St. Mary's Spire Appeal

Your last chance to sponsor a piece of Billingshurst history

The clock is ticking

The remaining shingles will soon be installed and the opportunity to sponsor one will end.
£20 sponsors a shingle and allows you to leave a dedication that will become part of the fabric of St Mary’s for decades to come.
Don’t miss your chance to leave your mark on a piece of Billingshurst history.

Steeplejack working on the spire of St Mary’s early in 2026. Photo: Norman Dudman Up above the fields and houses, the spire of St Mary’s Church has watched over Billingshurst for centuries. Visible across fields, lanes and rooftops, it is more than an architectural feature — it is a symbol of continuity, faith and community life.

A church has stood on this site since at least the 12th century, and within the tower hangs a ring of eight bells, whose sound marks celebration and remembrance across the parish. St Mary’s is also a Grade I listed building, recognised nationally for its historic importance. Caring for it is a privilege — and a responsibility shared across generations.

The spire is clad in thousands of wooden shingles (timber tiles) that protect the structure from wind and weather. Over time, some shingles have failed through age and exposure, and they now need replacing. This appeal continues the centuries-old tradition of stewardship: ordinary people ensuring that this extraordinary landmark remains safe and weatherproof for the future.

Final opportunity to sponsor a shingle

The work on the spire is now nearing completion, and the remaining shingles will soon be fixed into place. Once the steeplejacks have finished, the opportunity to sponsor a shingle will be gone.

For a donation of £20, you can sponsor a shingle and add a personal inscription to be written on the reverse before it is installed. Your message might commemorate a loved one, celebrate a special occasion, mark a family connection with St Mary’s, or simply express your support for the church and village.

Long after today’s generation has passed, your shingle will remain part of the fabric of this historic landmark, helping to protect a building that has stood at the heart of Billingshurst for centuries.

Every sponsored shingle helps us meet the cost of this essential work and ensures that St Mary’s continues to watch over our village for many years to come.

If you have been considering sponsoring a shingle, now is the time. When the final shingle is fixed, this unique opportunity will end.
The work on the spire is now nearing completion, and the remaining shingles will soon be fixed into place. Once the steeplejacks have finished, the opportunity to sponsor a shingle will be gone.

For a donation of £20, you can sponsor a shingle and add a personal inscription to be written on the reverse before it is installed. Your message might commemorate a loved one, celebrate a special occasion, mark a family connection with St Mary’s, or simply express your support for the church and village.

Long after today’s generation has passed, your shingle will remain part of the fabric of this historic landmark, helping to protect a building that has stood at the heart of our village for centuries.

Every sponsored shingle helps us meet the cost of this essential work and ensures that St Mary’s continues to watch over our village for many years to come.

If you have been considering sponsoring a shingle, now is the time. When the final shingle is fixed, this unique opportunity will end.

Every sponsored shingle brings us one step closer to completing the work. Whether your donation is large or small, it will make a real difference to this historic landmark and to the church at the heart of village life.

Your kindness helps preserve a familiar landmark and a place where so many memories have been made: weddings, baptisms, funerals, festivals, music, prayer, and quiet moments of reflection.

If you’d like to follow progress, please check back — we’ll be sharing updates as the work and fundraising continue.