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History of Purley on
St Mary the Virgin’s Church
This history has been compiled with assistance from members of Project Purley. It is divided into sections which can be accessed individually. It starts with the early church in the Thames Valley and provides some background to the church in mediaeval times. The main history begins in the 13th century and progresses chronologically until about 2000. The chronological history is then followed by several sections dealing with various aspects of the church and church life and a series of lists. Finally the inscriptions on the several memorials in the church are documented.
The sections are as follows:-
3 The pre-Reformation Church (to 1538)
4 Reformation to Restoration (1538 to 1661)
5 The Settlement of Religion (1661 to 1719)
6 Absentee Rectors (1719 to 1800)
7 The nineteenth century (1800-1869)
9 Into the 20th Century (1875
to 1914)
10 The inter-war years (1914 to 1931)
11 The Ernest Skuse Years (1931 to 1956)
12 Three Rectors (1956 to 1975)
13 Change and Challenge (1975 to 1990)
19 The Bells
22 A tour of the church - interior
23 A tour of the church - exterior
24 Visitation questionnaire 1783
28 Bishops
29 Archdeacons
30 Patrons
32 Statistics
Parish burial ground memorials
Registers
39 Introduction
45 Burials 1999-date
52 Baptisms 1813-1899
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