Diocese of Chichester

Among those churches which are “doubling down” on September 13 by celebrating both Heritage Open Day and Ride + Stride are: St Mary de Haura in Shoreham, St Mary’s in Sompting, St Denys's in Rotherfield, St Thomas a' Becket in Cliffe, Lewes and Old Hamsey Church in Hamsey on the outskirts of Lewes.

Also taking part is St John the Evangelist church in Newtimber which is hosting a special memorial at 11am on September 13 to recognise the part that people enslaved on Jamaican plantations played in contributing to the wealth of the church’s 19th-century benefactor Charles Gordon – see the earlier story here.

Old Hamsey Church, Hamsey, Lewes

As part of Heritage Open Day AND the Lewes Artwave festival, Old Hamsey Church just outside Lewes is hosting This Land of Ours, an exhibition featuring prints and sculptures by British artist Keith A. Pettit. Pettit's artwork draws inspiration from the natural world, particularly his native Sussex landscape. The exhibition runs from September 6 – 21. Landscape artist Paul Evans will also be joining Keith in exhibiting his work. Keith will be on-site during Ride + Stride day from 11am to 5pm. No pre-booking needed. More info on the Heritage Open Day website

St Mary de Haura - parish church of New Shoreham

St Mary de Haura dates from 1103 and is the largest church between Brighton and Worthing. It is Grade I listed both for its historical and architectural distinctiveness. At 2.30pm on September 13, a church tour will kick off, featuring the Romanesque and transitional Gothic architecture, mediaeval graffiti, two Kempe stained-glass windows and a war memorial which honours the only RAF fighter pilot awarded the Victoria Cross in the Second World War. The church tours have been arranged in partnership with the Shoreham Society which itself is putting on a stunning range of Heritage Open Days events. More info on the Heritage Open Day website.

St Mary’s, Sompting

St Mary's Sompting

Sometimes known as the "Cathedral of the Downs", there’s been a church at Sompting since before the Norman conquest. The oldest part of the building is the Saxon Tower, which stands around 25 metres high with walls 76cm thick. It’s thought to have been built in stages, starting before 1,000 AD and the spire is the earliest example of a ‘Rhenish helm’ in England. Tours will run between 10am and 4pm;

please pre-book by emailing friends@stmarysompting.org.uk or calling 01903 245639. More info in this Sussex World article and on the Heritage Open Day website.

St Denys’s, Rotherfield

St Denys’s church in Rotherfield is a medieval church with wall paintings. Although the church tours don’t start until September 16, Ride + Stride participants are welcome to explore the church inside and out as well as to view an architecture-themed installation by local art and craft groups. More info on the Heritage Open Day website.

St Thomas a' Becket Church, Cliffe

A unique opportunity to tour the church tower (up 42 steep steps) is on offer for visitors to St Thomas à Becket Church, Lewes on September 13. There’s the chance to see the 17th-century clock (the second-oldest in Sussex) and an even more ancient oak bell frame and the four bells. The church was founded as a chapel and probably became a church after the martyr’s death in 1170, with a 14th-century nave arcade and 15th-century tower. An introductory talk will take place before the tour. The tour is free but booking is essential through Eventbrite. More info on the Heritage Open Day website.

Ride + Stride

Ride + Stride is an annual event that that raises more than £1.5 million for churches right across the UK. At the Sussex Historic Churches Trust, it is by far our biggest fundraiser of the year and plays a vital role in enabling the Trust to help churches throughout East and West Sussex. For more information on how you can take part and support your local church by getting sponsored on September 13, please see our Ride + Stride page.

Heritage Open Days The Heritage Open Days initiative, England’s largest festival of history and culture, is running September 12-21. There are scores of places to visit and activities to enjoy. Click the following links to find out what's on locally: East Sussex | West Sussex.