St Michael and All Angels Church, Southwick

St Michael and All Angels Church
The church from the southwest
50°50′06″N 0°14′29″W / 50.8349°N 0.2413°W / 50.8349; -0.2413Coordinates: 50°50′06″N 0°14′29″W / 50.8349°N 0.2413°W / 50.8349; -0.2413
Location	Church Lane, Southwick, West Sussex BN42 4GB
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Church of England
History
Former name(s)	St Margaret's Church
Founded	By 11th century
Dedication	Michael the Archangel
Dedicated	18th century
Architecture
Status	Parish church
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	19 July 1950
Administration
Parish	Southwick, St Michael and All Angels
Deanery	Rural Deanery of Hove
Archdeaconry	Chichester
Diocese	Chichester
Province	Canterbury
Clergy
Rector	Rev. Robert Harris
Assistant priest(s)	Rev. David Guest
Curate(s)	Rev. Mark Betson

St Michael and All Angels Church is an Anglican church in the town of Southwick in the district of Adur, one of seven local government districts in the English county of West Sussex. Some Saxon-era structural work is still visible despite rebuilding work in the 12th and 13th centuries and in more recent times; and a church may have existed on the site as early as the 10th century—before the ancient settlement of Southwick even took that name. The church has been damaged by fire and bombing, but is still in active use as the area's parish church. English Heritage has listed it at Grade II* for its architectural and historical importance.

The Romans settled in the area now known as Southwick: a large villa was in use for nearly 300 years until the 4th century, but no more development took place until the late Saxon era. The earliest record of the name "Southwick" came in 1073, when it was part of the large manor of Kingston Buci estate to the west. This covered several nearby settlements as well as the village of Kingston Buci, and may have been founded as a Celtic estate.

A church from earlier in the Saxon era—probably a wooden structure—stood on the site of the present building earlier in the Saxon era, but by the time of the Domesday survey in 1086 a stone structure was in place. Southwick was not identified as a separate entity in the Domesday Book, and the church was almost certainly controlled by St Julian's Church in Kingston Buci. In the late 12th century or 1225 (sources differ), the advowson was conveyed to the Knights Templar, who by this time were also patrons of the Church of St Mary the Blessed Virgin in nearby Sompting. It was then transferred to another religious order, the Knights Hospitaller, in around 1365 before becoming Crown property after the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century.