The framed list of Rectors in the South Aisle records that ‘a Parliamentarian intruder put in by Cromwell’ displaced Nutt at the Reformation (1649-1660) and he withdrew to his private home at Mays, Selmeston. Parson Nutt is buried in a vault before the altar.

Still recovering from the Reformation in the 17th and 18th Centuries the church suffered from neglect. The 18th Century watercolour (above) shows the east-end of the church was shortened and the roof thatched. The spire, which was destroyed by lightning on Aug 8th, 1773 is missing. There is no north aisle as it had been demolished in 1743.

Debts on the building must have been heavy as a Church Rate was made in 1777. The selling of three of four bells (one bell dated 1629 was re-hung) led to the saying ‘The Parson poor and so was the people, so they sold the bells to repair the steeple’. Later a small tolling-in bell, inscribed 1781, was purchased from a ship-wreck in 1811.
 

Revd E. Boys-Ellman and the Victorian Restoration

Revd E. Boys-Ellman was Curate of Berwick 1837-1843 and Rector 1846-1906, a ministry of a remarkable 66 years.

He studied at Oxford where he was taught by the founders of the ‘Oxford Movement’, a Movement which restored Catholic elements to Anglican worship such as the importance of symbols, beauty, colour and the sacraments.

Revd Boys-Ellman is known for his book ‘Recollections of a Sussex Parson’, a remarkable account of his era.

He described parts of the church as a ‘rabbit warren’ on his arrival. He built a new Rectory (1846) (adjacent to the church), a school (1854) (the flint building at the mini roundabout just down the lane), and also undertook the restoration of the church to designs by the local Victorian architect, Henry Woodyer.

A Church Rate with special intent for the restoration was made for three years and the Diocese and friends contributed. The building was completed in 1857.

In the rebuilding of the north aisle Woodyer designed the innovative, ‘north arcade couple shaft (left)’. The east end of the church was extended and completely rebuilt.

The Clear Glass of North and South Aisles

The clear glass is a distinctive feature of the church. The Victorian plain leaded windows were damaged by bombs on Oct 17th 1944.
Uncertain as to whether there would be further damage and because of the cost, plate glass was inserted (See below).