St Mary’s Chapel, Duncton, was already in existence in 1125 when it was granted to Lewes Priory. It afterwards became a chapel-of-ease to Petworth, and finally a Rectory. A diocesan survey of 1676 recorded 60 parishioners, while William Cobbett in 1823 mentions 222 inhabitants, for whom he considered the church quite large enough. The parish, however, thought otherwise, and a new church, the Holy Trinity, was built in 1866. The old church was soon afterwards demolished and levelled with the ground, only the ancient bell being preserved, in the belfry of the new church. The site of the old church became overgrown with elder trees, and by the date of excavation in 1969 could be distinguished only by the surviving gravestones.

The site was excavated in 1969 and a report of the findings is attached.