Wisborough Green parish church stands on a hilltop overlooking the upper reaches of the River Arun and its tributary, the River Kird. This, taken together with the 4’6” thick tower walls, suggest that the church was once at least in part, a fortified building guarding the navigable river route up to the Weald forest, and providing a safe haven for local people. It was not uncommon in Norman times for churches to have this dual purpose.
The oldest surviving part of St Peter ad Vincula is in fact the west wall of the tower, which is early 12th century with Norman windows and a small easily defended west doorway.

The first photograph in this gallery is of the font which dates from the 13th century. The unusual square bowl, which is made from limestone, curves inwards to a thick central supporting column. There are four corner colonettes which are made of marble and appear to be a later renewal.

The second photograph is of the medieval murals, which date from the late 12th century, painted on a recess to the right of the chancel arch. The paintings were partly obliterated when the chancel arch was widened and the recesses on either side of it infilled, but the murals were restored in 1867 and again in 1985. The top picture is of St James the Great seen presenting pilgrims to Christ. Some of the mural has been lost, but Christ’s head with a cruciform halo is visible at the top left corner. The lower painting is of the crucifixion and has, unusually, Christ on a common cross bar with one of the two thieves. A Roman soldier is offering something, possibly vinegar, to Christ. St John the Evangelist is standing next to the soldier. The missing section of the mural would have depicted the other thief, and probably Mary, mother of Christ.