The original building has Anglo-Saxon and Norman origins, seen inside by the small window in the chancel north wall and outside by a narrow in-filled window in the nave north wall. In the 12th century, it comprised the nave and a small chancel and in the 15th century, the chancel was extended and the south aisle, tower, spire and bells added.
In those days there were no pews; people stood or “went to the wall” for a bench. By the 17th century, the interior started to look like the 1882 painting by the main door. Then, two years later, the Victorian architect, Benjamin Ferry, started a major restoration that took 15 years. The roof was renewed, windows refurbished, the porch and vestry added, walls plastered and much of the old furniture replaced. However, that does not detract from the special ambience that remains. The Church is grade 1 listed of architectural and historical interest.
Opposite the Church a hall was built in 1859 for the Sunday School. Since then it has been used for a variety of purposes. When used as a men’s club in 1911 a large extension was built. In the 1980s it was a tyre store and then became derelict but was refurbished. Now the John Flamsteed Hall, it is again used for Sunday School and, in the week, a Montessori Nursery School.
In Smallfield, some two miles away, the community was developing rapidly at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Rector Charles Walbrand-Evans saw the need for a Church presence there and found a site, commissioned architect Charles Nicholas (who designed Hanover Square in London and Redhill) and raised funds to build a hall with a chapel. Smallfield Church Hall was opened in 1912 but regrettably the Rector did not live to take a service there. At one time the Hall was also used as a mens’ club but was closed down by the Rector because of bad behaviour! Today it is used by various community groups, for private functions and by the Church for services and other events.
Sanger’s Circus was a well known part of Smallfield life for many years, having its winter quarters there. In 1917 a secret marriage took place in Burstow Church between Victoria Sanger, the “Queen of the elephants”, and James Freeman, “Pimpo the clown”. They met her parents on the way home! A young Morecambe and Wise used to work at Sanger’s and little Ern proposed to his wife in a café in Horley. The Circus left town in 1941.
The outside of the Church contrasts the stonework of the nave and chancel and the woodwork of the tower. The west door in the tower formed the original 15th century entrance. On the north wall of the nave is the in-filled Norman window. The south side of the chancel has a priest door, now disused. Before the restoration of 1884-99, the roof was of Horsham slabs.
