St Mary's Church, Rye

Rye had been held by the Abbey of Fécamp in Normandy for a long time as a Royal deed of gift. This status originating from times before the Norman Conquest got lost at 1247, but until this relationship ended the profit for the parish had been so great that a large church could be built, which was called the "Cathedral of East Sussex" until recent times. During a severe raid by French marauders, the town and the parish church were looted and set on fire. The damage to the church was extensive, and the last repairs resulting from this fire were made in the 19th century. The following year a group of men from Rye and Winchelsea struck back and recovered the loot including the stolen bells. To deter potential invaders from any future attack one of the bells was hung in the Watchbell Street.[1][2][3] The Huguenot Lewys Billiard made the "New Clock", which is one of the oldest church turret clocks that still works. It had been installed in 1561–2. A huge pendulum reaching into the church's body was added later, as was the actual face of the clock and the so-called "Quarter Boys".[1]

During the Reformation many precious and valuable things, that had belonged to the church's treasure or interior, were sold or removed. Parts of the building became secular. The Chapels were separated from the church. They were used as a jail, storage for several things and also as a butcher's shop. In the 17th and 19th centuries those changes were reversed and parts of the church renewed.[2][4]

The church is a cruciform building. Its chancel, the crossing, transepts and the nave were built from 1150 to 1180. Alterations were made in the 15th century. North and South aisles were added during the late 12th century., North and South chapels 1220–1250. Flying buttresses were added at the south east end of the chancel in the 15th century. Very well worked out perpendicular windows can be seen at the east end of the chancel and south chapel.[5] The recent seatings have been installed in the 19th century, but the mayor's seat is from 1547 and it is very well worked out. It is placed near to the pulpit, which is also from that time.[2] All the glass windows are not very old, but the work of Sir Edward Burne-Jones (1891) in memory of Mary Tiltman is claimed to be the most beautiful of the church. It can be found in the north aisle.[3]

Since 1942 St Mary's has held a joint commemorative service with Christ's Church in Rye in the state of New York, United States of America.

In 1742 the churchyard was the site of a crime. The butcher John Breeds accidentally murdered Allen Grebell instead of the mayor he really intended to kill. John Breeds was hanged and gibbeted. His skull, which is the only remains of him, was brought to the town hall and remains there.[3] Both are still told to haunt the churchyard.[6][7]

• Grade I listed buildings in East Sussex
• List of places of worship in Rother

(as used by Sussex Parish Churches:[2])

• J. Borrowman: Short Account of Rye Church, Sussex, SAC 50 (1907) pp20-40
• G. Draper et al.: Rye – a History of a Sussex Cinque Port to 1660, Chichester, 2009
• W. E. Godfrey: Rye Church, AJ 116 pp253-54
• W. Holloway: History and Antiquities of Rye, 1847
• R.P Howgrave-Graham: Some Clocks and Jacks with Notes of the History of Horology, Arch 77 (1927) pp257-312
• G. Slade Butler: The Church of St Mary, Rye, SAC 22 (1870) pp124-33

• https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/rye-st-mary/
• https://www.ryeparishchurch.org.uk/6613c646.htm