There is far more to this small, rather humble looking village Church that first appears. Nestled in a quiet crook of the South Downs National Park, St Peters, Southease (East Sussex), is a Grade 1 Listed Building of significant historical and cultural import. Given by King Edgar in 966 to the Abbey at Hyde, it has been a place of Worship for over 1000 years, and is recorded in the Doomsday book.

Important for its antiquity, its architecture is Norman/early Gothic. The original chancel and aisles have been lost, but the reduced-size church has existed for centuries. It has a 12th Century Round Tower (one of only three in East Sussex), one of the two bells in the tower dates from 1280 and inside it has early medieval wall paintings. It has attracted visitors from all over the world, including former Secretary-General of the UN, Kofi Annan. It is that remarkable a place.

Located on the South Downs Way, day-to-day maintenance of the church and grounds is undertaken by the villagers on a voluntary basis, who also ensure the church is kept open daily to visitors and walkers. Southease is a tiny village, and the church holds a great deal of importance for those who live there. It is the centre of their community. Lacking any other shared community space, the church is the only place for meetings, concerts, lectures and coffee mornings too, and is therefore so much more than a place of worship and quiet reflection. All the villagers (not just church goers) make use of and contribute towards the support and maintenance of the Church.

The grounds are maintained in keeping with the principles of wilding and local habitat provision. They are home to a great many insects, slow worms and very likely grass snakes. They provide hunting habitat for local Barn Owls, Kestrels and other local birds of prey. In summer evenings they are a popular hang out for local bats. They are also planted with a great many snowdrops, some quite rare, which carpet the ground in very early spring. By late spring, the grounds are filled with wild flowers and grasses.

It is a unique and very special place.

Unfortunately, the ceiling woodwork was damaged by Aspergillosis and other spores following contract work on the roof four years ago. As the spores are dangerous the Church had to be shut to the public on immediate discovery and remained closed for well over a year (having previously been closed during lockdown). This was great tragedy, risking further damage to the interior of the church, including the frescoes.

There was a great deal of effort and work put into the resolution of the problem following the closure. The contractors insurance would not pay for the required fungicidal treatment without a Court Order and the Church could not afford to go to Court to secure one.

The cost of the work, along with readying the church for opening was estimated at £15000. The structural work was approved by the Architect (as per requirement) and carried out at the beginning of 2023, and the Church was finally able to re-open to the public in February 2023.

A significant portion of the cost of this essential work has now been covered by donation, but not all. And this is what we are presently fundraising for. Any monies raised over this will go towards the further maintenance and upkeep of this much loved historical building.

Anything you can give will be wonderful and deeply appreciated by both Church and local community.