A Chronology of

Abinger & St James’

BCE

Mesolithic

Area of apparent occupation at Paddington Tolt.

Meso-/ Neolithic

Pit shelter or habitation in field near Abinger Manor (excavated by Dr LSB Leakey and Sir Edward Beddington-Behrens in 1950).

Bronze Age

A four-and-half inch pottery food vessel dug up (1960) in the fields of Fulvenden Farm (mostly in Shere parish). Food vessels in this period are unusual in Surrey.

Iron Age

Holmbury Hill Fort. circa 55BC. Anstiebury fort (Coldharbour) possibly about same period.

0-1000 CE

100-400

Roman villa (remains of mosaic pavement, ten rooms, vessels and a few coins) believed built circa 1000 AD (occupation till after 400 AD). Excavated 1877/8 &1995/7.

Anglo Saxon

Arrivals gave their names to the places where they settled: Abinger and Paddington.

7th Century

Surrey is likely to have been converted to Christianity by the West Saxons, perhaps by Birinus whom the Pope sent to work among the pagan inhabitants of the West Saxon area.

672

Surrey’s connections with Winchester were confirmed in the charter founding Chertsey Abbey in 672. (The arch-deaconry of Surrey within the Winchester diocese existed in 1128).

1000-1500 CE

Before 1066

The manors of Abinger and Paddington held by a “huscarle” of King Edward (The Confessor). Probably both had mills by this time.

1080

Norman church believed to have been built, probably over a previous Saxon church of wood.

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). Original here. [Translation in Papers on Abinger Church 1939 – paper1, page10]

Before 1100

Fitz Ansculf’s tenant Robert of Abinger is very likely to have been the builder of the little Bayeux Tapestry castle (Excavated in 1949). Fulk Paganel (or Paynell) the succeeding lord of the manor may have carried out a known rebuilding of the motte.

13th Century

Abinger church dedicated to St James. Norman chancel built.

circa 1220-1240

North (Patron’s) 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.

1349

Black Death strikes  England.

1364

The two halves (moities) of the parish (Paddington and Abinger) were united.

15th century

Belfry added.

1500-1700 CE

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 poo

1559

Church registers of Abinger Church exist from this date, following an Act by Queen Elizabeth I. 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.

between 1595, 1624

Richard Evelyn of Wotton aquired the manor of Abinger, Paddington, Paddington Pembroke, Paddington Bray.

17th Century

Present manor house (but with later additions) built by John ‘Sylva’ Evelyn the diarist, friend 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

Three new bells installed, one inscribed “Wm. Eldridge made me 1674”.

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”

1741

Rev R Offley bequeathed in his will four farms to the church of St John the Baptist, Oakwood.

1758

29th April. Baptism of “Samuel, base-born son of Jane, the wife of Robert Lane who was transported 3 or 4 years ago”.

1759

July 23, William Bray (historian). To the “Hatch” to dinner, Mr. Evelyn, Mr. Godschal, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Steere, Mr. Spence, Mr. Courtenay, and Mr. Walsh there; left at 7; paid for dinner and wine, 4s. 6d

1800-1900 CE

1800

A spire added to the bell tower replacing the cap.

1818

Tithes valued at £427 pa and the glebe at £52.

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

Restoration under Henry Goodyer, architect. 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). Roof gutters and downpipes installed. New oak pulpit made. Oak pews replace old high, deal ones.

1861

Warming apparatus installed at expense of Wm Wheelwright of New York, manufactured by A M Perkins. Part of glebe land (approx. 1/4 acre) given up as site for the school and teacher’s house.

1862-3

Churchyard enlarged southwards by 1 rood (1/4acre)

1863

Easternmost window on the south side in the Chancel filled with painted glass “memory of Frances Carleton Bayley widow of Wentworth Bayley, Esqre. of Weston Hall, Suffolk, and of Jamaica” at the expense chiefly of “her daughter Miss Frances Bayley.”

1878

Part of Abinger’s Ecclesiastical Parish was taken to form Holmbury St Mary. Unmade gravemounds in churchyard levelled

1879

Rationalisation of bounds of Abinger and neighbouring parishes brought Okewood into Abinger civil parish. (See modern boundaries here).

1879-80

Further restoration and enlargement of St James’ church. This included a third bell (1880), cast by Mears & Stainbank (later Whitechapel Bell Founders); bellcot and weather vane were repaired. The West window was created; a new (Old) vestry and Organ Chamber built on the South Chancel Aisle; carved oak altar rails added; choir stalls and north aisle pews made; a porch was added; floors were repaired; roofs were repaired; the lychgate was built. The church re-opened 5th August 1880.

1890

Glebe Act of 1888 permits the parish to sell glebe land. Rector Hill sells glebe land in 1890 for £11,700 (av. £173 per acre).

1890

A roof erected on the stocks.

1894

Creation of parish council (PCC) and civil parish (PC)

1900-2000 CE

1909

Central heating radiators installed for first time £160

1917

Churchyard enlarged southwards by 1 rood (0.25 acre)

1919-20

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. Calvary erected.

1920

Field west of the church repurposed as the village green.

1921

War memorial dedicated

1922

Wall built around 1917 churchyard extension £240.

1924

The old 1887 organ in St James’ was restored and enlarged. North Aisle floor renewed with wooden blocks. New boiler installed

1927

Creation of the diocese of Guildford.

1928

Unmade gravemounds in churchyard levelled

1931

Rector Denny sold 22 .75 acres of glebe land (parsonage + lands) for £3,800 to C J Evelyn.

1933

Running water laid on

1934

Electric cable run (paid for by Abinger Manor)

1934-8

Restoration of St James’ church. (plan)

1935-8

Church roof repaired by Stanley Ellis Ltd £820

1936

Organ dismantled and repaired by J W Walker & Sons £49.10.0d.

1938

Electric light installed by B G Southers £70, old oil lamps removed.

1943

East window damaged in May, from a wartime ammunition explosion on the common

1944-51

Church services held at various locations (Evelyn Hall, NAAFI canteen on army camp, Goddards); 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. Aprox. £46,000.

1964

Church struck by lightning in June. Extensive damage to the tower, roof and east window. Church 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.

After 2000 CE

2001

Abinger Civil Parish Census

2002 

Celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s 50th anniversary

2006

50th anniversary Abinger Fair

2017

Belfry reclad in oak to counter woodpecker damage

Compiled with contributions by Eric Burleton (2000) used with permission. Included as a free pull-out in the December 2000 edition of Abinger and Coldharbour Parish News. Original pamphlet here. Subsequent edits and links by Philip Rawlings 2009-2022.

This page managed by:  

Philip Rawlings

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