St. Mary's Church

The building of this Grade 1 listed church started in 1106 so the 900th Anniversary was celebrated in 2006 with a special service, parties for everyone and a pageant of the 900 years of history.

The parish used to be the property of the Archbishops of Canterbury and Stephen Langton died here in 1228. There is a commemorative plaque in the church.

Slindon was one of the first places where cricket was played, and Richard Newland, known as the father of English cricket, is buried in the churchyard. It was his nephew, Richard Nyren, who moved to Hambledon and introduced the game there. Two other Richard Newlands, both eminent surgeons, lived in Slindon and stone tablets in the church record their deaths.

Later Hilaire Belloc lived here as a child and as a young married man with his wife and family. His nurse, Sarah Mew, is buried in the churchyard and his mother, Madame Belloc is buried in St. Richard’s Roman Catholic burial ground.

A beautiful window in the south transept engraved by Simon Whistler commemorates another important and more recent author, David Beaty. As well as over 20 novels he wrote a book on the Human Factor in Aircraft Accidents, which is still highly valued in the training of pilots.

Effigy of Anthony St. Leger

The most important possession is the effigy of Anthony St. Leger, who died at Binsted in 1539 and asked to be interred here. Hilaire Belloc wrote a poem about him when he was only nine! It is the only wooden effigy in Sussex although there are 96 in England and Wales. It contains symbols appropriate for a man in armour, swords and lances.

Over the years there have been many alterations and new building, and in 1866 the church was restored by the then Rector, The Rev. William Chantler Izard. The architect was T.G.Jackson. Recently handrails from the nave to the chancel have been added, and a ramp is available for wheel-chair users. Andrew Cossar, son of a former Rector, made a Bishop’s Chair and a parishioner added an attractive tapestry seat.

Today this is a small but active parish. Each month there are Prayer Book services: Holy Communion, Matins and Evensong but also Common Worship and Family Services and a well-attended Children’s Church. The present organist, John Taylor, composed the setting for the CW Communion service. There is a friendly relationship with St. Richard’s R.C. Church and joint services and social events are enjoyed by both congregations. Click here for details of services.

Worship and Prayer has been offered to God in this place for over 900 years. We pray that it will continue and that all the visitors will take away happy memories of a much-loved church.