St. Mary's Church, Broadwater

St. Mary's Church is a Grade I listed church in Broadwater whose walls show a mix of Norman architecture with Caen stone and Early English Gothic elements from Sussex Weald stone and flint. The building features visible layered construction and details that reveal different building phases on Broadwater Road.

The site is documented as a Saxon church in the Domesday Book of 1086, with original doorjambs from that era still visible in the tower. The building was rebuilt and expanded over centuries, with different architectural styles reflecting new needs and tastes at each stage.

The church serves as a meeting place where the community gathers on Sundays for worship combining traditional and modern music. Visitors can sense how this building remains central to local spiritual life across different generations.

The building sits on Broadwater Road with adequate parking and maintains regular opening hours for visitors and worshippers. It makes sense to check service times ahead of your visit, especially if you plan to come on a weekday.

The tomb of Thomas West, 8th Baron De La Warr from the 16th century, lay buried beneath the church floor for centuries and was rediscovered only in 2009 during renovation work. This unexpected find revealed a connection to a significant noble family that had been forgotten.