About Us

Welcome to the Churches of the Mid Downland Parish.

Nestling behind the South Downs, our four churches all date back to the 13th century or beyond, and are a joy to visit – places of calm and quiet in a busy world. Yet the buildings are not our only treasure.

The Mid Downland Churches are places where you will find a worshipping congregation that is warm and welcoming, and worship that is straightforward but uplifting.

Whether you are interested in the history of our lovely churches, planning a wedding or looking for a place of worship, we can guarantee a warm welcome.

The Church of the Transfiguration is over 850 years old. Built on the site of an earlier Saxon Church, it is located on historic Roman as well as pre-historic tracks, and now lies on the South Downs Way.

The Church was under construction at the time of the murder of Thomas a’Becket in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 – an event that led to huge numbers of people making a pilgrimage to his shrine in Canterbury. The traditional Pilgrims Way ran from Winchester to Canterbury, but people made their way from all over the South of England, and Pyecombe was probably a favoured stopping place, where hospitality would have been offered.

The church is normally open every day and still offers hospitality to visitors, who are welcome to use our facilities to make themselves a hot drink and take a rest.