St Mary’s Church

St Mary’s Church is the oldest building in the Horsleys, with its foundations laid in 1030 by the Saxon thane Thored.

St Mary’s is a Grade I listed building which has been extensively modified whilst serving the Parish of West Horsley for over a millennium. In the graveyard is a decorative chest tomb of John Nicholas from 1742, which is a Grade II listed structure.

The foundations of the church were first laid in 1030 by the local Saxon thane, Thored. Six years later this same thane divided up his land of ‘Horsalege’ and donated the eastern portion to the Archbishop of Canterbury, thereby establishing the division between East and West Horsley that exists today. Saxon brickwork can still be spotted in parts of the walls of the nave.

The church tower itself was built in 1120 around a ladder which remained in situ until 2000 when construction work finally allowed it to be removed nearly 900 years after it was installed. 

From 1200 onwards the church became richly decorated with fine wall paintings extending all around the interior. During the Reformation these were lime-washed to hide the paintings and it was not until the 1970’s that they were re-discovered, restored and appreciated by modern church-goers.

Throughout the Medieval period a number of noble families were associated with the church including the de Windsors, de Berners, Bouchiers and the Raleighs – the head of Sir Walter Raleigh is believed to be buried with two of his grandsons in the Nicholas Chapel. 

For more historical details see the church website: stmaryswesthorsley.co.uk