St Margarets Church , Purleigh   The church was built in the 14th century but has a major restoration in 1892. This restoration was paid by Americans in memory of Laurence Washington who was Rector from 1632 to 1643 . The reason for this generosity? Rector Washington was Great Grandfather of the first president of USA. The Bell Public house still stands alongside the Church. Rev Washington enjoyed his beer and was a regular visitor to the Bell. for the story of the Washington Family. The chancel remains 14th century as does the stained glass in the heads of the chancel. The incumbents of Purleigh Church go back as far as 1220 when William De London was Rector. Another famous incumbent was Edmund Freake who officiated from 1567 to 1575 . He then went on to become Canon ofWestminster, Chaplain to Queen Elizabeth 1 and Archbishop of Cantebury. Although his wife outlived him she was brought back to Purleigh for burial. The churchyard bears a memorial to murdered policeman Sergeant Eves to read the story of his murder. How do I contact Purleigh Church? Contact details for the Rector, Churchwarden, Junior Church and Genesis Group can be found by clicking on the following link. Once contact details are noted use the back button to return to this site. Contact details are not carried on this site for reasons of compliance with the Data Protection Act. Memorials inside the Church First Name Surname Date Died Jospehine Isabella Young 1853 Rev John Freake 4 September 1604 Mrs Margaret Freake 29 March 1592 Rev Edmund Freake - Mrs Cecilia Freake 15 July 1599 Barrington Horsemanden 28 Dcember 1756 Wharham Horsemanden - Mrs Susannah Horsemanden 1691 aged 64 Rev Deniel Horsemanden   Mrs Susanah Horsemanden 31 January 1713 aged 48 Ursula Horsemanden 17 September 1773 aged 81 Elizabaeth Burton 16 July 1624 Rev Thomas Shaw 29 Jan 1785 Mrs Anna Shaw 29 December 1814 Rev Roger Hayne 18 February 1810 Mrs Elizabeth Hayne 20 September 1817 Rev Samuel Horsemanden 17 April 1769 Mrs Lucretia Horsemanden 13 August 1800 Rev R F Walker 31 January 1854 Mrs Frances Walker 6 December 1824 Giles Brianzon 1350 John Brianzon 1370 to read about the church bells at this church

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