---
title: "St Mary, Shipley"
description: "Located in Shipley, Sussex. Built c.1140 (nave, axial tower and chancel); nave rebuilt 1893. Diocese of Chichester. Grade I. Norman (axial tower church) style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Church of England","Sussex","Shipley","Grade I","Norman","Knights Templar","J L Pearson","Diocese of Chichester"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/st-mary-shipley"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T02:39:47.723Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-08T18:59:10.207Z"
location: "Shipley, Sussex"
country: "England"
county: "Sussex"
town: "Shipley"
address: "Church Close, Shipley, Sussex, RH13 8PH"
postcode: "RH13 8PH"
built: "c.1140 (nave, axial tower and chancel); nave rebuilt 1893"
architect: "J L Pearson (nave and north aisle, 1893)"
denomination: "Church of England"
dedications: ["Mary"]
diocese: "Chichester"
grade: "I"
style: "Norman (axial tower church)"
materials: "Local sandstone, partly coursed and partly random; Caen stone used mainly internally"
openingHours: "Sorry, there are no regular opening times for this church."
parish: "Shipley St Mary the Virgin"
listEntryUrl: "https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1180756"
gridReference: "TQ 144 218"
accessNotes: "Level access to the main areas. Accessible toilets nearby"
---

# St Mary, Shipley

St Mary the Virgin is a Grade I parish church in Shipley, West Sussex, in the Diocese of Chichester. It was built in the mid-twelfth century for the Knights Templar and is one of their earliest churches in England.

## Overview

The Victoria County History records that about 1139 Philip de Harcourt granted the church to the Templars. The listing is brief: chancel, central tower and nave with north aisle; chancel and tower twelfth century; nave rebuilt by J. L. Pearson in 1893. VCH describes an axial-tower plan (central tower without transepts) of about 1140 in local sandstone, with Caen stone used mainly internally. The scale reflects Templar prestige; the plainness their military and ascetic character. Double-splayed windows and massive tower arches are distinctive. Pearson added the north aisle and vestry in 1893.

The dedication to St Mary is recorded from 1456. After the Dissolution the benefice was served as a curacy under the Hospitallers’ successors. The church remains an active Anglican parish church.

## Further Information

- [Historic England list entry 1180756](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1180756)
- [VCH Sussex: Shipley church](https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/sussex/vol6/pt2/pp123-125)
- [Wikipedia: St Mary's Church, Shipley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mary%27s_Church,_Shipley)