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Consecrated in 1880 and closed for worship around 1990 becoming a residential and retreat centre for young people in the local diocese known as St Bartz. In the intervening period since Nigel's image, [[58602]], was taken it seems the former graveyard has been seriously neglected. Spithurst lies in the northern part of Barcombe parish and plans were afoot in the 1830s to build a new church to cater for the growing number of residents employed on local estates. The land here was given over to the building of the church in 1838 but was to remain empty for over 40 years as the then absentee rector fell out with the local landowner and proceeded to build a church to the south in Mount Pleasant which began in 1868 and was partially completed before worked stopped in the early 1870s as the rector sought to claim money for church building through the courts in order to complete the project. The court itself referred the dispute back to the local parishioners and rector to sort out whilst emptying the pockets of both and stalemate continued until the death of the latter in 1877 resulting in the demolition of the partially completed church in Mount Pleasant.
©Simon Carey
A church was built in the parish of Barcombe in 1880 replacing another to the south in Mount Pleasant to serve parishioners too far away from Barcombe. It seems to have been converted at the beginning of this century into a Christian residential centre resulting in a much neglected graveyard.
©Simon Carey
Dist:0.1km<br/>A sign at the entrance to this flintstone church says ST. BARTZ. But apart from this, there is no clue. But this 1880 former parish church is now a centre where young people, study groups and others can come together.
©Nigel Freeman
Dist:0.1km<br/>This photograph taken at end of August when the wonderful wild garden in the churchyard is home to a great variety of plants, insects and butterflies. A UK shortage of bees? Not here!
©Peter Whitcomb
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©nick macneill
Dist:0.2km<br/>In the hamlet of Spithurst opposite the former church.
©Simon Carey
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©Dave Spicer
Dist:0.3km<br/>The name of the field according to Barcombe's 1839 tithe map viewed from Spithurst Road.
©Simon Carey
Dist:0.3km<br/>The name of the field according to Barcombe's 1839 tithe map with Spithurst Cottage in the distance.
©Simon Carey
Dist:0.4km<br/>The name of the field according to Barcombe's 1839 tithe map with the titular pond out of shot to the right.
©Simon Carey
Dist:0.4km<br/>The name of the field according to Barcombe's 1839 tithe map with Burtenshaw's Wood at the far end.
©Simon Carey
Dist:0.5km<br/>On Spithurst Road the lane that runs through the hamlet which lies to the north of Barcombe Cross.
©Simon Carey
Dist:0.5km<br/>View of the barns from the entrance on Spithurst Road. The farmhouse dates from the 17th century and the neighbouring hamlet of Mount Pleasant seems to have been built up around the farm from the 19th century onwards.
©Simon Carey
Dist:0.6km<br/>The name of the field according to Barcombe's 1839 tithe map that lies to the east of Mount Pleasant.
©Simon Carey
Dist:0.6km<br/>Linking the small hamlet to Dallas Lane.
©Simon Carey

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