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Article from the 1898 SAC WEST TARRING CHURCH. BY J. LEWIS ANDRE, F.S.A. In order to distinguish the parish in which this church is situated from Tarring Neville, in the east of Sussex, it is called West Tarring or Tarring Peverell, and the first notice we have of the manor occurs in a record which states that before the year 944 it had been granted by King Athelstan to the Church of Canterbury. Its possession by the Archbishop of that diocese is mentioned in Domesday Book, which says, "In Bradforta Hundredo. Ipse Archiepiscopus tenet Terringes quod semper fuit in monasterio," and when this work was compiled there were two churches, as stated in it, the first being that of Tarring and the second probably that at Heene. The dedication of the former is to St. Andrew, after whom nearly six hundred of our parish churches are called.1 If the second edifice be Heene, it was dedicated to the Saxon saint Botolph, who also had churches in his honour in Sussex at Botolphs and Hardham. Of the churches mentioned in Domesday Book no remains are to be traced and the earliest portion of the present edifice at Tarring dates only from the thirteenth century, an epoch during which church building was peculiarly active in the tract of land lying between the South Downs and the sea, the results of which are still visible in the numerous examples of Early English architecture to be found in the churches of this district, notably in the cruciform edifices at Broadwater, Clymping, Oving and Sidlesham, whilst at West Tarring we have a church whose clerestoried nave and aisles are of entirely thirteenth century date.2 The late Mr. Freeman wrote of this build-ing that it is " an excellent specimen of the local Early English with its lancet clerestory and high king-post roof."3 Another writer in the volume of the Ecclesiologist for 1857 speaks, however, in less favourable terms, con-sidering from the " scrupulously regular " character of the nave and clerestory that Tarring Church had " ` sat as a model of half the new churches of twelve years back, when First Pointed was in fashion; and we are not ashamed to own that, all mediaeval as it may be, it is chargeable, like its imitations, with much primness, and, it may be, with some poverty of conception."4 Whilst the body of the church is entirely of thirteenth century date, the chancel with the tower and spire are exclusively of the fifteenth, and as regular in character as the older work. There is also a north porch, a modern representative of a former one, and a south porch forming a vestry, likewise of recent date. The tower and spire somewhat resemble those at Westbourne, a church also in West Sussex; both are Perpendicular in style, with battlemented towers, having angle stairs-turrets and with the shingled spires rising from within the parapets, the latter feature being a some-what unusual one in Sussex, though examples occur at Easebourne, Greatham and Rotherfield, which are wooden spires, and at Preston, where there is a stone one. The stairs-turret at Tarring is remarkable for its extreme plainness, being of a square form and continued from ground to parapet without a break, notwithstanding, it combines successfully with the rest of the design, and it would not be possible to find a more graceful outline than the one presented by this tower and its spire. The west doorway is continuously moulded and has a modern window over it, replacing a wooden abomination of the last century; the belfry windows on each face of the tower are of two lights and have the peculiarity of being under square heads on the east and south sides and under pointed arches on the north and west.5
The nave and aisles are of five bays and 69 feet long inside, with a width of 54 feet. Each aisle was probably intended to measure half the width of the nave, as in the thirteenth century example at Horsham; here, however, the south aisle is a trifle narrower. The windows are all plain lancets, with the exception of the eastern ones, and there is this peculiarity in the window at the east end of the north wall, that it is placed at the extreme end, so as to throw as much light as possible on the north aisle altar. The eastern windows are modern and that in the north aisle replaces a Perpendicular one of two lights. The north porch covers a good shafted First Pointed doorway with foliage work, but mostly modern. The south entrance is original with an edge roll moulding only, but with a label over it. The arcades have simply chamfered arches on lofty circular pillars with round caps and bases, the latter on octagonal sub-bases. The well-proportioned tower arch has half-octagonal shafts and the opening to the chancel has a modern arch. Over the arcades is an unusually lofty clerestory with four lancet windows on either side and much resembling the one at Horsham; it will be noticed that the window openings come over the pillars, which is usually the case in ancient examples, as, for instance, at Battle Parish Church. This is quite opposed to modern practice, which universally places the clerestory windows over the points of the arches.6 The nave roof is a king-post one and plastered between the rafters; the aisle roofs are new.
A massive but handsome low wooden screen separates the nave and chancel and is of the same date as the latter ; it retains its holy doors and the capping has on it a formidable row of spikes of a decidedly ancient character, whilst there are no indications of any super-incumbent screen-work having been destroyed and there are no traces of a rood-loft or of a staircase leading to it; so, mayhap, this is an example of an original low choir screen, such as we see figured in Pugin's work on " " Chancel Screens," as occurring at the Church of the Frairi, Venice. The absence of a high screen in no way militates against there having been a rood in its usual position at the entrance to the chancel, as this cross was often carried on a beam separate from the screen, as at West Hoathly, where the mortises remain in which the rood was inserted with its attendant figures of St. Mary and St. John.9 Attached to the screen, which rises some height above them, are six stalls facing east. They have in iserere seats; those of the two central stalls are carved with faces having long hair and beards, the others bear roses and the elbows have human heads. It seems probable that similar stalling ran along the north and south sides of the choir. Hussey (p. 295) mentions some benches with poppy heads, perhaps those connected with these stalls.10 Both nave and chancel are now on one level, but the sacrarium has been fitted with more steps than it had originally, and so bringing the piscina unduly low down. In 1853 Mr. Warter says, " " Many also of the encaustic tiles are still discernible, but for the most part with the decorations worn off." 11 None of these remain, but there are old altar rails of the sensible Jacobean pattern, namely, a series of baluster shafts under a carved frieze and rail, which are infinitely preferable to the pew-paws in so-called Gothic style, too often met with. The font is quite recent in date, having replaced a plain octagonal Perpendicular one of no especial interest, and the bowl of which, I am informed, now does duty in Melbourne Cathedral. Hussey remarks that this font "4 seems to have been originally a sandstone basin, sup-ported by eight shafts round the main stem." A much-mutilated but fine old iron-bound chest stands in the leave and is similar in character to one at North-fleet, Kent. The drop handles by which this trunk was moved are curious and such chests are of interest, as many have disappeared of late years, as, for instance, from Sidlesham Church. 12
At the time of Henry VIII. the bells appear to have been recast and the cost of hallowing or blessing them amounted to eighteen shillings, according to the church-warden's accounts. There are now six bells, one of which bears an inscription informing us that they were again recast by Messrs. Mears, of London, in 1853. When Cartwright wrote some stained glass remained in the east window of the north aisle, which then, as before stated, had Perpendicular tracery; he mentions some fragments of figures, which were probably in the upper part of the opening. The loss even of these is to be regretted, as we have so little ancient painted glass in our Sussex parish churches. The best I know of is at Battle. Formerly there was a "patchwork window " of rich glass in the tower of Rusper Church, but it disappeared when that edifice was re-built. The only traces of coloured mural decoration which remain consist of some fan-shaped devices on one of the north arcade columns, but doubtless there were other paintings, as in nearly every Sussex church, and from the churchwarden's book we gather that in the fifteenth year of Henry VIII. a picture of Saint Blaise was bought to adorn this edifice at a cost of sixpence.13 From the same account book Cartwright quotes the following, "1572 The lath of the church lytyne gate VI d," and remarks that it was " the church yard gate from the Saxon Lichtune, the enclosure of the dead" (" Rape of Bramber," p. 15, n). Cooke, in his " Topography of Sussex " (p. 50), mentions at Chichester " a field called the Bishop' s liten." Under date 1282 Archbishop Peckham speaks of a chantry in this church dedicated to Our Lady, and which was probably connected with the altar in the north chapel. Mr. Lower considers it likely that it was " founded by one of the family of Atte Felde, who were very ancient in this and the neighbouring parishes before 1282,"14 and which is not unlikely, as William Atte Felde and Agnes his wife, in 1313, granted the presentation to the then Rector of Tarring. Cartwright gives a list of the "incumbents" of this chantry from 1324 to 1381, by which it appears that during that period it was held by no less than tell chaplains. Mr. Warter tells us that the only remnant of the existence of this foundation is to be found in a barn and a field, the one called Chantry-barn, the other Chantry-field. After relating that one reason assigned in the act for destroying these establishments was " the founding of schools of learning and providing for the poor," the same writer continues, "" But it fared with this parish as with countless others-no school was founded, neither were the poor enriched."15 The records of the Commission concerning church goods, issued by King Edward VI. in the sixth year of his reign, are still existing for many counties, but unfortunately the returns for Sussex have been lost, but at Tarring there still exists, at the end of the churchwarden's book, a list of the furniture and vestments belonging to the church in 1561, or the third year of Queen Elizabeth. From this inventory we learn that there were two vestments, which usually meant two complete sets of Eucharistic robes; one of these was of white damask, and the other of green silk. There was a red cope of silk and three silken banners. In metal work we find two great brass candlesticks, two small ones and a cross with a foot, which was in all probability the parish cross, which could be removed from the altar and carried in procession on Rogation days, and when the parishioners attended the dedication or other festivals in adjoining parishes.16 There was also a brass pyx to contain the host, and a leaden chrysmatory to hold the consecrated oils. In all likelihood the articles here mentioned replaced others disposed of before the advent of Queen Mary to the throne. The plate at present possessed by the church includes several pieces not devoid of interest. The oldest article is a paten of silver inscribed " The Gift of J. S. Rector " and which was contributed by John Strype, M.A., incumbent here from 1711 to 1738. A medium sized chalice, likewise of silver, may be of the same period; it is a perfectly plain cup of rather inelegant design, but there is also a fine pear-shaped silver flagon, with a hand-some foliaged handle, and this has the inscription, "The Gift of Jer. Milles Rector 1766." Of this shape were the flagons introduced in the latter part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth; such, however, were seldom made so late as "the middle of the seventeenth century, the ordinary tankards having superseded them." 17 The present example is, therefore, an uncommon instance of the retention of the old form of flagon. Finally, another silver paten bears the legend "" West Tarring Sussex, the Gift of the Rev. Richard Milles, A.M. Rector 1801." It has the favourite device of the sacred monogram within a rayed glory, as is also the case with the flagon. The more modern plate includes two silver-mounted cruets. The church was thoroughly restored in 1854 at a cost of £4,000 and under the superintendence of Mr. Peacock, when the west gallery was swept away, and, I am afraid, the monumental ledgers also. Cartwright mentions four of these, all in memory of members of the Negus family, and lying in the chancel, whilst he notes thirteen slabs in the body of the church for members of the Brookbanks, Cooke, Cooper and Whitpaine families.18 There were also mural monuments for others of the Cooper, Jordan, Mitford and Styles families, and in the porch five memorials for that of Campion. A few notes on the monuments at present in the church and churchyard will be found at the end of this paper. The benefice is a rectory and from time immemorial was in the gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury until 1836. It is also a vicarage to which the rector presented from 1313 to 1567, when it passed into the archbishop's hands. Cartwright gives a list of the rectors from 1282, when Robert de Lacy was incumbent, down to 1823, when William Vaux succeeded to the rectorship. From 1845 the Ecclesiastical Commissioners were in possession till 1879, when Henry Bailey, D.D., was appointed, and was followed by the present rector, William Douglas Springett, D.D. The list of vicars commences in 1313 with Robert de Durrington, and the vicarage continued to be held separately until the appointment of Dr. Bailey to the rectorship, when the offices of rector and vicar merged into one. Early in the thirteenth century, previous to the incumbency of Robert de Lacy, Simon de Terring, a great friend of St. Richard of Chichester, held the living, and is described by Bocking as a man after God's own heart," and " though not affluent he was contented with his one benefice and would never accept any additional dignity."19 St. Richard in his will bequeathed to him his best palfry and a book on "'Virtues;" he, moreover, made him one of his executors. Martin Williams, instituted rector in 1584-5, also held the rectory of Stanmer, and in 1629 Samuel Bernard, D.D., was collated to the rectory of Tarring: He was also rector of Buxted-cum-Uckfield, and vicar of Croydon, Surrey. He was deprived of all his benefices in 1643, and died 1657. See "" S.A.C.," Vol. XXVI., pp. 19, 20, 87. In 1638 William Stanley was presented to the vicarage. He was a staunch Loyalist and paid the penalty of his opinions, being one of the clergy sequestrated by the Parliamentary Committee. This took place in 1645, but he regained his living the following year, when the " Committee of Plundered Ministers" ruled that " the said Mr Stanley doe enjoy his Church and Vicarage aforesaid & the profhtts there of accordingly."20 A full account of an action brought by Mr. Stanley to recover tithes will be found in our "Collections.21 In 1655 Richard Meggott was placed in the vicarage by Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector, and in 1657 the same " Protector" introduced a William Pixe to the living. He was silenced in 1662 and is mentioned in Calamy's work, where, however, no particulars are given concerning him, and in 1663 William Megus was duly appointed vicar. In 1711 John Strype, M.A., succeeded to the rector-ship and demands a passing notice here as a learned antiquary, who was the author of many works of acknowledged merit, including several biographies, three folio volumes of " Ecclesiastical Memorials," and four folios of "Annals of the Reformation," besides an enlarged edition of " Stow's London," in two volumes. Born in 1643, he was educated at St. Paul's School, London, and afterwards at Cambridge University. He became vicar of Low Leyton, Essex, and rector of Tarring. Besides these appointments he held the lecturership of Hackney, Middlesex, where he died Dec. 11th, 1737..22 His gift of plate to Tarring Church has already been alluded to. To John Strype succeeded John Salter, M.A., and to him Jeremiah Milles, D.D., who was a nephew of Thomas Milles, Bishop of Waterford. He was born in 1714, and educated at Eton and Queen's College, Oxford. By the interest of Archbishop Potter " he obtained the rectory of St. Edmund the King, London, which he held with the livings of Merstham m Surrey and West Terring in Sussex." 23 He became dean of Exeter in 1762 and relinquished the living of Tarring in 1779, and he died in 1784. Dr. Milles, like Strype, was a great antiquary, and was one of " the first and modern twenty-one of the Council " of the Society of Antiquaries, as stated in the Charter granted to the society Nov. 2, 1751, the year of its foundation by King George II., who, in the same document, declared himself to be " the Founder and Patron." In 1765 Dr. Milles was elected President of the Society, and he was also a Fellow of the Royal Society. He wrote some papers in the "Archoeologia" of the former body, and in 1782 published a quarto "On poems said to have been written by Thomas Rowley," and of which there is a copy in the library of the society at Burlington House. He was succeeded in 1779 by Richard Milles, M.A., and the gift of plate to this church by these two last mentioned rectors has been already noticed.24 The Rev. John Wood Warter, B.D., was vicar here from 1834 till 1878, and was the author of several works, including a volume of " Parochial Fragments" relating to West Tarring, also two volumes of sermons and some separate discourses. He married the eldest daughter of Robert Southey, and edited an edition of that writer's works, " The Doctor" and the " Common Place Book." During the present century the rectory has been held by the following
And the vicars have been:
In connection with the ecclesiastical history of West Tarring it may be mentioned that St. Thomas of Canterbury is said to have been a frequent visitor here and to have planted a fig tree in the garden of the Archbishop's Lodge, which was known as his tree, and the remains of it are carefully preserved. It is stated by Cartwright (p. 10) that " the vicar is entitled to mortuaries throughout the whole parish," and this privilege continued during the present century, probably until 1878, when the Rev. Dr. Bailey was instituted to the living, as the Rev. Wood Warter, his predecessor, was accustomed to receive them, and there is much recorded about mortuaries in his "Parochial Fragments" (pp. 62-66). There is considerable obscurity regarding similar payments, which most writers define to be gifts in satisfaction for tithes and oblations unpaid during lifetime. They appear at first to have been voluntary, but from long custom to have become a legal right of the clergy and could be enforced by the ecclesiastical courts. An Act of 21 of Henry VIII., cap. 6, directs that no more than 3s. 4d. should be taken by any spiritual person where the goods of the deceased were under £30 in value, nor above 6s. 8d. when it was below £40, or 10s. when the effects were worth more; and Mr. Warter says that the last sum was " the only mortuary collected " at West Tarring. Nelson, in his " Justice of Peace," published in 1729, says that mortuaries " are not to be taken but where they are accustomed to be paid, nor where the goods of the deceased are under ten marks" (p. 471). Chambers, in his "' Cyclopeedia" (Vol. II.), published in 1752, says "mortuary is also the fee paid to an incumbent for carrying a corpse out of his parish to be buried in another. A mortuary is not properly and originally due to an incumbent from any but those of his own parish: but by custom, it is to be paid to the parsons of other parishes, as the corpse passes through them." In the registers of Oving are "' receipts for customary mortuaries from 1683 to 1736, from persons who died worth £40 in personal estate." See "S.A.C.," Vol. XXXIV., p. 205. In connection with ecclesiastical customs it may be noticed that formally the inhabitants of Tarring were exempted from the obligation of serving on juries, on account of the "suit and service" they owed to the Archbishop of Canterbury. This privilege seems to have continued in force during the early part of the present century, but is not now allowed of. The same privilege was enjoyed by the inhabitants of Thorney Island (" S.A.C.," Vol. XXXII., p. 15). Churchwarden's Account Books of an early date are somewhat rare, but we have in Sussex one at Cowfold dating as far back as 1460; and others at Bolney, Rotherfield and Steyning, of the time of Henry VIII. The Churchwarden's Account Book at Tarring, to which so many references have been made, dates from 1515, and is continued up to 1579, a period during which many important ecclesiastical changes took place and which are indicated by many of the entries. The book itself is composed of several quarto sheets of paper tacked together, and is without any cover. By it we learn that in 1545 and 1549 much of the plate and " ` jewels " were sold, and a " " bybyl," a book of homilies, and one of Erasmus on the New Testament bought. Another Bible was purchased in 1562, and in 1564 a chalice to suit the new ritual. A large number of entries refer to the parish feasts and church ales, whilst in each year's expenditure, until 1540, occurs the item, " Paid for the Frare Clerke, ijs.," a payment the meaning of which has not yet been explained. Many extracts from these interesting accounts will be found in Cartwright's "Rape of Bramber," pp. 13-16. The registers date as far back as 1540, when they commence in two books, one of baptisms, the other of burials, marriages being entered sometimes in one, some-times in the other. These books end in 1557, and from 1558 to 1600 one large book is employed. The burial book of 1540 has been bound in two leaves of a pre-Reformation service book, apparently about 1450 in date, but now so dilapidated that only a few words can be deciphered here and there. A similar use of the ancient office books was not uncommon, and there is an example at Compton, Surrey, where the Churchwarden's Book, beginning in 1570, is bound in two leaves of a "Processional," which once belonged to the Abbey of Hyde, near Winchester.25 Besides the above documents there has been preserved the original charter for a market here, granted 26th of Henry VI. It was held on Saturdays, and is mentioned as being a small one in a work published in 1770, and in which it is also stated that two fairs were held here on April 5th and October 2nd "for Pedlars' goods."26 These are now kept on March 25th and October 4th. The remains of the Manor House of the Archbishops of Canterbury are situated east of the church, and are sufficiently perfect to serve the purposes of a parish school. Part of the buildings is evidently of thirteenth century date, but the greater portion is of the fifteenth. An excellent specimen of half-timber work exists in a dwelling opposite the George and Dragon Inn, and an old house, formerly at Tarring, is engraved in our "Collections," Vol. XXX., p. 198. Forming a tail-piece to this article is a sketch of an ancient shop, which stood at the corner of the newly-formed Glebe Road; it is of antiquarian interest, though not ecclesiastical, and is given here, as such remains have become very rare, and I only know of one such example now existing in a country village in the south of England-one at Lingfield, Surrey. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that the well-known inscription on Seldon's cottage, at Salvington, may be paralleled by a much earlier one at Cleeve Abbey, Somerset, where there is written on the gateway: "Porta patens esto nulli claudaris honesto." In the compilation of this paper I have received much valuable information and thoughtful help from the worthy Rector of Tarring, the Rev. Dr. Sprlngett, to whom my best thanks are due.
ADDENDA MONUMENTS.-There are now on the tower walls the following inscriptions: In a vault Adjacent lye To Sacred Sacred to the memory of Thomas Markwick, In the Churchyard is a tomb inscribed: Here lieth the Bodie of Three tombs of eighteenth century date are for George Edmunds d 4, April, 1745, Mary wife of Edmund Sayers. d, 15 Aug. 1736, John Sayers, d, 5 March, 1795, Other high tombs are for members of the following families: Barker, Burnand, Edmunds (4), Firebrace, Longman, Loud, Mark-with, Parker, Sayers, Tribe (3), Warter and Waterman. Members of the following families are commemorated by head stones: Akers, Aldridge, Amoor, Annesley, Ansfield, Austin, Ball, Baker, Barker, Bartley (2), Basford, Belchamber, Bellew, Betting, Bowley (2), Briggs, Brooker (William, d, 6 June, 1797), Brudenell (2), Burfield (Mary, d, 11 Feb., 1758), Burt, Burtenshaw (2), Bushby (4), Card, Carter (2), Cawte, Challender, Chandler, Chipper (10), Collins, Cook, Coombs, Cooper, Cotton (3), Cutler (3), Dalbiac, Duffield, Edmunds (3), Field, Fortescue, Fowler (3), Franks, Fuller (2), Gardner, Gates, Green, Greenfield, Greeson, Grenstead (3), Griller (William, 1777), Goble (3), Hale (Thomas, d, 19 Dec., 1761), Hamper (Jane, 29 Sep., 1712), Haybitter, Hazelgrove (2), Heaver, Hide (2), Hill, Head, Hodson, Holcombe (4), Holden (Jane, d, 4 May, 1796, and three other stones), Hollands (2), Howard, Hubbert, Kemp, Kennard, Kent, Lambeth, Lellyett, Long (Blensel, d. 27 Dec., 1731, and two other stones), Longley, Lords, Loud, Markwick (3), Medhurst, Mercer, Middleton, Mitchell (5), Moore (3), Motts (2), Overington, Overton (3), Paine (2), Parsons (5), Patching, Peachey (3), Peacock, Pelling (4), Penfold, Platt, Poland (3), Pryor, Puttock (John, d. 7 March, 1771), Randall, Rennard, Riddles (3), Roberts, Rogers (Ann, d. 25 March, 1761), Rogers (Susanna, 16 June, 1794), Rushforth, Sanders (4), Sayers (John, 1 April, 1759), Savers (Jane, 11 April, 1773, and another stone), Scott, Sivyer, Smith, Spencer, Stafford (John, 1788), Stan-bridge (3), Standing (2), Steadman (2), Stevens (2), Street (2), Streeter (4), Stringer (2), Suter, Thorpe (2), Tully (Jane, 7 July, 1721), Tully (Ralph, 19 Sep., 1741), Vaughan, Verrall, Vigne, Walls, Weatherstone, Weller (3), Whidby, Whitpaine (2), Widgett, Wilbore, Winton (4), Wisdom, Young.
References 1 Mr. Gibbon, in an article on the "Dedication of Sussex Churches,"
quotes the will of John Stammer, the elder, dated 1534, as confirmatory of this
dedication, as the testator directs the burial of his body "in the
churchyard of S. Andrew, at Tarring" (" S.A.C.," Vol. XIL, p.
110). In Sussex churches are dedicated to St. Andrew at the following places:
Alfriston, Beddingham, Chichester, Dean-West (Chichester), Didling, Edburton,
Fairlight, Ferring, Ford, Guestling (?), Jevington, Nuthurst, Oving, Steyning,
Stoke-West, Tangmere and West Tarring. There were also formerly churches so
called at Hastings and Lewes, and a chapel at Pagham. Fletching is dedicated to
SS. Diary and Andrew. From
Sussex Archaeological Collections XLI,
MDCCCXCVIII
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