FAIRFIELD

 Fairfield means fair, open land. Appropriate as St Thomas Becket Church in Fairfield stands alone in a field on the Marsh, surrounded by water courses and sheep. A causeway was built in 1913, and until then the church was more often than not surrounded by water during the winter and spring.

Fairfield, the village it once served has long since disappeared, but the church has survived and is now part of a parish which includes the villages of Brookland, Brenzett and Snargate.

The church is dedicated to St Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. The church was built as a temporary structure of timber lath and plaster in c1200 to support the local farming community. From the outside it looks rather severe – the 13th century timber frame was encased in brickwork in the 18th century, and its immense roof covered in red tiles.

But entering the interior is like going back in time – the Georgian interior feels as though little has changed for over 200 years. 

In 1912 the fabric was in a very poor state and a complete rebuilding within the timber framework took place. However, the inside of the church was, fortunately, left untouched. It is Georgian, with a three decker pulpit, box pews and texts boards. The pews are still painted white with black linings.

Services are held there on the first Sunday of every month. It is quite difficult to find. If you head from Brenzett on the A258 towards Hastings, you will come to a sharp left hand bend. If you turn right there (where it says 'Jo's Cafe) and follow the narrow lane, you will eventually see it out in the fields on the right.