SUNDAY SERVICES

1st Sunday in the month9:30amFamily Service - Communion2nd Sunday8.30amHoly Communion3rd SundayNo service*
4th Sunday11.00amFamily Service - Communion
* See links below for services in the Benefice

WEB LINKS

Find out more about the nine churches in the East Downland Benefice.

For more on the Church of England's "A Church Near You" web site.
 

CONTACT DETAILS

For further information please contact:

The Revd John Toogood 01635 247566, cwando@btinternet.com

The Rev�d Lady (Denise) Brown 01635 281 825, denisefbrown@googlemail.com

You are welcome to visit the church and it is usually open during daylight hours.
 

CHILDREN'S CHURCH

Afterschool Service

Held at 4pm in the Church, once a term. Services are informal with songs to well-known tunes, participation from the children and a simple story to listen to. For further details please contact Liz Dray on 01635 281 688 or The Rev'd Lady (Denise) Brown 01635 281 825.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE CHURCH
 

It is believed that  a church has stood here since the 12th century. 

The pulpit is made from oak panels that date from the Jacobean period.

On the west wall there was originally a singers’ gallery where the village band used to play.

The Italian Archbishop, Marco Antonio de Dominis fled to England in 1616 after a row with the Pope in Rome.  He was appointed Dean of Windsor and Rector of West Ilsley by James I.  He was also a scientist and his thesis on rainbows was a work of some prominence.

De Dominis was unpopular with local tenants as he extracted large rents until the villagers complained to the Church.  In 1622 he recanted all his writing against the papacy and was excommunicated from England.  He fled to Rome, was imprisoned by the Inquisition and after his death his body was dug up and publicly burned together with all his writings.

His successor, Dr Godfrey Goodman, entertained Charles I at West Ilsley Rectory during the Civil War.