The Ecclesiastical Parish of Rotherfield
This picturesque village has a population of about 3000 people and the Parish incorporates parts of Eridge Green and Mark Cross. The centre of the village includes many Grade 2 listed buildings as well as the Grade 1 listed Church of St Denys. Rotherfield village was designated a Conservation Area in the early 1970's. Ashdown Forest is close by and Tunbridge Wells some seven miles distant. Eastbourne and the coast are about 22 miles away.
Situated on high ground in the High Weald of Sussex, Rotherfield is believed to be one of the oldest Saxon settlements in what was an area of oak forest, and is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name of the original settlement was 'Ridrefeld' but it has gone through a number of variations over the centuries. It is thought to have come from the Anglo-Saxon word 'hrither' meaning horned beast, bull or cow, and 'feld' which is Old English for open country, hence 'the open country where the horned cattle feed.'
In Saxon times there was an area of cleared land around the church on its hilltop site and the pioneer farms were scattered at lower elevations along the sides of the valley where spring water and strips of water meadow were close by.
Rotherfield was a royal estate mentioned in the will of King Alfred in 899AD and in about 1015 we find mentioned in the will of Aethelstan, third son of King Edgar, that the lands at Rotherfield were to be given to the Nuns Minster of St Mary's, in Winchester, together with one silver crucifix, value £5, a lot of money in those days. William Rufus took possesion of Rotherfield for hunting and it is known that he hunted over the part of the area which is still called Horsegrove.
In 1414 the Church and its lands were taken from the French Abbey of St Denys and the monks either dispersed or returned to France. The church and lands were transferred to the monks of Rochester who belonged to the same Benedictine order.
The Founding Of The Church
St Denys was a Frenchman who became the first Bishop of Paris. On the orders of the Roman Emperor Valerian he was tortured and beheaded in 270AD on the hill later called Montmartre because he refused to offer sacrifices in the Temple of Mercury, which at the time crowned the hill. Legend has it that his decapitated corpse carried his head to an area north east of Paris where the Benedictine Abbey of St Denys was founded. In 629AD the King of France built a monastry to his memory at Montmartre and the monks there became famous for the cures resulting from their prayers for the sick.
Duke Bertoald, who was the Duke of the South Saxons, had estates which included Rotherfield. As a sick man Duke Bertoald travelled to the monastry in Paris in quest of a cure and in a few days, by the mercy of God, he was completely healed. As a thank-offering he built a church on his estate called Ridrefeld in the year 792AD. He also established a sub-priory consisting of a prior and 12 monks from the St Denys' monastry and gave them use of the harbours of his estate at Hastings and Pevensey together with the salt pits and all appurtenances. Unfortunately we do not know exactly whereabouts in the village the priory was located.
Early History
Nothing remains of Bertoald's original 8th century church, as it would almost certainly would have been built of wood from surrounding forest. It is possible that there were three wooden churches before the present sandstone one.
According to legend, the Danes sailed up the Medway as far as Tonbridge and then continued overland, pillaging and plundering as they went. Rotherfield lies approximately in the path of the Danes on their way to meet King Alfred's army at Halland. The Danes were driven back and scattered in the region of Saxonbury Hill, which is between Mark Cross and Frant. It is possible that they burned down the existing wooden church at that time.
The Present Church
The present sandstone building dates from about 1060 and stands in the centre of the village. Its spire, reaching to a height of 165 feet, is a familiar landmark for miles around. The oldest part of the church is the north-east corner of the building and is believed to have been erected on the site of the original wooden buildings. Known as the Nevill Chapel, it is named after the Nevill branch of the Abergavenny family, the Lords of the Manor from 1450. The rest of the building dates primarily from the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries, with later additions such as the 15th century tower and porch. The 15th century spire was destroyed by the Great Storm of October 1987 and two years later was replaced by one of steel construction.
The 12th/13th century nave was originally oblong with a flat roof, the recesses for the beams can be seen on the chancel arch. The nave has an attractive wagon roof with magnificent arched rafters, a vivid illustration of the skills of medieval craftsmen. The north aisle with its circular pillars dates from about 1250 and the south aisle with its octagonal pillars dates from the 14th century. The cross hanging over the altar was made by a local carpenter using oak beams from the old spire. Nearby is all that remains of the gilded cross from the top of the original spire. The roofs of both aisles have been raised and the sloping line of the north aisle roof can be clearly seen above the wall painting at the east end, as well as externally at the west end of both aisles.
The late 19th century box pews are unusual in that they are tiered at the west end of the nave. Near the south door is an unusual alms box, dated 1846, with a cross for the money slot. On the other side of the south door is a plaque commemorating the founding of the church in 792AD and a framed copy of the wording of Duke Bertaold's will. Beneath the First World War Memorial is a table used as an altar by the Archbishop of Canterbury on the occassion of a field military church service held at Hesdin, France on Sunday 21st May 1916.
The massive 12th/13th century Early English chancel arch has part of the molding cut away. This would have accommodated the rood screen which no longer exists, although it is thought that part of it has been used for some of the screening between the chancel and the Nevill Chapel.
The chancel also dates from the 12th/13th century and may originally have been apsed (curved) at the east end. It must have been extended at an early date as the sedilla (clergy seats) and piscina (for washing communion vessels) on the south side of the sanctuary are also 13th century and are amongst the finest of their kind and date. The ridge of the chancel roof curves to the south, symbolic of Christ's head drooping on the cross. The lancet windows on the south side are of different size and date and the leaded lights still have one or two pieces of ancient glass in them. The oak choir stalls, with their carved finials, date from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Outside, on the south side of the chancel, it is believed there was a chantry chapel with access directly to it through an archway, the outline of which is still visible and now partly taken up by a stained glass window. The priest's door still still exists in the chancel's south wall. On the outside of the east wall of the south aisle a large blocked up archway can be seen. This gave access to the stairway within the wall, and inside above the pulpit, a blocked door is visible. This would have given access from the chantry chapel to the top of the rood screen from where the Deacon sang the Gospel.
The Nevill Chapel, in the north east corner of the church, is the original stone building constructed in the 11th century and there is evidence of Saxon stonework externally. During the alterations of 2000/2001 a Tudor fireplace was uncovered, situated next to the Easter sepulchre, the recessed arch where the host was placed between Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday.
The two massive reeded beams across the roof are thought to be as originally constructed and are of great age. The roof has many interesting carved wooden bosses including two 'Green Men' and other grotesque heads as well as the coat of arms of the Nevill family. The large piscina (for washing communion vessels) in the east wall is still functional and the altar table replaces one that was stolen some years ago. A local craftsmen made it from timber salvaged from the spire blown down in October 1987.
The newest parts of the church comprise a Clergy Vestry located in the south-west corner of the nave and a Utility Area with small kitchen and toilet facilities in the north-west corner. Ramps for the disabled have been provided. The Nevill Chapel has been restored to its former glory following the removal of the clergy vestry and the old pipe organ. The new three-manual Digital Computing Organ (Bradford System) was designed and voiced by Hugh Banton of the Organ Workshop. The organ console is installed at the end of the choir stalls with the speakers located above the Nevill Chapel screen and at the west end of the Nave. The sound produced is better than a traditional pipe organ since the instrument does not go out of tune. While traditionalists may lament the demise of the pipe organ the reality is that many churches can no longer afford to maintain them and prefer to put the space and their financial resources to better use. Most people, on hearing our organ, wonder where the pipes are located and are surprised to be told that the sound is computer generated. To be technically accurate the acoustics of real pipes is mathematically modelled in real time by the digital computer which is why the organ sound is exactly like (if not better) than a real pipe organ. Certainly our organ is enjoyed by visiting organists and rated as excellent.
A public address system incorporating a loop system for the hard of hearing has been installed. A recent major project was the provision of new tapestry kneelers designed and worked by local parishioners. Many of the the kneelers, which can be seen in the pews, commemorate family and village links.
A project to upgrade the interior church lighting was completed in January 2009. This was undertaken by CES, a professional church lighting company.