St Martin's Church, Lewes Road, Westmeston BN6 8RJ
SERVICES
The next Service in St Martin's Westmeston will be on
SUNDAY 21st APRIL 2024 AT 10.00am
Every Sunday there is Morning Worship with Communion at 10.00am in The Beacon Parish. This takes place at St Margaret's Ditchling. The third Sunday of the month the service is in either Westmeston or Streat Church. However, there are times when this changes so please always check our website - www.beaconparish.co.uk.
The first and second Sundays of the month we have Little Beacons and welcome young children.
The fourth Sunday of the month is usually an All Age Family Service - always check our website!
Wednesday@10
Every Wednesday - Holy Communion at St Margaret's Ditchling
Good Morning Friday (GMF)
Every Friday at 9.00am GMF takes place as a virtual meeting on the video conferencing platform, Zoom. If you would like to participate please email Keith Hine on keith@hinemail.co.uk
Order of St Richard - Paul Charman
We are proud that on Saturday 9th October, Bishop Martin, the Bishop of Chichester awarded Paul Charman the Order of St Richard at a service held at Chichester Cathedral. The Order of St Richard is an annual award for around 40 lay people within the Diocese who have made exceptional contributions to their parish, the local community, or the Diocese.
St Martin’s Westmeston is part of the Beacon Parish which includes St Margaret’s Ditchling and Streat Church. More information about services, the three churches, events in the Parish, youth work and other news appears on the Beacon Parish website: www.beaconparish.co.uk
The three churches in the Beacon Parish are all open during the day for individual prayer.
Churchwardens in Westmeston and The Beacon Parish
Paul Charman - pec.glebe@tiscali.co.uk or 01273 844 743
Tessa Haughton - tessahaughton@gmail.com or 01273 843 581
The nave of St Martin's church has been here since Norman times, and has been much added to over the centuries. The walls of the nave are originally Norman and so is the doorway on the north wall. The nave has been here since Norman times, and has been much added to over the centuries. The walls of the nave are original Norman and so is the doorway on the north wall.
- The chancel was added in the 13th century. The north and west walls and the arch were rebuilt in the 19th century.
- The arches and the aisle on the south are early 14th century work, and the wall here leans outwards.
- The chapel was built in the 15th century; it is now a vestry and houses the organ.
- The porch is rather fine; the brick base is 450 years old but parts of the timbering are nearly 600 years old.
- The small bell turret is 14th century repair work and contains three bells, two were cast in 1636, the third in 1712; they have since been recast.
- The font is Norman work and is unusual as it is made of chalk clunch in the shape of a cup. Only one other chalk font exists.
- The stained-glass windows are relatively modern.
- The pulpit is Jacobean and made of oak.
From the west door you will see that the chancel is 'skewed' relative to the axis of the nave. This is a common feature of English churches and is thought to be an attempt to line the later building to face Jerusalem rather than due east as was the custom of the earlier nave builders.
If you have any specific questions, do please contact the Westmeston churchwardens or the parish office – details on the website: https://www.beaconparish.co.uk
Tessa Haughton - 01273 843581 - tessahaughton@gmail.com
Paul Charman - 01273 844743 - pec.glebe@tiscali.co.uk
