St Luke

The chancel also has a gabled roof with terracotta ridge tiles and an elaborate terracotta saddlestone at the east end.

There is a circular stone font and semi-hexagonal wooden pulpit on a stone base.

SU8627 : St. Luke, Linch: font

© Basher Eyre

The two-light north window has C15 German glass, probably from the Rhineland and probably of circa 1465.

The lancet window on the north side is in Art Nouveau style, depicts angels and lilies and is of circa 1912: it is a memorial window to Harry Godwin, Rector of Lynch 1883-1912, made by Messrs James Powell and sons of the Whitefriars Glass Works EC1.

The south window of the nave is of circa 1921, the eastern light depicting St John the Apostle and Evangelist holding a book and chalice with dragon and the western light depicting St Cecilia, the Patron Saint of Music, playing the regals, a mediaeval portable organ.

The lancet window on the north side depicts the patron saint of the church, St Luke, and was erected circa 1897 as a memorial to John Marsh, Churchwarden, and his wife.

The east window depicts the Good Shepherd in the central window with angels above and the flanking windows depict some of the Angelic Host.

HISTORY: The first church of the parish of Linch was built before 1086 on a site between Didling and Bepton.

It was in ruins by about 1500, probably because of population decline in the southern part of the parish.

This church was replaced by a second church on a new site at Woodmans Green, a more populous part of the parish, which became derelict about 1620.

The cost of the work done in 1886 was £850, raised by public subscription.

SUMMARY OF IMPORTANCE: A rare example of a circa 1700 rural church, extended in 1814, on a site consecrated since the early C16 with substantially intact later C19 Early English style additions and alterations including interior fittings.