St John the Baptist's Church, Clayton

St John the Baptist's Church is an Anglo-Saxon church in Clayton, West Sussex, with a tall nave without aisles connecting to a square-ended chancel. The walls are primarily constructed from flint, giving the building its distinctive structural appearance.

The building dates from 1050 and was originally dedicated to All Saints before William de Warenne gifted it to Lewes Priory in 1093. This donation linked the church to the Benedictine monastery and shaped its development for centuries.

The walls display medieval paintings from the early 12th century created by monks from Lewes Priory, showing scenes of the Day of Judgment. These murals remain a rare example of monastic artistic skill preserved on the interior surfaces.

The church is open daily and can be made accessible for visitors with mobility issues through portable ramps upon request. Regular Sunday services take place, offering the best times to experience the interior.

The building preserves some of England's oldest surviving medieval murals, though they require regular cleaning due to bat presence in the structure. This natural habitation creates an interesting tension between art preservation and wildlife habitat.

Location: Hassocks

Inception: 11 century

Architectural style: Anglo-Saxon architecture

GPS coordinates: 50.91050,-0.15340

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:07