Brief History of the Church Buildings

There has been a church at the heart of the community of Hartfield for many centuries. The oldest part of the current church building, the nave, is thirteenth century. In the fourteenth century, a south aisle was added. The tower is also fourteenth century, but its shingled spire is fifteenth century. In the nineteenth century, extensive repairs were made to the roof and many of the present furnishings in the church were added. In the twenty first century, the church has again been re-ordered to meet the current needs of the community in Hartfield and we still have more to do.

There has been a church at the heart of the community of Hartfield for many centuries. The oldest part of the current church building, the nave, is thirteenth century. In the fourteenth century, a south aisle was added with a Chantry Chapel and the Chancel was rebuilt and lengthened. The tower is also fourteenth century, but its shingled spire is fifteenth century. In the sixteenth or seventeenth century, due perhaps to a fire or to the general need to reconstruct the church to accommodate the new Anglican Services (or both) the rood screen and Chancel arch were removed, the Chantry Chapel opened up by the building of a large Nave arch, and the Chancel was reduced in size.

In the nineteenth century, extensive repairs were made to the roof and most of the present furnishings in the church were added, notably most of the stained glass windows and the west screen. Most of the memorials are also nineteenth century, although the earliest is dated 1640 to the Rev. Richard Randes.

In the twenty first century, the church has again been re-ordered to meet the current needs of the community in Hartfield, with flexible space created in the nave, a new ring chamber created and a new toilet and kitchen facilities have been added.

Four church related buildings, the current Rectory, the original Rectory, the School and the Lych Gate Cottage surround the churchyard. The current Rectory dates from 1986, the original Rectory probably dates from the 16th century, the School is Victorian and the Lych Gate Cottage is largely Tudor.