St Peter's Church is a parish church in the village of Ardingly, County Sussex, United Kingdom. The existing building dates from the fourteenth century, but a church existed on the site much earlier.
The settlement of Ardingly dates from Saxon times, and in the 11th century the Normans built a church on the hill. It is probable (but not yet documented) that a church of Saxon or pre-Saxon construction existed on this site. In the 7th century, after the conversion of the Saxons to Christianity, many such wooden thatched churches were built. Little is known about the 11th century Norman church. By the 14th century the woollen trade was flourishing in Ardingly and the inhabitants could afford to build a new church. It was built between 1330 and 1350, in the then prevalent Decorated Gothic style, and little remains of the original Norman church. A massive stone tower was added to the church in the early 15th century. Unusually, there is no spire on the tower, but this may be due to the fact that the tower had a defensive function or served as a signal tower. The tower is 15 metres high, square at the base, 3.7 metres by 3.7 metres, and the walls are 1.2 metres thick. An oak staircase, preserved from the time of the tower's construction, leads to the top. Two bells were added to the tower in the 18th century.
Restoration of old churches was a characteristic of the Victorian era, and St Peter's Church has undergone some changes. The ancient chancel barrier was moved into the tower, the pews replaced, and the pulpit and gallery renewed. In 1853 the first organ appeared in the church. At the end of the 19th century, during restoration work and excavations, a column capitol dating from the 12th century was discovered - this is all that remains of the Norman-built church, although some of the stone blocks in the south wall may be of the same origin. Some windows retain fragments of medieval stained glass.
There is an ancient cemetery near the church, where ancient and unusual gravestones can be found.
