While grass around the church itself is reasonably short, grass in other parts of the churchyard has reached several feet high, obscuring graves.

The matter was raised at Monday's (July 14) Steyning Parish Council meeting, at which chairman Jackie Campbell said she was ashamed of the state of the churchyard.

"You go to other churchyards and they are beautful," she added. "It really is a disgrace. My idea was to put sheep in there. I have been to one where they had sheep but perhaps this isn't the right place."

Two years ago it was decided to leave some areas of the churchyard to develop into wildlife areas, but some who visit the churchyard believe the situation has got out of hand.

Pat Groves' husband Charlie died in 2003, and his ashes are interred at St Andrew's. She contacted the Herald after deciding something needed to be done.

"What must visitors to Steyning think they see the churchyard in such a state of neglect?" said the 65-year-old.

"It is very distressing to relatives to see their loved ones among such chaos. It is a little bit better around the church, but the rest of it is diabolical."

Barbara Mills was among those who turned out yesterday morning to make their views on the churchyard known.

She said: "I think it's disgraceful, it really is. It's awful. I have never seen Steyning in such a state. I have got a lot of friends in here.

"If I go on holiday, I love to look round a church and a churchyard. What must people think when they get here?"

A map inside the church's porch, dated 2006, illustrates how often grass in different areas is supposed to be mown.

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Horsham District council parks services manager Evan Giles said: "Whilst responsibility for maintenance of the churchyard does fall with Horsham District Council, it is maintained by the church through a local agreement with the council, which provides funding.

"Older areas of the church yard are kept as a wildlife sanctuary with mown access paths – however, St Andrew's Church will arrange access to graves on request.

"We are aware that some local concern has been expressed about the area and Horsham District Council is working with St Andrew's Church to ensure the grounds are kept in a satisfactory way."