About Us

Priors Dean Church is much loved by the small and scattered community to which it belongs. In 1203 King John granted the Manor of Priors Dean including the Church to the Priory at Southwick which held it until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539 when it reverted to the Crown. King Henry VIII then bestowed it as a wedding settlement first to Anne of Cleves, and immediately after to Catherine Howard. The simple, tiny Church, originally known as the ‘Chapel of La Dene” has Saxon origins, but it is predominantly Norman and Early English, verified by an archaeological survey undertaken in 2003. Priors Dean oozes a depth of spirituality coming from its use as a place of prayer and a community gathering place for longer than the period since its Saxon origins. There is evidence of the site being a pagan gathering place in pre-Christian times and, with the ancient Yew tree, is a reminder of how special this place has been over countless generations. This continuity as a place of prayer and the sound of the ancient bells, all make it an oasis for those who value contemplative prayer and a place for being refreshed in the presence of God. The Norman nave has a timber bell turret supported by four large Saxon posts and the fine Norman door is ornamented with billet and zigzag mouldings. The Chancel is Early English and most notable are the family monuments on the chancel walls and a brass on the chancel floor of the inhabitants of the Manor House in the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1857 the interior of the church was restored in the Norman style. It was again restored after a fire in 2009 and re-consecrated by the Bishop in 2010. There are two bells, both dated 1703, which have also recently been restored. The most prominent feature of the churchyard is the ancient yew tree which is one of the oldest trees in the UK and is at least 2000 years old. That the tree has lived since the time of Christ is a great inspiration to us and plays its part in our monthly opportunity for contemplative prayer – the Yewlian Meeting.