Welcome to the Octagon Parish

In mediaeval times, an octagon was considered to be halfway between a circle (God) and a square (earth). It was the place where heaven and earth came into contact. That is why pulpits and fonts are often octagonal in shape.

The Octagon Parish is situated at the western end of Sussex between Chichester and Petersfield and within the South Downs National Park. This rural community consists largely of farmland and is made up of the villages and hamlets of Compton, Forestside, Up Marden, West Marden, North Marden, East Marden, Racton, Stansted, Stoughton and Walderton.

The Octagon contains eight uniquely beautiful churches, many of them Saxon in origin, seven of which are still open for public worship. The Chapel at Stansted Park is now administered by the Stansted Park Foundation.

For more information about our churches, our services, and our community, please visit our Community Website.

View parish homepage