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St Mary
EAST GULDEFORD
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St Mary’s was built under the patronage of Sir Richard de Guldeford and was consecrated on 20th September 1505. It is unusual in that it is the only one of the Marsh churches originally constructed of brick and is the only one in Sussex, rather than Kent.
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The interior is dominated by a striking late-19th century painted frieze of angels illustrating the Six Days of Creation.
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The village has a few scattered houses, with a farm shop and garden centre nearby. East Guldeford is close to the historic town of Rye and the famous sands at Camber.
Access
The church is usually open. Please note it is necessary to cross a privately-owned field to reach the church - cars should not be parked on this field unless pre-agreed with the owner or church. The gate may be untied if necessary but it should be re-tied after passing through.
Footpath information can be found here
Churchwardens:
Mrs Annie Thorne
Email: anniebakersheepfarm@gmail.com
Tel: 07808211228
Mr Richard Baker
Email: rhbakerandson@btinternet.com
Tel: 07960175918
Postcode: TN31 7PA
park.ringers.jumped
(What3Words is a service which identifies precise locations. The service has given every 3m square a unique three word combination)
Parking & Road Access Notice:
Please be aware that the church does not have on-site parking. Pedestrian access is via local footpaths across nearby fields, or via a road that can be busy and it does not have a pavement.
Visitors may be able to park at Salts Farm Café/Garden Centre, which is often happy to accommodate this if a purchase is made. However, reaching the church from there still requires walking along a short section of road without a pavement or designated crossing. This route should be used with caution and is undertaken entirely at your own risk. You may instead prefer to attend a church-organised event, where parking in the field may have been arranged for visitors.
These access arrangements are outside the control of the Trust unfortunately. Any questions or concerns should be directed to the church and/or the local Council.
A footpath walking route also runs past the church across nearby fields as marked on OS maps.
Huge buttresses were built to prevent the church from sinking or subsiding in the marshy ground.
This Church is reached by crossing nearby fields. Several footpaths run close to the church.
The interior is simple, now one open space. There is no structural division between the nave and the chancel.
Sir Richard Guldeford reclaimed the salt marsh here and built the church at his own expense on his lands. He supported King Henry VII in the Wars of the Roses.
The most striking feature is the painted frieze of angels which decorates the chancel, painted in the late 19th or early 20th Century.
St Mary's Church at East Guldeford is the only one of the medieval marsh churches in Sussex, in the Diocese of Chichester.
The mural theme draws on the six stone angel corbels that decorated the chancel of the 16th Century church.
The church has many interesting features, including this bell.
The unusual double-pitched clay tile roof dates to 1764.
The church is built entirely of brick laid in English bond. The walls are three feet thick. The outside was once covered in plaster.
The churchyard has some headstones dating from the early 18th century and a memorial cross to those who lost their lives in the first World War.
Find out more
Discover more about St. Mary’s at East Guldeford with our new self-guided tour. Scan the QR code on your mobile device or click the tour button to view online.
Listen online
An audio-only version of the tour is also available to listen to here.
The Marsh Mosaics Art Trail - Downloadable Handouts
