The scattered hamlet of Fairwarp on the southern edge of Ashdown Forest was formerly in the parish of Maresfield.  In 1877 plans were announced for a chapel of ease designed by M R Hawkins, who gave his services (BN 33 p420), and the adjacent school could well be by him as well.  All was finished in 1881.

The nave remains of this chapel, now a parish church, and it is typical of its architect, a competent designer of modest churches in the lancet style.  It is built of local ironstone, aisleless with an open timber porch and originally had an apse (Elleray p60).  The nave roof has broad utilitarian trusses and there is a west organ gallery.  The project was costed at only £1800-2000.

In 1931 plans by L Martin and E C Davies to extend the chapel, adding a new east end beneath a tall tower in memory of Sir Frederick Eckstein, were approved (CDG Sept 1931 p385).  Despite the date of the faculty, work does not appear to have been completed until 1935 (ibid Dec 1935 p459) or 1936 - according to Kelly’s Directory for 1938, the tower, the centre of the new work, dates from the latter year.  It stands on two broad arches across the church, with a disproportionately large square stair-turret to the north and long single bell-openings.  There are short transept-like projections; that to the north is a vestry. 

The detail can be criticised, but the new work shows the influence of contemporary architects who used simplified gothic, like Sir Giles G Scott – Martin’s obituary in the Architects’ Journal ascribes the design to him, though Davies designed at least one other church.  The design reveals a talent for massing.  The nave was little changed inside or out, except for a marble floor which extends all over the church.  A short chancel behind the tower has no direct lighting, only concealed side-windows, and is canted round the draped altar.  There were few new fittings so the modest C19 ones mostly survive.

Fittings and monuments

Chandeliers: Clearly 1935-36 of brass, in C18 style.
Font: Plain round.  Probably C19.
Glass:
1. The windows in the apse were of 1885 by J Powell and Sons, designed by H Holiday.  They were redistributed between four windows in 1935 (Hadley).
2. (West window) J Powell and Sons, 1894, designed by G Parlby (order book).
3. (South nave, second window) G Maile and Son, 1929 (WSRO Fac 3425).
Monuments: (Churchyard) Members of the Eckstein family, dating from 1930 to 1950.  They are by Sir W R Dick (BE p499) in bronze and stone.  The most ambitious is the standing figure of Hermione Beatrice Eckstein (d1945).
Royal Arms: (West gallery) They are carved and post-1837 in form; whether of 1881 or 1935, they are unusual for the time.