St Peter's Church, Ardingly

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St Peter’s Church, Ardingly, is the Church of England parish church for Ardingly in West Sussex. The present building dates from the 14th century and stands west of the village centre. It is a stone church in Decorated Gothic style and is a Grade I listed building.

History in brief
- Ardingly began as a Saxon settlement. A church was founded on this site in the 11th century, likely by William de Warenne, with the advowson later given to Lewes Priory around 1100.
- By the mid-14th century, wealth from the wool trade led to a new church on the same site: a nave with a south aisle and a chancel, built around 1330–1350, with most of the earlier church removed.
- The large stone tower was added in the early 15th century; it has no spire and may have served defensive or beacon purposes.
- After the Reformation, control of church property passed through several hands until 1925, when the Church Pastoral Aid Society took patronage.

Restoration and changes
- By 1724 the church was in poor repair, but repairs followed and bells were added in the 18th century.
- Victorian restorations in 1853 and 1887 updated the interior, added a vestry and a north aisle, and raised capacity to about 280. The rood screen was moved, and an organ was installed and later replaced.
- A 12th-century capital from the earlier Norman church was found during restoration and is displayed in the church.
- In the 20th century, a liturgical East window (1900), additional stained glass, a new lychgate, reredos and altar (1913), and a new organ (1939; replaced in 1972) were added.
- The churchyard was extended in 1944 onto Wakehurst land, preserving older gravestones.

Architecture and features
- The church is built of stone in Decorated Gothic style. It has a square tower, a nave, a chancel, and north and south aisles, plus a 15th-century wooden porch.
- The roof is covered with Horsham stone. The chancel has hood-moulded windows, a priest’s door, and a piscina and an aumbry. Medieval stained glass remains in some windows.
- A 12th-century capital from the Norman church is displayed inside the church.

Listed status
- St Peter’s was designated a Grade I listed building on 28 October 1957.

Worship and parish life
- The church holds two services every Sunday: Holy Communion (using the 1662 Book of Common Prayer) and Morning Worship. There is also a youth group and a Sunday school.
- The parish covers a large rural area with Ardingly as the main population centre; the B2028 road runs north–south through the parish.