The Parish Church of St John the Baptist

Church

The church with a nave, chancel and a wooden bell-turret containing 3 bells, dates from the c.1100 and was restored in 1893. The Rector at Clayton during the Great War was Henry C. Bond.

The fame of this church lies in its nave wall paintings. These paintings that show the story of the 'Last Judgment' are really frescoes - painted on the wet plaster - and they date from about c.1140. At the south-east corner of the nave is a small stained glass window with the following two inscriptions:-

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends and To the memory of Frederick Charles Waterfield 21st May 1915.

On the wall next to the window is a oval brass plaque with the following inscription:-

This window is erected to the Glory of God and in beloved memory of Frederick Charles Waterfield Capt. 45th Rattray's Sikhs I. A. (Indian Army) who served in the China Expedition 1900, North West Frontier of India 1908 and carried out valuable exploration work on the borders of Tibet 1912-13. Born 22nd Sept 1878 he died of wounds at Bethune on the 21st May 1915 while serving with the Indian Expeditionary Force in France.

The following report appeared in the 'The Mid-Sussex Times' of 21st December, 1915:-

CLAYTON - Military Memorial

This week the Parish Church (Clayton) is being enriched by the addition of painted glass to the easternmost window of the south side of the nave. It is the gift of Mrs. Waterfield , in memory of her husband, Captain F. C. Waterfield, 45th Rattray's Sikhs (attached to the 15th Sikhs), who died at the end of last spring from wounds received in action in France. The erection of this window has been approved at a vestry meeting. The glass is from studios of Messrs. C. E. Kempe and Co., and the inscription will read:- "Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. To the memory of Frederick Charles Waterfield, May 21st, 1915."

Lych-Gate

The churchyard, and the church, is entered through the lych-gate. The gate appears to be of great age, but was actually not constructed until 1921, as a Parish War Memorial to the men of Clayton who fell in the Great War 1914-1918. On the Centenary of Clayton Parish in 1994, the Lychgate was refurbished. On the wooden cross beams under the roof is the following inscription:-

North side - This gate is erected to the Glory of God and in thankful remembrance to the men of this parish who laid down their lives in the Great War 1914-19 - South side I am the resurrection the life come Lord Jesus come quickly

Also inscribed on the beams are the names of the eighteen men of Clayton who fell in the Great War, and on the eastern upright a metal plaque records the names of the eleven men who gave their lives in the Second World War and one name from the Falklands Islands conflict of 1982.

Churchyard

There are no war graves located in this churchyard and no inscriptions noted on family graves.

Able Seaman Z/2776, Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. 63rd Royal Naval Division. Taken prisoner and died in captivity in Germany 29th April 1918. Aged 29. Son of William & Mary Attree, of 7, Wolsey Grove, Esher, Surrey. Buried in Hamburg Cemetery, Hamburg, Germany.

Private 27651, 9th Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers. 12th Division. Killed in action on the Somme 4th.August 1916. Aged 23. Only son of Israel & Patience Avery, of 2, Stanford Avenue, Hassocks. Born Hassocks, enlisted Brighton. Keymer W.M. Buried Serre Road Cemetery No 2. F.1890/2

[Listed as 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles on memorial] Captain,. 5th Infantry Brigade, (British Columbia Regiment). 2nd Canadian Division. Died of wounds near Ypres 16th March 1916. Aged 28. Son of Major A. Bell (Late 48th Foot) and Mrs Bell. Husband of Mrs Ethel Bell of 'The Hillside,' Hassocks. Buried in Loker Churchyard, Belgium.

Major, Royal Artillery. Western Front Anti Aircraft Units. Died in military hospital at Le Havre 6th November 1918. Aged 26. Son of Horace & Kate Broad of 'The Ham'. Hassocks. Native of Hurstpierpoint (Hurstpierpoint W.M.). Buried in Ste. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre F.85.

Leading Seaman. 85451, H.M.S. 'Europa', Royal Navy. Base Depot Cruiser, Mudros. Died 22nd October 1916. Aged 38. Son of George &. Caroline Gearing of Ovingdean. Husband of Ellen Zilpah. Gearing of 91,Goring Road, Shoreham. Buried in East Mudros Military Cemetery, Lemnos, Greece.

Private G.1085, 7th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 12th Division. Killed in action near Loos 4th March 1916. Born in Beddingham and enlisted in Hurstpierpoint. Hurstpierpoint Memorial. Commemorated on The Loos Memorial MR.19.

Second Lieutenant, 1/4th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment attached to an unknown Battalion in Belgium. Died of wounds near Ypres 13th August 1917. Aged 30. Husband of Mrs G. M. Golby of Villa Holois, Boulevard. Deguane, Arcachon, France. Native of Clayton. Buried in Mendingham Military Cemetery, Proven, Belgium B.18.

[Listed as Thomas William on CWGC and SDGW] Rifleman 46001, 13th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade. 37th Division. Killed in action near Romieres 23rd October 1918. Aged 19. Son of Thomas & Esther Johnson, Friars Oak Cottage, Hassocks. Born in Henfield and enlisted in Chichester. Buried in Romieres Communal Cemetery Extension. F 206.

Lieutenant, 1st Battalion, The West Yorkshire Regiment. 6th Division. Killed in action on the Aisne 22nd September 1914. Aged 25. Son of Major Thomas & Mrs Ellen Meautys of Hammond Place, Burgess Hill. Husband of Nora Nell Meautys who remarried and moved to Bradworthy in Devonshire. Brother of Paul and Denzil. Burgess Hill W.M. Buried in Vendresse British Cemetery F.1329.

[Listed as Paul Raymond Meautys on CWGC and SDGW] Captain, 2nd Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment (Indian Army). Killed in action 16th June 1917 while attached to a Western Front Battalion. Aged 26. Son of Major Thomas & Mrs. Ellen Meautys of Hammond Place, Burgess Hill. Brother of Thomas and Denzil Meautys. Burgess Hill W.M. Buried in London Cemetery, Neuville-Vitasse F.118.

Lieutenant, 12th Battalion, The West Yorkshire Regiment. 31st Division. Died of wounds in Base hospital at Etaples on the 7th May 1917. Aged 19. Son of Major Thomas & Mrs Ellen. Meautys of Hammond Place, Burgess Hill. Brother of Paul and Thomas. Burgess Hill War Memorial. Buried in Etaples Military Cemetery F.40.

Lance Corporal 24772, 4th Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers. 3rd Division. Died of wounds 15th December 1917. Born in Clayton and enlisted in London. Buried in Mory Abbey Military Cemetery, Mory. F.614.

Rifleman 3747, 1/5th Battalion, The London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade). 56th London Division. Killed in action near Mont St. Eloi 1st September 1916. Aged 22. Son of Charles John & Edith Gertrude Smith of Kingston on Thames, Surrey and of Hove and Clayton in Sussex. Enlisted in London. Buried in Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Mont St.Eloi F.68.

Captain, 45th Battalion, Rattray's Sikh's, Indian Army. Indian Expeditionary Force, Flanders. Died of wounds 21st May 1915. Aged 36. Youngest son of Major General H. I. Waterfield and Mrs Emily. Scott Waterfield. Buried in Bethune Town Cemetery F.80.

[Listed as Private 7th Royal Sussex] Private G.20309, The Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Formerly Royal Sussex. Died of wounds received in France 2nd January 1919. Aged 26. Son of Richard & Rosa Winter of West Town Cottages, Hurstpierpoint. Keymer Parish Memorial. Buried in Hurstpierpoint Cemetery.

Private G.1078, 7th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment 12th Division. Killed in action at Ovillers 7th July 1917. Aged 21. Son of Mrs Abigail Wooller and Mr.Wooller of Whitelands Cottage Keymer. Born in Clayton and enlisted in Hurstpierpoint. Included on Keymer Parish Memorial. Commemorated on The Thiepval Memorial MR.21.