Country Churches

No. 95. St.Mary the Virgin Petworth

Much of the present building dates from the 13th and 14th centuries though the first Rector was instituted in 1238. Restorations in 1827 and 1903 have done much to alter the internal appearance. Until 1947 the tower was capped by a spire but this had to be demolished as unsafe.

The interior, especially the broad nave, is somewhat gloomy. The barrel roof ceiling with its 120 blue moulded panels, each bearing a cross and the monogram IHS, dates from the restoration by Lord Leconfield in 1903-4. Above the chancel arch is a rose window containing early 19th century German glass. A single gallery remains at the West End under which stands a statue of George O'Brien, 3rd Lord Egremont. In the south wall is a fine War Memorial window showing the fall of Satan especially emphasising the red of Hell fire. Regimental badges of the Royal Sussex Regiment, the Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment, the Royal Artillery, the York and Lancaster Regiment and the Royal Garrison Artillery are also depicted.

The 14th century chancel was redecorated in 1904. The attractive East Window shows in its upper division the 4 Latin doctors who translated the Scriptures -Augustine, Ambrose, Gregory the Great and Jerome. The centre panel depicts a Crucifixion scene with the Blessed Virgin Mary and St.Thomas of Canterbury on the left and St.John the Divine and St.Richard of Chichester on the right. Finally the lower panel depicts the six Old Testament prophets who spoke of the Passion - Hosea, Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zachariah and David.

The Reredos, designed by C.E.Kempe and Walter Tower, of carved oak and gilt includes the figures of St.Wilfrid, St.Stephen and St.John the Baptist on the left, a central Nativity scene, and on the right St.Paul St.Andrew and St.Augustine. The altar was dedicated in 1950 as a memorial to a wartime tragedy when a German bomb fell on the Boy's School in North Street killing 27 children and 2 teachers.

The chapel on the north side, dedicated to St.Thomas of Canterbury is especially interesting. It contains the magnificent tomb of Sir John Dawtrey, who died in 1542, and his wife Jane. They are shown kneeling on green hassocks. Their coat of arms above have been repainted in the original colours. Above the tomb is a 15th century jousting helmet. Bronze coffin plates on the East wall commemorate the Percy family of the Earls of Northumberland buried in the vault beneath. Above is the Private Gallery of the Wyndham family.

The Baptistery under the tower contains an octagonal stone 14th century font as well as two fine sculptures. One, by John Flaxman R.A. is of the Madonna and Child. The other by John Edward Carew is of a female figure holding a cross with the Percy Arms above. It was erected by the Earl of Egremont in 1837 in memory of his Percy ancestors. Carew the sculptor was employed at Petworth. He felt his talents had gone unrecognised so he carved a small inscription at the top of the plinth which reads 'J.E.Carew Sculptor Fecit. Proh Pudor Academiae non Academicus' (To the shame of the Academy not an Academician). No false modesty here....

The whole church is choc-a-bloc with memorial tablets far too many to mention in detail. Many relate to former rectors such as Nicholas Smyth (Rector 1561-91) who died in 1622 "after he had continued faithful pastor of this church at Petworth the space of 30 years 11 months and upwards." Other tablets commemorate the leading families of Petworth and local M.P.s such as Sir Henry Peachey (1671-1737) and his brother James Peachey, Governor of Gambroon (Bandar Abbas in the Persian Gulf) and also M.P. for Leominster.

All in all a church full of historical interest which deserves unhurried study.

John Symonds