St Catherine of Siena

Cocking with West Lavington


st caths3

The church of St Catherine of Siena serves the parish of Cocking with West Lavington. West Lavington had its own parish church—dedicated to St Mary Magdalene—until 2008, when it sadly closed.

The church is located at the east of Cocking village. Parking for the church may be accessed off Mill Lane. Deceptively, here is no vehicular access via Church Lane, though you may arrive at the church by foot that way.

The church is open for private prayer during daylight hours. Intercessions may be left in the box for the purpose in the Lady Chapel. Candles may be lit as a sign of prayer. Various versions of the Scriptures are placed in the Lady Chapel for those who wish to consult them.

A brief history

The oldest parts of our beautiful church date from the 11th century although most of the church is later, from the 12th to 14th centuries, with substantial additions in the mid-19th century.

In “Cocking Church, West Sussex. A Short History and Guide” published in 1975, Peter Leicester claims that it is believed that a wooden church was built in Cocking around 680, whereas other sources accept that the present church replaced an earlier Saxon church. The chancel arch has been dated as from c. 1080.

The present church was built at the end of the 11th century as a simple “two cell” church with the nave and chancel The south aisle and Lady Chapel were added about 1300 during the decorated Gothic period; at the same time, the chancel windows were enlarged and the tower was built.

The church had no dedication until, in April 2007, the congregation agreed to dedicate the church to St Catherine of Siena. It is quite unusual for a church in England to be dedicated to St Catherine of Siena: there are only two other Church of England churches so named. The fact that one of the 15th century bells carries the inscription “Sancta Catrina ora pro nobis” has been taken as justification for this dedication, but it is impossible that this refers to St Catherine of Siena: the bell was struck in 1448, whereas Catherine was only canonised in 1461. In all likelihood, the St Catherine in question is St Catherine of Alexandria. Furthermore, the other—older—inscribed bell says, “Sancte Iohannis ora pro nobis”; it is also unclear which St John this is. All the same, St Catherine of Siena is a fascinating figure: a 14th century mystic and philosophical theologian, whose work is still read and admired today. She is one of only four Doctors of the Church, and co-Patron of Europe.

The church is a Grade I Listed building. Inside the church, the main features of interest are the 11th-century chancel arch, the remnants of a 13th-century wall painting and the 12th-century font.

The village war memorial is situated alongside the southern gate into the churchyard from Sunwool Lane, close to where this crosses Costers Brook, in the area known locally as “Bumble Kite”. The memorial was originally erected in 1920 in the garden of the headteacher’s house attached to the school on the corner of Mill Lane and was moved to its present location in 1959.

You can find out more about the history of the church and the Parish here and the more details on the church architecture and interior here

In the church is a fascinating list of parish priests who have served Cocking since the 14th century up until the present day – you can find out more about them here