Church to be re-Christened? Full report and picture special

The earliest reference to St Andrew's Church, in Church Street, which has been found dates back to 1263AD.

Now plans are underway to change the church's dedication to include St Cuthman '“ the man believed to have founded the church before the Norman conquest.

Steyning resident and district councillor George Cockman, a licensed lay reader at St Andrew's, has been involved in restoring Cuthman traditions in the town and its parish church.

He said: "It seems the Normans wanted to impose their rule root and branch. Cuthman was written out of Steyning's heritage and practically forgotten until the middle of the 19th century."

If plans are given the go-ahead, the church would be renamed The Church of St Andrew and St Cuthman, Steyning.

Mr Cockman said: "It seems very appropriate to join his name with St Andrew, making Steyning's church a joint dedication. It would be a natural fulfilment of our increasing respect for Cuthman in recent years."

References to Cuthman dominate the town. His image features in stained-glass windows at the church, while a statue of him watches over the building from Cuthman's Field, at Fletcher's Croft.

A High Street restaurant and bar is named after Cuthman, and the image of the saint and his mother features on Steyning's town signs.

St Cuthman's Road, in Shooting Field, is named after him, as is the Cuthman Centre, at Steyning Grammar School.

A former emblem for the town's primary school uniform '“ designed by then pupil Chris Roe, now 26 '“ paid tribute to Cuthman, using the intials S, P and S, for Steyning Primary School.

Cuthman and his mother were each represented by the letter S, while the P was turned on its side to illustrate the wheelbarrow.

Mr Cockman added that despite the numerous nods to the saint throughout Steyning, Cuthman's presence had been low-key until relatively recently.

"Christopher Fry's play about Cuthman, The Boy With a Cart, made Steyning known throughout the English-speaking world," he said.

"People were surprised to come here in the past and find so little recognition of him."

Unlike many ecclesiastical processes, not a lot has to be done to change the church's dedication '“ it just needs the agreement of the bishop, the vicar and the parochial church council.

Vicar at the church, Canon Dr Paul Rampton, asked for people to come forward with their views on the possible name change.

He said: "We realise the church building is part of the wider community and so would welcome any comments on the proposal."