| Before 1066
| The manors of Abinger and Paddington held by a "huscarle" of King Edward (The Confessor). Probably both had mills by this time.
|
| 1086
| Domesday book records a church in Abinger (then Abinceborne), possibly built by William Fitz Ansculf, the Tenant-in-chief (who also held six other Surrey manors).
|
| Before 1100
| Fitz Ansculf's tenant Robert of Abinger is very likely to have been the builder of the little Bayeux Tapestry-type castle (Excavated in 1949). Fulk Paganel (or Paynell) the succeeding lord of the manor may have acrried out a known rebuilding of the motte.
|
| 13th Century
| Abinger church dedicated to St James. Norman chancel built.
|
| circa 1220-1240
| North chapel believed built.
|
| 1273
| David de Jarpenville held Manor of Abinger. He died in 1293. The Manor fell to his brother, Thomas. In 1305 he was Patron of the Abinger half of the living.
|
| 1286
| 12th April: Richard Fulvenne, first recorded Rector of Abinger. Patron was Sir Adam Gordon (or Gurdun).
|
| 1291
| Valuation of living for taxation by Pope Nicholas.
|
| 1341-1348
| Members of de Jarpenville family were Rectors of Abinger; Roger, grandson of David, was a patron.
|
| 1364
| The two halves (moities) of the parish (Paddington and Abinger) were united.
|
| 15th century
| Belfry added.
|
| 1525
| Carved oak vestment chest made in Normandy. Brought from France in 1990 and given by Celia Sheppard.
|
| 1552
| Edward VI's commissioners for survey of church goods visited Abinger church on 6th October and committed
the care of all the church's possessions including "a wodden cros plated with silver gilted with roses and branches weighing 16 ounces" to Robert Haryson, Thomas Songhurst, William Att Lee and Raffe Datton.
|
| 1553 |
New Surrey commissioners given instructions to leave in small parish churches only "convenient and comely things mete for the administration of the Holy Communion": 1 silver chalice, 1 surplice and ornaments for the communion table. Everything else, including the bells, was removed for the crown except church linen which was to be given to the poor.
|
| 1559 |
Church registers of Abinger Church exist from this date. The first entries are: Baptism - Lawrence Dayre, son of Matthew Dayre, 23rd April 1559; Marriage - Richard Edshue & Joane Mower 20th October 1559; Burial - Alce Tallard 2nd November 1559.
|
| by 1575 |
Responsibility for fencing the churchyard allocated to individual properties in the parish.
|
| 17th Century
| Present manor house (but with later additions) built by John 'Sylva' Evelyn the diarist, fried and apologist of King Charles II; it occupies the site of the bailey and an earlier hall. The 17thC manor pound is in the garden of Manor Cottage, the former manor stables; here the lord of the manor held stray cattle. John Evelyn was born at nearby Wotton and was buried at Wotton Church.
|
| 1645 |
Rev. Anthony Smith, rector of Abinger since 1638, was deprived of his living. he is said to have spoken or preached against Parliament and prayed that God would prosper the King. He probably used the prayer book which was illegal at that time. (36 Surrey parishes had ministers sequested from their livings).
|
| 1653 |
Under the Civil Mariage Act, Thomas Webb was appointed "Parisk register" and entered in the parish book most of the 14 civil marriages in Abinger.
|
| 1654 |
29th November: a lease granted to Thomas Hussey of Old Sutton Place and son Peter for 1000 years for a space 7ft x 51/2 ft for putting two pews "on the south side adjoining the pulpit,
the reading place and the clerk's seat" at a yearly rent of one
peppercorn and a charge of £5 in consideration of the lease.
|
| 1674 |
Two bells cast for Abinger Church: a tenor
in D (4 cwt.) and a treble in E (31/2 cwt.) inscribed "William Eldridge made me 1674" and "HS and DD
Churchwardens", i.e. Henry Spooner and Daniel Dibble who were signatories of the pew lease in 1654.
|
| 1679 |
At least one section of the churchyard had been walled. The initials
of the builders, probably Richard Worlsford of Pinkhurst, were
set in the wall and are still visible today 19yds north of the
lychgate.
|
| 1690 |
Rev. Robert Offley was appointed rector of St James', Abinger.
He was a distant relative of the Evelyn family through marriage
and is referred to in John Evelyn's famous Diary. He remained
in the living for 52 years.
With few exceptions, patronage of of the Living of Abinger from 1638 to the last few years of the 20th century has been
by members of the Evelyn family.
|
| 1718 |
Reference to a "... fair kept on St
James' day for cattle etc. now much decayed" at Abinger
in John Aubrey's Natural History & Antiquities of Surrey 1719.
|
| 1730 |
12th July. Burial of John Marsh, "a noted travelling hog-ringer"
|
| 1758 |
29th April. Baptism of "Samuel, base-born son of Jane, the wife of Robert Lane who was transported 3 or 4 years ago".
|
| 1793
| Date of the oldest discovered picture of
St James' church: a water-colour by Henry Pitrie.
|
| 1800
| A spire added to the bell tower replacing the cap.
|
| 1820-1830 |
Considered to be the last decade in which the stocks and whipping
post, on the green outside the church, were used.
|
| By 1851 |
Churchyard completely enclosed.
|
| 1853?
| Ecclesiastical parish of Abinger reduced in size by the creation
of Okewood parish from outliers of Abinger, Ockley and Wotton.
|
| 1856-7
| The Singers' gallery in the west end which formerly held a small orchestra for services was replaced with a barrel organ (two barrels of ten tunes each).
|
| 1878
| Part of Abinger's Ecclesiastical Parish was taken to form Holmbury St Mary.
|
| 1879
| Rationalisation of bounds of Abinger and neighbouring parishes brought Okewood into Abinger civil parish. (See modern boundaries here).
|
| 1879-1880 |
A further restoration and enlargement of St James' church. This included a third bell (1880), cast by Mears & Stainbank (later Whitechapel Bell Founders). The West window was created and a new vestry and a prorch added. The lychgate was built. The church re-opened 5th August 1880.
|
| 1890
| A roof erected on the stocks.
|
| 1894
| Creation of parich councils (and civil parishes).
|
| 1919-1920
| The war memorial designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens
RA was erected, a gift of Mrs Margaret Lewin, widow of Col
Lewin of Parkhurst, in memory of the men of the ecclesiastical
parish of Abinger who fell in the 1914-1918 World War.
|
| 1920 |
A new vestry added to St James', given by Mrs Waterhouse in memory of her late husband, Edwin.
|
| 1924
| The old 1887 organ in St James' was restored.
|
| 1927
| Creation of the diocese of Guildford.
|
| 1934-1938
| Restoration of St James' church. Electric light installed, the
old oil lamps removed.
|
| 1944
| A German flying bomb exploded very near the church early on Sunday
3rd August. Only the walls and the 13th century chapel remained more-or-less intact. The 1st World War Memorial suffered severe damage.
|
| 1944-1951
| Church services held at various locations
(Evelyn Hall, NAAFI canteen on army camp, Goddards), Great
oak beams given by Hon Mrs Vaughan Williams from her own
estate at High Ashes for rebuilding of the church.
|
| 1951 |
Completion of re-building of church (by F Etchells FRIBA), based
on the 1879 structure with an additional 10 feet added for
placing the organ. Re-consecration took place in May.
|
| 1964
| Church struck by lightning in June. Extensive damage to the tower, roof and east window. Chruch again repaired. "The repairs were again expertly handled and the result is superb, one of the most lovely of village churches..."
Surrey Villages (Pitt & Shaw.] |
| 1967
| The glass for the restored East Window given in memory of John Coe. The new design by Laurence Lee ARCA depicts the cross as a living tree. Concealed ceiling lighting introduced.
|
| 1974
| The two oldest bells were repaired, re-tuned and re-hung and rang again in their tercentury year, most of the cost being met by Mr. Robert Clarke of Abinger Manor.
|
| 1990 |
A custom-built Nicholson pipe organ was
installed: dedicated by the Bishop of Guildford in January 1991.
|
| 1994 |
Complete re-decoration of the church interior.
|
| 1996 |
Vestry extension completed.
|
| 1999**
| Three new bells were added in June to the existing three to mark the millenium, cast by Whitechaped Bell Foundry, first rung on New Year's Eve.
Michael Bowler, verger, died after 59 years of continual service: the longest-recorded service to the church. A new oak cross and candlesticks commemorate his life.
|
Compiled with contributions by Eric Burleton (2000) used with permission.
Subsequent edits and links by Philip Rawlings 2009.