About us

Church buildings, especially old ones like St Marys, have a long development in their size and shape. Their interiors also change for many reasons – wealth, fashion, religious allegiances. In the living memory of many who attend St Mary’s there have been at least two Transformation Projects.  

The current Transformation Project started while Rev Brian Pritchard was vicar (2006 – 2016). In 2006 Patricia French (Churchwarden) and Chris Pratt (Deputy Churchwarden) brought to the PCC their concerns about wheelchair access. One possible solution – removing a pew somewhere in the church and creating a ramp up onto the pew plinth – was quickly ruled out by the Diocese. Similarly, a proposal to raise the flooring in the aisles to plinth level was also ruled out, not least because it would create level difficulties at the doors.

Visits to other churches were made to see what they had done. Chris pushed with enthusiasm the Ifield movable pews idea, but that did not meet with the wide approval within the PCC.

Rev. Pritchard and the PCC agreed that a proper scheme should be considered and so surveyor Richard Glover was engaged to work up some designs and costs. In parallel, Chichester Diocese recommended strongly a complete re-ordering and also indicated where approval for any project would be withheld if it either included, or did not include, certain aspects.

In April 2009 John Woolliscroft assumed the role of Project Leader and worked tenaciously alongside Richard Glover.  Amenity Societies (English Heritage, SPAB, etc) and the Diocesan Advisory Committee (“DAC”) were consulted and a series of meetings were held with members of the congregation to explain the project.

On 22 September 2009 the PCC agreed unanimously to go ahead with the full- blown project which was then expected to cost around £500,000 – £600,000.

Having secured very positive DAC responses when the project was submitted for informal advice, the formal Faculty Application was submitted in autumn 2010. This though was surprisingly rejected by the DAC.

In the autumn of 2011 another Faculty Application was made. There was some delay but in Easter 2012 the application was approved by the Diocese giving an outstandingly positive recommendation. The project was given a three-year deadline.

The project though, following the approval uncertainties of the last two years, was not ready to proceed. There were personnel changes. Funding was not in place and it was anticipated that a faculty extension for the building work would be needed. In 2015 a five-year extension was secured from the Diocese for until summer 2020 (a five-year extension is rare – usually only three years is granted).

In early 2016 Rev Brain Pritchard left St Marys, leaving Tim Foulsham as Chair of the project. In Autumn 2016 Rev David Beal became vicar of St Mary’s and work to progress the project started again in early 2017.

With a new vicar came a review of the plans and an appreciation of the significantly increased costs. Over the next five years a new architect Simon Dyson was appointed, new plans were drawn up dividing the project into two phases so as to spread financial strain, new contractors such as Quantity Surveyors and Structural Engineers were appointed, the new plans for phase one were submitted to the DAC and approved, consultation with Horsham Building Control was made and plans approved, a new fire risk strategy and assessment was professionally undertaken, a new church fire alarm system planned along with a new lighting scheme for the tower area, marketing and communication consultants PMW were appointed.

Now in 2022 the project is ready to go again. The cost of the project has again risen considerably since the estimates of 2015. Yet so has the need of this beautiful and historic building to inspire the community around it. St Marys has huge potential to promote social interaction, historical appreciation and environmental development and learning, while continuing as it always has done to be a centre for Christian worship. The worst of the Covid period is hopefully behind us and a new dawn arrives.

The project has never been in a better position than in 2022!