An old church in Donnington West Sussex
There is something special about old churches. This church was built in 1250AD
St George’s is a Grade 1 Listed Building, the chancel and aisled nave are C13, whilst the tower is C16. The north chapel was largely rebuilt during C19 and the nave was reconstructed after a fire in 1939.
The chancel is deflected to the north & its lancets include 3 stepped east ones, these are roll-moulded inside with hood-moulds & a string-course linking their internal sills & those of the side lancets.
The double-chamfered chancel arch has corbels for the inner order.
On the western side there is a small recess to the north, either the opening for a squint or intended as a nave altar.
The nave arcades date from 1939 and resemble the chancel arch.
A north chapel recorded in 1542 however little of the original remains, a half-arch connecting it with the aisle is related to the arcades, denoting that a structure has been in this position for a much longer period of time. The addition of this blocked the north-west lancet of the chancel.
The tie beams of the chancel noted as not being C13 do not appear to be either C19 or C20.
The C16 tower at the west end of the south aisle blocks the western arch of the arcade, this has heavy over-hanging battlements adorned with gargoyles and the un-cusped openings are set in square surrounds with a four-centred doorway leading into the aisle. Another four-centred doorway in the north aisle suggests work during C16 elsewhere and the panelled tracery (renewed) of the west window could be C16 or perhaps earlier.
Work after the reformation was mainly to the windows.
The 1939 fire caused extensive damage, mainly to the nave; this was carried out by F Etchells and concluded in 1942. During this time the arcades and nave roof were replaced but many existing fittings removed.
Work to the tower was carried out in 1965-1966, here the battlements were renewed and the gargoyles re-instated.
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