CHURCHES AND CHAPELS
Horsham and its surrounding villages has a fine collection of churches spanning the last 1000 years, their spires and towers forming a distinctive feature of the landscape.
Notable examples include the 11th century Church of St. Botolph at Hardham which has one of the most complete set of early wall paintings of any church within the British Isles, and All Saints at Buncton with a Norman nave and chancel. St Peter's at Cowfold has one of the finest 15th century brass memorials in the country.
The 12th Century Church of St Mary's, Horsham has many fine tombs, including the Shelley Tower and memorial tombs to the Norman De Braose family, who arrived with William the Conqueror and who ruled the area for over three hundred of years thereafter. Another St Mary's, this time at Shipley, has many superb stained glass windows. St Margaret's, Warnham contains the tombs of the Shelley family and the churchyard at Ashurst where the funeral of Sir Lawrence Olivier was held.
The 17th century half-timbered cottage and Quaker chapel oddly named "The Blue Idol" at Coolham is still a Friends Meeting House today but also acts as a guesthouse for travellers. The famous Quaker, William Penn of Pennsylvania, met and worshipped here with the Warminghurst Quakers, before he left for America. For visitor information, telephone: 01403 741547.
In the 19th Century, Horsham became the home of religious French émigrés who built one of the largest monasteries in the area. The Carthusian Monastery of St Hugh at Cowfold is a closed order, but the architecture can be viewed from the outside as can the French chateau style nunnery of Sacred Heart Towers at Upper Beeding.
Details of all these places and more can be obtained from Horsham's tourist Information Centre on (01403) 211661 or email tourist.information@horsham.gov.uk. Alternatively visit the West Sussex County Council website for a detals leaflet about churches in West Sussex.