St Mary Magdalene's Church, Tortington

Arundel, United Kingdom

Open to visitors

The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

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St Mary Magdalene's Church in Tortington, near Arundel in West Sussex, is a Norman structure founded in 1101 to serve an adjacent priory and the riverside community. Built of flint and Caen stone, the church has retained its essential character through the centuries, requiring only modest restoration in the 19th century. Its most distinctive features are the remarkable carved decorations in the ancient chancel arch and doorway, which include grotesque, boggle-eyed monsters, rare beakhead figures, and chevron ornamentation typical of Norman craftsmanship. The building stands in a secluded, picturesque setting behind a farm. Active for worship until 1978, when it was declared redundant, the church is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. English Heritage has listed it at Grade II in recognition of its architectural and historical significance.