Sussex Churches: Didling
Another of those ‘little lost’ Sussex churches in the middle of nowhere. The number of cars parked nearby indicated that there’s a good walk up into the downs from here. The church has a magnificent ancient yew tree (once nearly accidentally cut down) and sweeping views to the North. But it was the words ‘Jacobean woodwork’ that drew me to Didling.
The pulpit and altar rails are Jacobean, the pews variously described as 16th or 17th century according to where you read.
An interest in church pewing arrangements may seem a bit niche, but they can be very revealing of how status was demonstrated and perceived in the past. Here all the pews are of a similar size - perhaps too small a place for social distinctions to matter too much. I like the candle holders - there is no artificial lighting here - it brings home how different a candle-lit church would have looked to today, particularly when we are getting towards the depths of winter dark as now.
Jacobean altar rails:
