The parish stands on the lower southern slopes of the gentle uplands forming the Weald.

The villages and settlements in the parish, like many others on the Weald, were involved in the Wealden iron industry.

[5] There are two NHS mental health sites within the parish of Hellingly, one is the Amberstone Hospital, a specialist rehabilitation unit to help people recover from long-term mental health issues, and the other site is the Hellingly Centre, a medium secure unit for people between the ages of 18 and 65 who have mental health problems and who have become involved with the criminal justice system.

The buildings maintenance were under-invested before being sold by the NHS and demolished to be replaced by a housing estate, named by the developer as Roebuck Park.

[6] Hellingly is in the Wealden parliamentary constituency, the MP since 2015 has been Nus Ghani, Conservative.

[7] The chancel dates from about 1200, and the shafts with annulets round the windows and the band of palmettes under them are substantially original.