Church of St Nicholas, Charlwood

The Church of St Nicholas is a Norman parish church featuring a 12th-century tower and nave, with major structural additions and modifications made between the 13th and 15th centuries. The building displays a layering of architectural styles that reflect its continued use and development over several hundred years.

Construction began around 1080 with a simple structure of nave and tower, followed by several significant medieval additions and alterations that expanded and refined the building. These changes reflect how the community's needs and resources evolved over the subsequent centuries.

The south wall displays medieval wall paintings that depict scenes from the lives of Saint Margaret and Saint Nicholas, still visible to visitors today. These illustrations reveal the religious imagery that once guided worshippers through their faith.

The church sits on The Street in Charlwood and is accessible on foot, set within a typical small English village setting. Visitors should expect uneven floors and narrow passages inside, which is characteristic of buildings that have evolved over many centuries.

A chantry chapel from the late 1400s sits on the eastern end of the south aisle, built for Richard Saunders, a man connected to royal circles. This small dedicated space reveals how the wealthy expressed personal devotion during the late medieval period.