Stopham (St. Mary)

STOPHAM (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of Thakeham, hundred of Rotherbridge, rape of Arundel, W. division of Sussex, 4 miles (S. E. by E.) from Petworth; containing 135 inhabitants. The parish comprises 827a. 1r. 13p., of which about 406 acres are arable, 224 pasture, 159 wood, and 33 waste. It is watered by the river Arun, over which is a bridge of seven arches, built in the reign of Edward II. The living is a discharged rectory, valued in the king's books at £5. 12. 8½., and in the gift of George Barttelot, Esq.: the tithes have been commuted for £146; there is a glebe-house, and the glebe comprises 28 acres. The church is partly in the early and partly in the decorated English style, with a square tower; the pavement is almost entirely composed of large slabs of Sussex marble, inlaid with brass figures and memorials of the Barttelot family, and in the windows are representations of some of the Barttelots and Stophams in stained glass, said to have been removed from the ball windows of the old manor-house.