Fletching Parish Church

"Fletching (population 2132) is an extensive and populous parish" says Black's 1861 Guide to Sussex. The village of Fletching is tiny, but the parish (pre-1894) was spread across a large area. The village of Fletching is about 3 miles north-west of Uckfield, towards Haywards Heath. 

The church is notable because of its brief moment in history in 1264, when Simon de Montfort and his rebel army encamped at Fletching on the eve of the Battle of Lewes.  He is purported to have spent the night in vigil with his barons, praying for success at a series of Masses conducted by the Bishop of Worcester.  It obviously did the trick, as the next day Simon won a great victory against the army of King Henry III, capturing Henry and eventually his son, the Lord Edward, later Edward I.

After the battle, Simon allegedly had those of his knights who died in the battle buried under the chancel.  He also left money to have the church repaired and partially rebuilt.  Part of the church does indeed date to the 13th century and the chancel is unusually long (to accommodate all those knights?).

Michael Butler