Yet at the same time, the venerable roof of oaken planks; the large yet highly sculptured beams which have weathered nearly a thousand years; the tattered escotcheons; the crested helmets; and the antique tombs, afford a view at once pleasing and romantic.—Some attempt has been made to illustrate this portion of the church, (the chancel) in the annexed engraving, but no drawing can do justice to the original building.

The dimensions of the church are as below.

The roof is supported upon wooden ribs, crossed by others of the same materials: the joints are covered by ornamented plates of iron, of very grotesque descriptions: in the nave, the ribs are almost double the distance apart, of those in the chancel: the junction of the roof and walls, in the latter portion of the edifice, are adorned with curious little figures of horses, foxes, &c. &c. interspersed with stars, and many other similar devices.

The entire edifice is supported upon eight columns on either side: three constituting the chance, and the remaining five the nave: the galleries are particularly neat, more especially that appropriated to the organ, the whole of the pewing being covered entirely with green baize.  The lancet windows, with which the church was formerly furnished, have almost all been altered for others of a later date, except in the clerestory, where

they retain their original form.  The large east window, before mentioned, was formerly adorned with no less than 14 coats of arms richly painted.  The roof was put up, at the time that the Norfolks were lords of the borough: in the year 1825, a curious old inscription was discovered upon the summit of the walls, reaching from one end of the church to the other, but it was very remarkable, that the centres of all the letters, (which were about a foot in length) were entirely, and apparently designedly effaced, so that not the slightest meaning could be discovered from it.

In the chancel, is the curious and remarkable effigy of Thomas lord Braose ob. 1396.  This noble and ancient family were formerly almost the sole proprietors of the county of Sussex.  One of their residences was at Chesworth, an ancient mansion to the

south of the town, which shall afterwards be described; and Bramber Castle also near Steyning, originally appertained to these powerful barons.  The head of the figure, “is defended by a basinet, ornamented by a draplet of jewels, his throat by the ample carmail, attached to the helmet as in the time of Edward III.  His arms are in plate armour,

and his body in a shortened hauberk, kept from pressing on his chest, by means of the plastron, or breast-plate, within.  Over this is the juppon, bearing his coat of arms, viz. seme of cross croslets, a lion rampant crowned.  Suspended from his military girdle at his right hip, is his dagger, the sheath of which, is ornamented in an architectural style, and in the same manner at the left, hung his long sword, of which no traces now remain.  On his insteps, are large pieces attached to the spur leathers, and terminated by indented edges which conceal the chain mail beneath.  His jousting helmet, surmounted by his crest, a demi-lion rampant, issuing from a coronet, is under his head, but greatly mutilated, all below the oscularium, having been destroyed.” [12]

At a very small distance from the above mentioned monument, is a very beautiful altar tomb of white marble, relieved alternately by slabs of black: upon this is an admirable and most elaborately executed figure, of a lady, in long flowing robes, her right hand reclines upon her breast, while her left rests upon the Holy Scriptures, in a peculiarly graceful manner: it is the work of Francis Fanelli, an Italian sculptor, of great eminence in his day, and has escaped the devastation generally inflicted on works of art in the parochial edifices of Sussex; the inscription is as follows.

Here lyeth (expecting a joyfull resurction,) the body of Elizabeth, late wife of Thomas Delves Esquire, son and heire apparent to Sr. Henry Delves of Dvddington in the Covnty of Chester, Barronet, who deceased the 2nd day of December 1654, being somewhat more than 25 yeares old; then in childbed of Henry their 2nd son, who with Thomas their eldest son did both survive her.  She was enriched with many ornaments, both of mind and body, and memorable for virtue, in the several relations of her life, whereunto she was any way engaged, being religious as she was a Christian, dutiful as a daughter, affectionate as a wife, tender as a mother, discreete in her family as

a Mistris, charitable in the relation of a neighbour, also of a sweet and affable disposition and of a sober and winning conversation.  She was the only child of Hall Ravenscroft Esq.r of this parish, by the mother descended of ye Staplays of this county.  Her sorrowful husband, sadley weighing such a considerable losse, erected this monument, that an impartiall memorial of her might bee the better communicated to posterity.

On the south side, are the arms of the deceased with the motto “In Dieu ma foy”.

On the other side of the church, in a portion denominated the Roffy chancel, is a large, and beautifully sculptured altar-tomb,

of Sussex marble, with a light and curious canopy of the same material, supported upon pillars: on the surface were formerly a brass inscription, and armorial bearings, but all of these have disappeared, it is supposed to cover the remains of Thomas Hoo Knt.

lord Hoo and de Hastings, ob. 1455.

According to Dallaway, mention is made in the visitation book of Philpot and Owen, A.D. 1634, of two other monuments, not at present remaining.  “Under the communion table,

Hic jacet William Hoo armiger, qui obiit 2do mensis Sept. 1465