Welcome to Herons Ghyll
I have visited Herons Ghyll several times. Apart from the attractiveness and atmosphere of the Church of St John the Evangelist, it is clear that this quite isolated parish, conjoined now with Uckfield, continues to thrive.
Edward, Duke of Norfolk
Arundel, 1 November 2015
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From "Herons Ghyll" - The History of Sussex Parish, 1879 to 2015
Our
church
The historic church of St John the Evangelist is in a delightful setting, close to the Ashdown Forest and easily accessible off the main road from Uckfield to Crowborough.
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Our parish communities are served by many lay people who are fully invoved in the life of the parishes. Our Parish Priest is Fr Ireneusz (Irek) Stadler, who lives in Crowborough and is aided by our deacons Rev'd David Tutt, Rev'd Ken Fowler and Rev'd Mike `Thoms as Uckfield & Herons Ghyll Admin.
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Pope, Francis
"Any Parish, that capable of self renewal, and constant adaptability, continues to be the church living in the midst of the homes of her sons and daughters"
Apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, 2013
The sculpture of Saint John the Evangelist by Marcus Cornish. The work was blessed by Bishop of Arundel & Brighton at the special celebration in January 2009.
Our History
The 19th Century history of the church at Heron’s Ghyll is really a microcosm of Roman Catholic revival in this country. Catholicism was re-established in this area on 8th April 1866 by the Victorian poet, Coventry Patmore (1823-1896) and his second wife, Marianne née Byles (1822-1880) when Mass was said in their house by a retired priest, Father Bernard Fallon. By 1869, they had created an oratory in their newly rebuilt mansion (now the adjacent Temple Grove House) designed by the Catholic architect, John Francis Bentley (1839-1902), improved the estate and the poet had renamed the locality from ‘Pucksty’ to ‘Heron’s Ghyll’.
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