Holy Innocents Church, Southwater, church in the United Kingdom
Holy Innocents Church in Southwater is a Victorian-era Anglican church building with a simple cross-shaped layout and walls made from local stone. Inside, the church features numerous stained glass windows, some depicting biblical scenes while others from 1986 show scenes from the history of a nearby school.
The foundation stone was laid on December 28, 1848, and the building was officially opened in 1850 by the Bishop of Chichester. Over the decades, several additions were made, including a vestry in 1909 and a new vicarage in 1854, while major repairs were carried out in 2002.
The church takes its name from December 28, the Feast of Holy Innocents, the day its foundation stone was laid. The stained glass windows inside show scenes from local history and were donated by families and schools from the area, reflecting the connection between the building and the community.
The church features a bell tower with a small bell cast in 1850 that is accessible via a 40-rung ladder within the structure. The church complex also includes graveyards, a vicarage, and a meeting house used by the local community and Scout and Guide groups.
The church's name derives from December 28, the Feast of Holy Innocents, because the foundation stone laying fell exactly on that date. The small bell measures under 17 inches across and is operated by a historic half-wheel mechanism, a rare feature that has been preserved.
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