Church of St Mary the Blessed Virgin | |
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![]() The church from the southeast | |
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50°50′19″N 0°21′06″W / 50.8386°N 0.3518°W | |
Location | Church Lane, Sompting, West Sussex BN15 0AZ |
Country | United Kingdom |
Denomination | Church of England |
Website | [1] |
History | |
Status | Parish church |
Founded | 11th century |
Dedication | Virgin Mary |
Dedicated | By 1442 |
Architecture | |
Functional status | Active |
Heritage designation | Grade I |
Designated | 12 October 1954 |
Style | Anglo-Saxon; Norman |
Completed | 11th century |
Administration | |
Province | Canterbury |
Diocese | Diocese of Chichester |
Archdeaconry | Chichester |
Deanery | Rural Deanery of Worthing |
Parish | South Lancing and Sompting |
Clergy | |
Vicar(s) | The Reverend Felix Smith |
The Church of St Mary the Blessed Virgin, also known as St Mary the Virgin Church and St Mary's Church, is the Church of England parish church of Sompting in the Adur district of West Sussex. It stands on a rural lane north of the urban area that now surrounds the village, and retains much 11th- and 12th-century structure. Its most important architectural feature is the Saxon tower topped by a Rhenish helm, a four-sided pyramid-style gabled cap that is uncommon in England. English Heritage lists the church at Grade I for its architecture and history.