The Romans settled in the area now known as Southwick: a large villa was in use for nearly 300 years until the 4th century,[1] but no more development took place until the late Saxon era.

[1] In the late 12th century[1] or 1225[4][5] (sources differ), the advowson was conveyed to the Knights Templar, who by this time were also patrons of the Church of St Mary the Blessed Virgin in nearby Sompting.

[6] It was then transferred to another religious order, the Knights Hospitaller, in around 1365[5] before becoming Crown property after the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century.

[3] Architect John Garrett designed a new four-bay nave with north and south aisles in a lean-to style, rounded arches and lancet windows in groups of three.

[14] The individually numbered stones and timbers were retrieved, and in 1949 John Denman executed a precise rebuilding of all three stages and the broached spire.

[8] The three-stage tower, topped with its shingled spire, stands at the west end between two vestries with rounded walls.

[4][8] The lancet windows in the chancel, inserted in the 13th century, underwent 19th-century restoration[4] and have stained glass by Charles Eamer Kempe.

[15] The nave also has lancets, put in during the 1835 rebuilding,[4] and several windows in the aisles were installed as memorials during the Victorian era.

[15] Ken Adams of the Cox & Barnard firm of Hove designed a memorial window for the north aisle in about 1950, showing the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple.

[16] Internal fittings include an elaborately carved pulpit with some early 17th-century panels,[17] an organ restored in the mid-1970s[15] and a substantial square font which is believed to date from the 13th century.

[12] St Michael and All Angels Church was listed at Grade II* by English Heritage on 19 July 1950.

The Lady chapel altar was removed, and the organ was moved from its location in the south transept to a purpose built gallery at the rear of the church.

Regrettably rather than extend the tonal range of the instrument, electric action allowed octave couplers, and some of the original stops were renamed but not revoiced.