St Botolph's Church, Botolphs, Medieval church in Botolphs, England
St Botolph's Church sits on raised ground near the River Adur with walls built from flint stone and a distinctive tall chancel arch dating to Anglo-Saxon times. The structure features modest proportions with a simple nave and chancel arrangement typical of early medieval design.
Built around 1250, this church served as a crucial crossing point over the river for the surrounding community. The location lost importance when the river's course shifted, causing the local population to move away.
The south door displays carved inscriptions from 1630, and the north wall shows three sealed arches that mark where a side section once stood before being removed.
The interior is open for visitors without requiring advance booking or paid entry. Access is easiest on foot via local walking routes that connect through countryside paths and farmland.
The interior walls hide fragments of medieval paintings beneath plaster layers, revealing how early worshippers decorated the space with color. The building never received modern heating or running water, which allowed these painted layers to survive intact over time.
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