Sompting St Mary's church

[Kevsussex]

Here are 3 pics from a trip I made to Sompting..

The Stone in the centre of the Lych Gate is also the War memorial. Stone such as these were used to rest the coffin as it entered the church. (There is a similar one at Bolney) The Prayer Book required the Priest to say prayers as a funeral entered the churchyard.

A WW1 grave marker from Flanders is an interesting addition to the inside of Sompting church.  Captain Lancelot Barrington Crofts of the Leicestershire Regt. was killed on 31st October 1914 (although this cross gives a later date) and is buried at Le Touret Cemetery in Northern France.

[John]

What an exceedingly ugly tower! Anyway, the only thing that really caught my eye here, and raised a smile, was the efforts of the local tree surgeon. We all know how to kill off a stump - cut grooves in it (or drill holes) and fill with something nasty such as creosote. At Sompting church, they take a more 'religious' approach. Odd, considering they aren't hoping for resurrection in this case  

[RWTA]

Nice to detail where most of the war dead died - lovely touch.

[John]

An old aerial view of the church at Sompting.

[pomme homme]

What an exceedingly ugly tower!

That's not ugly. That's a Rhenish Helm. And it's probably the only example of this type of spire in England!

[Pete]

What an exceedingly ugly tower!

That's not ugly. That's a Rhenish Helm. And it's probably the only example of this type of spire in England!

Churcham in Glos, say the same about their Rhenish Helm as does another one in East Anglia