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