East Sussex Town Guide

Tourist Guide for Ardingly West Sussex

- St. Peter's Church at Ardingly


At Ardingly's Church of St. Peter, there are some of the finest medieval brass memorials to be found anywhere in England. The most important Culpeper brasses lie beneath a carpet in the center of the chancel (the aisle leading to the altar). The vicar, whose vicarage is next door to the church, will grant entry to the church if it is locked and allows the carpet to be rolled back to view the brasses. All of the Culpepers at this church are connected with this church are of Wakehurst.

The parish church of Ardingly was given by William de Warenne, a Norman who came over with William the Conqueror, to the Priory which he and his wife Gundrada had founded at Lewes. It is possible that the Church is built on the spot which has been a burial place from time immemorial. The greater part of the present Church dates from the 14th century. The two shields in the north and south windows of the Chancel are of very early stained glassone; chequy or and az., is the coat of the Warennes.

Within the sanctuary is the altar tomb, with a fine brass, of Richard Wakehurst and Elizabeth his wife. He was member of Parliament and concerned in much public work. He was the last of the Wakehursts and died in 1454.

In the central alley of the Chancel are the brasses (pictured below) of Richard and Margaret Culpeper, d. 1516 and 1504, which originally lay before the altar, and of Nicholas (d. 1510) and Elizabeth Culpeper, with their 10 sons and 8 daughters. These two Culpeper brothers married


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