Sunday

We started by walking the dogs early while it was still cool. The fields were amazingly wet, and the threshing and baling machines had to wait till the sun had dried the land and crops. Then coffee and a change of clothes before church. Ifield Church is very old, and interesting. 

 Ifield Church and the Lychgate

One can walk towards it through the fields, very rural indeed, but we went by car. So near modern Crawley and Gatwick Airport, it is surprising to find an authentic old church plus the cottages around it. The church, built on an earlier wooden one it is thought, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. It also served the nearby priory of Rusper, and Rusper Road is where my friends live. The congregation was very friendly, my host did the intercessions. His wife is a reader. 

Ringing the bell in the tower

There are three bells, one is rung by a warden before the service. Although a pretty church in an old churchyard and surrounded by characteristic cottages, I was surprised that people can spoil an old church not thinking of its history.

One of the old cottages around the church. Very desirable and very expensive

The porch has nice columns in a gothic style, but they have been closed with some wooden boards or planks. They should be repaired and opened up, I think.

The outside of the porch

The modern wooden floor and the light wooden pews may be made of beautiful wood, but they look very strange in this old church, and clash with the style of the church. Worst of all is the oldest object in this church, the 12^th century Norman font. It had been placed in front of the choir. A lectern was placed on it and a microphone, and it was used as such. The lectern forms a lid on the baptismal font and can be lifted if needed. It seemed sacrilege to me. 

The font/lectern

Of course churches have to be lived in, to be used. The Victorians also changed a lot and added the high altar against the East wall which is no longer in use. But using an ancient font as a lectern? It beats me.

 Ifield Church. Above: two altars

We left quickly after the service to make it home as a storm was brewing, which fortunately did not hit us in the end but rained upon others. The planes however took a different flight path, right over the house, to avoid the storm.  The sky was amazing.

The storm which never happened

Later in the afternoon we went to Worth Abbey, a Benedictine monastery with a school attached to it, and a very large, modern church, an amazing piece of architecture. It is used for retreats, conferences, study groups and the like. The new wooden pews were true works of art, but already showed cracks in places where the different pieces of wood were joined together. 

 Above, one of the side chapels in this stunning round church (below)

To the left: the school buildings. 

In the middle: the abbey, chapel and living quarters of the monks

To the right: the round church open to everybody

The location of the church on the hillside with wide views over the countryside is splendid. After visiting the church we went for a walk around the grounds, to gardens meant for meditation and study. My friend has taken several study courses here, and I can think of no better place. Here are some pictures of the interior of the church.

In the evening we enjoyed another al fresco meal till it became too dark and chilly.

I did some packing, but left most of it for the next morning. The stars were amazing, and I heard owls during the night.