St Mary, The Virgin, Upwaltham
Location, location, location! With parking just for one car, this unspoilt, 12th century, Grade I Listed, drovers church is best approached and appreciated on foot, just as the drovers of the past would once have done. Reflecting a strong sense of place in this Downland setting, Cardinal Manning famously described this spot as “only less beautiful than heaven”. The list of 12 services through the year, including Plough Sunday, Rogation Sunday, Lamas Service & Harvest Thanksgiving also firmly anchor this church to the land.
Upwaltham itself was once a larger medieval village, but it’s now mostly vanished. Be sure to notice the detail of the window in the west wall. It is modern, minimal and rooted in place. Also look for the names of local farming families in the churchyard and the stories of the area’s connection to World War II.
