Description

SU 6208 SOUTHWICK AND WIDLEY HIGH STREET, EAST SIDE
17/37 Church of St James Without
6.3.67 the Priory Gate (formerly
listed as Church of James)
I
An Augustinian priory was established at Southwick c.1150, but the church
probably existed before that time. John Whyte was granted the possession of the
priory (at the Dissolution) in 1539, and also the offices and dignities of Lay
Prior, Ordinary, Patron and Rector of the Peculiar and Parish of Southwick. John
Whyte restored (virtually rebuilt) the church in 1566, and it is clear that
materials from the priory became re-used, including some detailed features. Walls
of flint and stone rubble, with extensive roughcast rendering: upper tower walls
of flint, and lower of stone and flint chequerwork: stone dressings. Tile roof.
Nave with medieval south wall, containing moulded stone features from the priory,
chancel, north chapel and north aisle of the Tudor restoration, a south porch, and
a west tower set within the west end of the nave. The arcading has flattened
Tudor arches on octagonal piers with moulded caps, there are C14 windows to the
nave and coupled Tudor lights to the north aisle and chapel, a Perpendicular
east window, and triple "domestic" windows to the chancel. There is a remarkable
series of furnishings. A C18 wood reredos with coupled Doric fluted pilasters
supporting a balustrade (all painted to imitate marble), enclosing a painting
of cherubs in adoration. Panelling with bolection mouldings flanks the reredos:
there is an Elizabethan altar table and a Jacobean communion rail. Two box pews
(one the Squire's Pew) are in the chancel: three decker pulpit of C16 and C17
panelling. Late C17 west gallery with panelled front above four twisted oak
pillars, approached by stairways from the panelled entrance beneath the tower.
C12 octagonal font on a late C19 Gothic base. The Whyte monument between chancel
and chapel comprises a C15 table tomb with shields (some with brass faces) in
quatrefoils, and moulded slab with later inset brasses to the Whyte family, and
a classical canopy (1566) with detached columns on pedestals, supporting gabled
entablatures, and a central entablature with a pediment. Opposite, a three-
panelled moulded stone frame contains plaques with the Arms of the Norton family.
Two wall monuments in the chapel are dated 1748 and 1754 and the chapel altar is
of panelled stone. A panel above the chancel beam contains the Prescriptions,
and two on the front of the gallery are bequest boards: there is a hatchment west
of the south door (leading to the former porch, now the vestry). Other fittings
include two brass chandeliers, fragments of glass, and a carved Purbeck capitol
of 'stiff-leaf' style.

Listing NGR: SU6264608510

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Church of St James Without the Priory Gate at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q17528687

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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