St Giles' Church, Horsted Keynes

St Giles' Church is a stone building with a central tower topped by a broach spire, decorated with lancet windows and thick walls built in the Norman style. Inside, you will find a 13th-century heart shrine and three 17th-century bells hanging in the tower.

The church was founded in 1101 on land that had been used for pre-Christian worship. Its walls and foundations still contain elements from those earlier times, showing how communities built new sacred spaces on top of old ones.

The church serves as a gathering place where different generations of residents come together for regular services and community events. You can sense how deeply rooted this building is in the everyday life of the village.

The church is open to visitors throughout the year so you can examine its historic interior and architectural details up close. Plan to visit during daylight hours, as the building relies on natural light to fully appreciate the stonework and furnishings inside.

The churchyard holds the grave of Harold Macmillan, who served as British Prime Minister, making it a place connected to 20th-century national history. Around him lie generations of gravestones from families who shaped the local area over many centuries.

Location: Horsted Keynes

Inception: 12 century

Architectural style: Norman architecture

Website: http://stgileschurchhorstedkeynes.org.uk

GPS coordinates: 51.04020,-0.02810

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:56