St Mary
Shipley, Sussex
St Mary's stands in water meadows beside the young River Adur, close to the white windmill made famous as the fictional home of Jonathan Creek of TV fame.
Victorian rendering disguises a church whose oldest parts date back to the 11th century.
Inside, the stout columns and high arches supporting the 13th century tower suggest that a larger building was once planned. The northern wall of the nave retains fragments of a medieval wall painting of St Christopher, whilst the former chapel in the southern aisle houses two 15th century tombs with brass effigies.
Later work includes several large alabaster memorials of fine quality, plus examples of stained glass by Clayton & Bell and the company of Charles Kempe, which also provided the choir stalls and reredos.
A distinguishing feature of the church is the 19th century pews which bear the names of the various farmsteads and holdings within the parish.