St Margaret's Church, Ifield

The church features rough-hewn stone walls with modern cement layers, a steeply pitched medieval roof supported by substantial king posts and tie-beams, and a distinctive tower with roughcast render completed in the 1880s.

St Margaret's Church dates back to at least 1250, with the current stone structure likely built over an earlier wooden church from the 10th or 11th centuries, and has undergone significant restorations including Victorian-era extensions and a new tower.

The church houses remarkable medieval artifacts including a 12th-century baptismal font with intricate carvings, two 14th-century stone effigies believed to represent Sir John of Ifield and Lady Margaret, and stained glass windows created by 20th-century artist Brian Thomas.

St Margaret's serves as the central place of worship for the Ifield parish, which covers approximately 4,000 acres and oversees several other churches including St Leonard's in Langley Green and St Mary Magdalene's in Bewbush.

The church contains the elaborate grave of Mark Lemon, founder of Punch magazine, who was buried in the churchyard in 1870, making it a notable literary landmark within this medieval religious site.

Location: Crawley

Inception: 13 century

Website: http://stmargaretschurchifield.org

GPS coordinates: 51.12389,-0.21944

Latest update: July 25, 2025 22:30