During the 12th century Winchelsea was larger and more important than its close neighbour Rye. The Old town was situated on a low lying island about three miles south east of the present town, approximately where Camber Sands are today. In October 1250 Old WInchelsea was partly submerged by a phenomenal high tide which was followed 37 years later by another inundation which virtually destroyed the town.
http://www.roughwood.net/ChurchAlbum/EastSussex/Winchelsea/WinchelseaStThomas2004.htm
Edward I planned a new town at Iham, a location high above the flooding danger from the sea, including a substantial new church. What we see today is in fact the chancel and two side chapels of that planned building. Whether the nave was ever fully built is unknown - but it is thought that there was once a massive tower over the nave crossing (the supporting piers are still visible). It was probably brought down by raiders from France.
On the 7th October 1790, that great apostle of the 18th century, John Wesley, preached his last open-air sermon under the great ash tree. Wesley's ash tree was uprooted in 1927, but another was planted to replace it. This stands on the west side of the churchyard of St Thomas's church.
http://www.villagenet.co.uk/rotherlevels/villages/winchelsea.php
Two notable graves in the churchyard are those of John Gooders, eminent ornithologist, writer of bird books, supporter and past chairman of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, who died on 18th May 2010 and Terence Alan (Spike) Milligan, writer, artist, musician, humanitarian and comedian, who died on 27th February 2002.
The cache is a 35 mm film pot, take a seat to enjoy.
If anybody would like to expand the Church Micro series please do, we would just ask that you could let Sadexploration know first, so they can keep track of the Church numbers and names, to avoid duplication.