Offington Park Methodist Church

The Methodist chapel at Offington, just outside Lancing, is one of those churches you'd walk past without a second glance if you weren't looking for it. But if you're touring the smaller places of worship across Sussex, it's worth a stop. Built in the 19th century when Methodism was thriving in coastal towns, it's a proper example of the chapel architecture that dotted England's industrial and working-class communities.

What you get is modest Victorian Methodist design - solid, unpretentious, built for function rather than show. The interior is simple, as Methodist chapels typically are, and there's a genuine quietness to it that you don't always find in parish churches. It's the sort of place that appeals to religious history buffs or anyone interested in how ordinary communities worshipped.

Access and opening can be tricky with smaller independent chapels. You may find it locked outside services, so ringing ahead or checking Sunday service times through local Methodist circuits is your best bet. The location between Lancing and Washington makes it easy to combine with a walk around the villages rather than as a standalone destination.

If you're based at any of the caravan parks nearby - The Barn, Beach Park, or Eastern Sands are all within three miles - it's a gentle detour rather than a planned excursion. Don't expect grand architecture or major significance. Go if you're interested in the religious and social history of coastal Sussex. Skip it if you're after something more obviously spectacular.