TV5298 The inscribed block of Portland stone, shown in the photos, marks the site of the former, medieval, parish church of Exceat. The church occupied a hill top position on the south western side of Exceat Hill and although it had panoramic views in different directions, it was a difficult and exposed place to access. The church was built about around 1090 but the site of any adjoining village is difficult to determine.
A combination of forces brought about the demise of Exceat Church. These forces included changes to agriculture in which labour intensive arable crop growing was being superseded by extensive sheep farming where fewer agricultural workers were needed; coastal raids, particularly in the 14th century, by the French sailors who sacked, pillaged and burned property in the area and lastly by visitations of the Black Death in 1348-50. By 1428, the church lay in ruins and there were only one or two families still living in the area. The late 13th century brought an end to worship at the parish church and to the church itself. In 1460, the last two parishioners petitioned the Bishop of Chichester to give his assent to the merging of Exceat Church so that it came under the jurisdiction of West Dean. The request was approved and, on the 3’rd March 1528, the individual names of Exceat Church and Exceat parish became names of the past. The church foundations remained buried and undisturbed until 1913.
The story of Exceat Church resumes some 385 years later when, in 1913, Maurice Theodore Lawrance, the 15 year old son of the rector of West Dean Church, was on the Downs near Foxhole Farm when he noticed an indentation in a field. He mentioned this observation to his father, Reverend George William Augustus Lawrance, M.A. and he in turn contacted a local antiquarian R. H. Verrall who lived at Exceat Farmhouse. After some preliminary explorations by Reverend Lawrance and Mr Verrall, the matter was referred to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners who, later in 1913, granted permission to the Sussex Archaeological Society to excavate the site.
The buried foundations showed that what they had found was the lost Exceat Church. The excavations showed that it was perhaps the smallest church in Sussex with a nave only 9.5 metres in length and that it had very thick walls of up to 1.5 metres. Shards of coloured glass indicated the presence of stain glass windows.
Tragically, Maurice Lawrance, who first discovered Exceat Church as a 15 year old boy, was killed in action three years later at the age of 18. He had been one of the first to volunteer from the area and he enlisted in the Royal Sussex Regiment as Private 2110. At the time of his death in France, he was attached to the 116th Company, Machine Gun Corps (INF) with the rank of acting Corporal. His grave is unknown and unmarked but he is remembered through two, stained glass windows which depict Saints Maurice and Theodore at All Saints Church in West Dean.
Discussion points might centre on such aspects as the signposting, access and preservation of the site. As stewardship of the area is imminently expected to transfer to the South Downs National Parks Authority (SDNPA), there may be further opportunities to promote knowledge of this piece of local history. What do you think?
Andrew Diack (BA Hons)
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TV5298 : Stone marker showing the site of the former Exceat ChurchTV5298 : Commemoration stone for the former Exceat Parish ChurchTV5298 : Memorial stone marking the site of Exceat ChurchTV5298 : Stone marking the site of the former Exceat ChurchTV5298 : Sheep gathering round the stone memorial for Exceat Church