whatlington, Sussex, TN33 0ND
Postcode
TN33 0ND
Built
C13; tower and heavy restoration 1862; restored again 2010–13 after fire
Architect
S. W. Tracy (1862 tower); Richard Andrews of Carden & Godfrey (2010–13)
Denomination
Church of England
Dedication
Mary
Diocese
Chichester
Parish
Sedlescombe with Whatlington
Grade
II*
Style
Medieval with Gothic Revival tower
Materials
Stone; broach-tiled spire; C19 brown stone and brick dressings to the tower
Grid reference
TQ 760 182
Opening hours
Wednesday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm.
Access
Accessible toilets in church. Level access to the main areas

Overview

Historic England lists a chancel, nave and north-west porch with tower and broach-tiled spire: thirteenth-century fabric, greatly restored in 1862 when S. W. Tracy (Tracey) added the tower (NHLE 1238301; listed 3 August 1961, amended 13 May 1987). Pevsner described the building as eleventh- to thirteenth-century; a roof timber has been dendro-dated to 1275. A serious fire on 15 July 2010 destroyed much of the Victorian interior. Restoration of 2010–13 by Richard Andrews of Carden & Godfrey exposed the medieval roof, added a west gallery with glass balustrade, and new glass by Mel Howse, including a Diamond Jubilee nave window with the Royal Arms. The work won a Sussex Heritage Trust Award in 2014 and an English Heritage Angel Awards commendation. The parish of Sedlescombe with Whatlington was formed in 2019.

Further Information