About Friends of Steep Church
The Friends of Steep Church charity has been running events and raising funds since 2015. Its purpose is to protect and enhance All Saints’ Church, a nearly 900-year-old church in Steep, a rural village in the heart of the South Downs National Park.
This strikingly beautiful building dates from about 1125, with extensions and improvements from the period 1180-1200. Substantial restoration work was undertaken in the mid-1870s, when the wooden spire was added.
The interior contains some notable features, ranging from the 14th century font to the 20th century memorial ‘Whistler windows’, dedicated to the memory of Edward Thomas, the renowned poet who lived in Steep and who was killed in action at Arras in 1917. The church has also benefitted from outstanding local craftsmanship associated with Bedales School and the Edward Barnsley workshop.
Strong as All Saints’ is in terms of history and beauty, it very much remains a ‘living’ community asset. The church enjoys wide local support at Easter and Christmas, when the congregation has on occasion exceeded 250 people, and acts as a welcoming backdrop for musical events, exhibitions and lectures. It is a popular setting for weddings, in addition to serving as a final - serene - resting place for loved ones.
The Friends charity is established to engage with the entire community in seeking to ensure a strong and vibrant future for this historical treasure.
www.fosc.info
friendsofsteepchurch@gmail.com
Friends of Steep Church Registered charity number HMRC Registered
