St Mary’s Church in East Guldeford is a distinctive historical building, notable for being the only medieval marsh church in Sussex constructed entirely of brick. Consecrated on 20th September 1505 under the patronage of Sir Richard de Guldeford, this church stands out due to its unique construction materials and its location in the Diocese of Chichester. The church’s architecture features massive buttresses designed to prevent subsidence in the marshy ground, and it boasts an unusual double-pitched clay tile roof dating back to 1764.
The interior of St Mary’s is marked by a striking late-19th-century painted frieze of angels, which illustrates the Six Days of Creation. This mural draws inspiration from six stone angel corbels that originally adorned the chancel in the 16th century. The church’s layout is simple, with no structural division between the nave and the chancel, creating one open space.
Visitors to St Mary’s can enjoy a self-guided tour, available through a QR code scan, which provides deeper insights into the church’s history and features. The church is generally open to the public, although access involves crossing a privately-owned field, and visitors are advised to respect the property by re-tying gates after passage. The surrounding area includes a few scattered houses, a farm shop, and a garden centre, with the historic town of Rye and Camber Sands nearby.
