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The Grade I listed Saxon church of St Botolph's at Botolphs, West Sussex, England, is situated in the valley of the River Adur and is now part of the Church of England parish of Beeding and Bramber with Botolphs. An earlier dedication to St Peter de Vetere Ponte (St Peter of the Old Bridge) is now lost, like the bridge over the Adur from which it took this ancient name. The church serves the mostly depopulated hamlet of Botolphs in the Horsham district of West Sussex. The church has fragments of medieval wall paintings. Architectural historian Ian Nairn comments that the Jacobean pulpit is "notable in a county which is poor in 17th century fittings". == History == The parish of Botolphs came into existence in the Saxon era as one of several long, narrow divisions of land on the southern slopes of the South Downs near the River Adur, which reached the English Channel at the port of Shoreham. Like neighbouring Beeding and Bramber, Botolphs' territory stretched for about from west to east. At the time of the Domesday survey in 1086, the manor of ''Hanyngedune'' was known; it was first named in 956, when King Eadwig gave it away, and the area it covered was identical to the later parish of Botolphs.〔 The lie of the land meant that two settlements developed separately in the parish: there were two areas of high ground rising from a flood-prone alluvial plain.〔 Some flint cottages were built around Annington manor house and its farm,〔〔 and a few others were clustered around the church. The latter settlement was known as Old Bridge before acquiring the name Botolphs, and both the name and archaeological evidence (in the form of Roman-era masonry found in the fields) suggest that the church was built near the site of the now vanished bridge over the river.〔 The Domesday survey mentioned a church at Annington as well as the manor house,〔〔 and architectural evidence suggests that St Botolph's Church is of Saxon origin—confirming that only one church served the parish,〔 rather than each settlement having its own place of worship as was once believed.〔 The dedication to St Botolph is thought to be original; but around the time of the Norman conquest the church was officially rededicated to St Peter de Vetere Ponte (meaning St Peter of the Old Bridge). In 1254, the dedication to St Botolph reappeared in print, and the two names were used interchangeably for a period as use of the old name was maintained by locals.〔 By the 15th century, the newer dedication to St Peter fell out of use.〔 Another historic dedication, to St Mary, has also been suggested.〔 The existence of another St Peter's Church at nearby Beeding has been suggested as a reason for the dedication reverting to St Botolph.〔 The river Adur was originally navigable as far as Bramber; but the sea began to recede in about 1350, and the river silted up, after which the bridge at Botolphs fell into disuse and the village population declined. The crossing point had apparently been in use for about 1,000 years (as suggested by the Roman rubble found nearby), and when it was lost the village could no longer thrive.〔 In 1526 Botolphs was incorporated into Bramber parish.〔〔 Structurally, the church expanded and contracted over the centuries in line with the changing population. In its original form, it was an aisleless building with nave and chancel.〔 In the 13th century, a tower was added;〔 and in about 1250 an aisle was added to the north side, separated from the nave by an arcade of three bays.〔〔 The chancel was altered and new windows were inserted in the 14th century. The tower was equipped with a peal of three bells in 1536.〔 The aisle, which apparently housed a shrine to St Botolph, St Peter and Mary,〔 became dilapidated by the late 18th century as the population fell; it had been demolished by 1830,〔 leaving the three blank arches of the arcade on the north wall. A timber-framed vicarage existed by 1615.〔 It may date from the 14th century, and the building still stands next to the church—albeit with structural alteration. It was listed at Grade II on 9 May 1980. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「St Botolph's Church, Botolphs」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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