ST.JOHN THE BAPTIST (Anglican)

ST.JOHN  THE BAPTIST Is situated on one of the highest points in Westfield standing significantly on the corner as you enter the Village on what is now the A28 Hastings to Ashford road.The location, some distance from the present village centre, is often attributed to the Black Death but this is not the case.  

The building is of Norman and Early English heritage connected in the first instance to Battle Abbey.Having made long indepth research (with confirmation by archaeology experts) there is no evidence to suggest it has any Saxon origin.The earliest confirmed date is shown at the time when, with the Church at Westfield William FitzWibert the donor,  gave all customs appertaining to it. Among these was that singular one Ordeal by Water*. Ralph Bishop of Chichester (1091 – 1123) in his Deed of Confirmation of this gift adds: “and I grant the *Ordeal by Water which by a certain legal right belongs to that Church. I wish moreover and strongly maintain that as to the aforesaid Ordeal by Water no one should administer it other than the Abbot of Battle and his Monks.

WATER ORDEAL
As a test of innocence or guilt water ordeal was practised by means of both hot and cold water. In the former of these two ordeals the accused standing before a vessel of boiling water was made to plunge his bare arm into it and he was pronounced innocent or guilty accordingly as the arm, when withdrawn was found to be scalded or not. In the latter which would have applied to Westfield if used, the accused was thrown into some deep part of a pond or river where if he struggled in the least to keep himself floating on the surface of the water he was counted guilty; but if he swam without effort or omission on his part he was honourably acquitted. Water ordeal was usually applied to the commonalty. The nobility were tested by fiery ordeal.

Abbot Walter de Luci (1139-1171) one of the Abbeys administrators bought the Church at Westfield and its wist (fields etc) consisting of approximately eighty two acres.  The monks occupied the  moated property situate nearby (formerly Westfield Manor) now Church Place Farm.
In 1291 Richard Bishop of Chichester allowed the Abbey to appropriate the tithes of Westfield, the Monks paying to the Vicar 100s only besides one pilch or furred garment and decent clerical coats.
The Church at that time was valued at £5.6.8; the Vicarage being worth £6.13.4
In 1509 the Church appears to have been linked to the Priory of Warbleton. The Abbot of Battle in 1538 conveyed the Rectory and advowson to King Henry VIII who in 1544 rented them to Sir Richard Sackville but in 1551 a grant of the Rectory was made to John, Bishop of Winchester. The Crown, however, kept the advowson and Queen Elizabeth I presented Westfeilde Vicarage:
8 October 1583 to John Hopton; 13 March 1589 to William Maudesley and 25 November 1597 to William Bond.
At the beginning of the following century however, the advowson was again in the possession of the Sackvilles and the Rectory also held of the Bishop of Winchester. Richard, Second Earl of Dorset appears to have conveyed the advowson to the Bishops of Chichester who have since held it.

SALE OF CHURCH ORNAMENTS IN 1555

Robert A'Wyke in his Will dated 19 April 1555 makes the following
statement concerning the sale of the Church ornaments:-

"Whereas I have disbursed and paid for the Parishioners of Westfield for the
ornaments of the Church the sum of 36s. 4d of which ornaments I have put forth to sale one vestment for 20s. which said 20s. if my Executors can get and come by it. Then I will that the residue which 16s. 4d shall remain to the church to serve the said parishioners."

©R.Carter 2013

Construction in yellow sandstone of somewhat uneven quality is associated with Hastings being used for two ancient churches and the castle. It was employed in the Building of the churches at Battle, WESTFIELD, Sedlescombe, etc. being dug from many places in the hills around Hastings.

The tower at the Western end once gave rise to the idea that the Church was of Saxon origin. The records show this to be a later addition built in two stages – the first without buttress or stairway and secondly the addition of the bell chamber which houses three bells each inscribed:
“Sit Nomen Domini Benedictum” – “Blessed be the name of the Lord”.
This bell is mediaeval.
The second bears inscription: “Fili Dei Miserere Mei. Io. Wither, Vicar; I.Dien. L.Eavrey. R.Thomas, I.Parker.Wardnes.1698 “O Son of God have mercy on me” John Wither, Vicar with the names of the Churchwardens and date.       
The third bell is inscribed:-
“Iohn Wood fecet IB.RT.1699 Doe Gloria”
John Wood made me, 1699 “Glory to God”   (John Wood had a foundry at Bishopsgate). Due to travelling conditions many bells were made 'on site'. There appears an indentation in the churchyard which might be attributed to this.


During the late 13th early 14th century a wall painting of ST. GEORGE existed in Westfield Church. This has been destroyed.  Early architectural features to this Church include extensive buttressing, a 12th-century porch and a 14th-century font with an elaborate 17th-century cover. Above the door to the tower there is carved a Royal Coat of Arms with the list of vicars since 1250 set below. Looking towards the nave there is a Norman arch with squint windows to the side, cut through the 32 inches of stone.

GIFTS TO THE CHURCH BY PARISHIONERS IN THE 16TH CENTURY

6

June

1547

I bequethe to the Church of the said Westfield a kercheff to make a corporas”                           - Annys Harry

10

Nov

1556

I bequethe to the hye alter off the parishe churche off Westfield for my tythes and obligations forgottin and negligently witholden xxd (20d)     – John Awyck

18

Oct

1545

To the Rode (Choir) Light every yere the space of two Years 1lb of wax”                            - John Pocoke

16

Jan

1559

I geve to the churche of Westfeld a pounde of
Wax”                                           - Joan Grave

Here we have a pictorial view over the last century or more. Changes particularly

to the interior can be clearly noted

1888 JUNE - RE-OPENING OF WESTFIELD CHURCH

On the 8th, at 11 o'clock a.m. there will be Divine Service in the Parish Church, when it is hoped that the Bishop will give a short address. All parishioners are invited to be present if possible. After Service the Bishop will proceed to the Dedication of the new Altar, the Lych-Gate, and Vestry, and the Consecration of the addition to our Churchyard. Mr. Alfred Easton has been kindly lending his American Organ for the Church Services during the Restoration of the Chancel. We here take the opportunity to publicly thank him for the loan.

Stain glass windows above the altar were shattered in a bombing raid in 1944. The plain glass replacements allow nature to be clearly observed.

The marble reredos (the remains of which we found in the Old Vicarage garden), was replaced with the present one of oak given by Mr. Beale Brown of Westfield Place in memory of his wife. At 6.30pm on Saturday March 10th, 1934 a Dedication Service was held: "In the Faith of Jesus Christ we dedicate this Reredos in memory of Ethel Alexander Beale-Brown, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen"

The Wheel window at the east end of the North aisle was replaced in 1933 with the beautiful stain glass Round window

Installed in 2000 the Millenium window replaced one of plain glass. Prior to this a stain glass window in memory of Harry and Mary Jane Coghill destroyed by a flying bomb in 1944 had been in this location. The Jacobean pulpit is now often bathed once again in colourful sunlight.

The Vicars of Westfield spanning the period from 1836 to the present day

Main entrance to the churchyard is via an attractive lychgate erected in 1888 as a gift by H.Barton Webb.The cost £230.
Four angels guard each corner.  Mortified that their son had defaced these by cutting their noses off, one family left the Parish in disgrace!

The Garden of Remembrance was opened in 2002

"The weather was superb for the Jubilee service and the church was full of people who had come to celebrate the occasion. After the service we trooped down to the new Garden of Remembrance for the dedication ceremony. The choir sang, the Vicar splashed water around, we prayed, we enjoyed the sunshine and we drank a glass of wine. Many thanks to everyone who came"

(Extract from WCA Newsletter)

THE ARCHIVES

Transcripts of the Parish Registers, Memorial Inscriptions and other records have been undertaken. Since 1980 these have been made available to many locally, nationally and worldwide for research purposes via personal contact. Many people have been successful in finding generations of their family and have appreciated the facilities that have been offered to them.

If you are researching ancestors from Westfield contact Ruth: ruth@westfieldhistory.co.uk for further information.

BAPTISMS from

1586

TRIPLETS in 1624!

"Edward and William and Barbara, the sons and daughter of Edward Ransom all born at one burden were baptised on 4 July 1624".

The first seven parchment leaves of the Baptism Register from 1586(?) to 1614 have been "much eaten" by mice or rats and the number of complete entries during this period varies. We are fortunate to have entries taken from the Bishops Transcripts the earliest of which commenced in 1608.

FAMILY BAPTISM & BURIAL on the same day in 1638!

"24.3.1638.     Thomas son of Thomas Arnold  and
Elizabeth his wife was baptised the same day when
his father and mother were both buried."

MARRIAGES from 1552

EARLY MARRIAGES IN WESTFIELD

1552

Sep

  4

John Awater & Elizabeth Brassenden

1552

Jan

22

Rodger Pyper & Ellis Awater

1553

Oct

  8

John Gylbart & Elizabeth Wood

1553

Nov

  7

Nycholas Charman & Gelyan Crouch

1553

Jan

16

William Braybrooke & Rose Kempe

1553

Jan

20

John Robyn & Elizabeth Weston

1554

Sep

  2

John Iden & Mildred Baker

1554

Oct

  7

Thomas Brassenden & Alice Byrchet

1554

Nov

  4

Thomas Marden & Jane Breecher

1554

Dec

15

Thomas Barnes & Parnell Cooper

1554

Feb

  9

Thomas Colway & Jane Beake

1555

July

  8

John Craven & Jane Chamber

1555

Sep

26

John Hames & Margaret Johnson

1555

Oct

  7

John Harre & Jone Gurr

1555

Oct

23

Symon Barnes & Margere Gouldings

Extract from Marriage Register

BURIALS from 1540

The three earliest burials were all of Priests, two being Vicars of Westfield:

1540

Oct

 7

Robert Morrishe

Vicar of Westfield

1541

Apr

 7

Sir John Awarkes

Priest

1546

Apr

25

Sir John Selyco

Vicar of Westfield

SAD END in 1636

"Mary the bastard child of Dorothy Kidder - a stranger which died in the way as she was
travelling unto Westfield was buried - 18 April 1636".

MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS & PHOTOGRAPHS OF GRAVES

where they have survived

In Loving Memory
of
Harriett
the beloved wife of
William Barnes
who died at Wheel Cottage
April 7th 1917
Aged 72 Years
“Until the day break”
Also of
Henry William Barnes
husband of the above
who died August 23rd 1929
Aged 88 years
“At rest”
Also of
Isabella
daughter of the above
who died March 4th 1899
aged 18 years

"The Day Thou Gavest Lord Has Ended"
©2009 Ruth Carter. All Rights Reserved.