Ferring (St. Andrew)

FERRING (St. Andrew), a parish, in the union of East Preston (under Gilbert's act), hundred of Poling, rape of Arundel, W. division of Sussex, 3¾ miles (W.) from Worthing; containing 285 inhabitants. It comprises by measurement 935 acres, of which 633 are arable, 212 meadow and pasture, and 43 woodland. The living is a discharged vicarage, with that of East Preston and that of Kingston united, valued in the king's books at £6. 8. 4., and in the gift of the Bishop of Chichester. The tithes in the parish belonging to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have been commuted for £237, and the vicarial tithes for £90; there is a glebe of 21 acres. The vicar's total net income is £244. The church, which is in the early English style, is dedicated to St. Andrew, in honour of whom a church or monastery was built here so early as the time of Offa, King of Mercia, of which there were some remains in the reign of Edward III. On Highdown Hill, an isolated eminence, is a small earthwork, from which is an extensive panoramic view.