Croydon Parish Church
Encyclopedia
Croydon Minster is the parish and civic church of the London Borough of Croydon
. There are currently more than 35 churches in the borough, with Croydon Minster being the most prominent.
(1086). In its final medieval form, the church was mainly a Perpendicular-style structure, but this was severely damaged by fire in 1867, following which only the tower, south porch and outer walls remained. Under the direction of Sir George Gilbert Scott
the church was rebuilt, incorporating the remains and essentially following the design of the medieval building, and was reconsecrated in 1870. It still contains several important monuments and fittings saved from the old church. The church was elevated to the status of Croydon Minster on 29 May 2011, the first such change in the diocese of Southwark.
Croydon has strong religious links, from a royal charter for Surrey Street Market
dating back to 1276, to Croydon Palace
which was the summer residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury
for over 500 years, and with visitors such as Henry III
and Queen Elizabeth I. The Bishop of Croydon
is a position as a suffragan Bishop
in the Anglican Diocese of Southwark
. The bishopric is currently vacant following the translation of Rt Rev Nicholas (Nick) Baines
to be Bishop of Bradford.
The current vicar is Revd Canon Colin J Luke Boswell, Vicar of Croydon and Chaplain to the Whitgift Foundation
. A list of the Bishops of the Episcopal Area of Croydon include:
There is also a small organ in the St. Nicholas' Chapel which was obtained from St. Mary the Virgin, Preston Candover
. A specification of the chapel organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Organists Laureate
Organists Emeritus
The tower and ringers are affiliated to the Surrey Association of Church Bell Ringers.
London Borough of Croydon
The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the largest London borough by population. It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name...
. There are currently more than 35 churches in the borough, with Croydon Minster being the most prominent.
History
The church was founded in Saxon times, since there is a record of "a priest of Croydon" in 960, although the first record of a church building is in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
(1086). In its final medieval form, the church was mainly a Perpendicular-style structure, but this was severely damaged by fire in 1867, following which only the tower, south porch and outer walls remained. Under the direction of Sir George Gilbert Scott
George Gilbert Scott
Sir George Gilbert Scott was an English architect of the Victorian Age, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches, cathedrals and workhouses...
the church was rebuilt, incorporating the remains and essentially following the design of the medieval building, and was reconsecrated in 1870. It still contains several important monuments and fittings saved from the old church. The church was elevated to the status of Croydon Minster on 29 May 2011, the first such change in the diocese of Southwark.
Croydon has strong religious links, from a royal charter for Surrey Street Market
Surrey Street Market
Surrey Street Market is a market that sells mainly meat & vegetables as well as a range of other items through the week in Croydon, south London. It has a Royal Charter dating back to 1276 linking it to the Archbishop of Canterbury. The market is regularly used as a location for TV, film and...
dating back to 1276, to Croydon Palace
Croydon Palace
Croydon Palace, in Croydon, now part of south London, was the summer residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury for over 500 years. Regular visitors included Henry III and Queen Elizabeth I...
which was the summer residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
for over 500 years, and with visitors such as Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
and Queen Elizabeth I. The Bishop of Croydon
Bishop of Croydon
The Bishop of Croydon is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Southwark, in the Province of Canterbury, England....
is a position as a suffragan Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
in the Anglican Diocese of Southwark
Anglican Diocese of Southwark
The Diocese of Southwark is one of the 44 dioceses of the Church of England, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Diocese forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. It was formed on May 1, 1905 from part of the Diocese of Rochester...
. The bishopric is currently vacant following the translation of Rt Rev Nicholas (Nick) Baines
Nicholas Baines
Nicholas "Nick" Baines has been the Bishop of Bradford, the diocesan Anglican bishop in the Diocese of Bradford, since 21 May 2011....
to be Bishop of Bradford.
The current vicar is Revd Canon Colin J Luke Boswell, Vicar of Croydon and Chaplain to the Whitgift Foundation
Whitgift Foundation
The Whitgift Foundation is a charity based in Croydon, South London, England, established in 1596 by John Whitgift, Archbishop of Canterbury, who lived at Croydon Palace. The purpose of the charity is to provide education for the young and care for the elderly...
. A list of the Bishops of the Episcopal Area of Croydon include:
| Tenure | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1937 to 1942 | William Louis Anderson William Louis Anderson William Louis Anderson DSC was the Anglican Bishop of Portsmouth and then the Bishop of Salisbury. He also held what is believed to be the unique distinction of being the only bishop to have served in all three of the armed services.-Early life:Anderson was born at Tezpur, Assam, India on the 11... |
(1892–1972) |
| 1942 to 1947 | Maurice Harland Maurice Harland Maurice Harland was a 20th century Anglican Bishop, his most prestigious appointment being Bishop of Durham from 1956–1966.-Early life:He was born on 17 April 1896, the son of William and Elizabeth Harland and educated at St Peter's School, York... |
(1896–1986) |
| 1947 to 1956 | Cuthbert Killick Norman Bardsley | (1907–1991) |
| 1956 to 1977 | John Taylor Hughes John Taylor Hughes John Taylor Hughes was an Anglican Suffragan bishop in the mid 20th century. Born on the 12th of April 1908 he was educated firstly in Uxbridge and subsequently at Bede College,University of Durham. He took Holy Orders in 1931 and was successively an assistant chaplain and tutor at his alma mater,... |
(1908–2001) |
| 1977 to 1985 | Stuart Snell Stuart Snell Stuart Snell was a British Anglican bishop. He was born in Devon on the 25 October 1920 and educated at Exeter School and St Peter's College, Oxford. Snell entered the Anglican ministry from the parish of Emmanuel, Northwood, London where he was a member of the laity... |
(d. 1988) |
| 1985 to 2002 | Wilfred Wood Wilfred Wood (bishop) Wilfred Denniston Wood, KA was Bishop of Croydon from 1985 to 2003, the first black bishop in the Church of England. He came second in the 100 Great Black Britons list in 2004.-Life:... |
(b. 1936) |
| 2003 to 2011 | Nicholas Baines Nicholas Baines Nicholas "Nick" Baines has been the Bishop of Bradford, the diocesan Anglican bishop in the Diocese of Bradford, since 21 May 2011.... |
(b. 1957) |
Organ
The church has a large 4 manual pipe organ, much of which is by William Hill and Son. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.There is also a small organ in the St. Nicholas' Chapel which was obtained from St. Mary the Virgin, Preston Candover
Preston Candover
Preston Candover is a village and large civil parish in Hampshire, England. It has two churches, only one of which is still in use. Its nearest town is Basingstoke, approximately away...
. A specification of the chapel organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Organists & Masters of Choristers
- Thomas Attwood WalmisleyThomas Attwood WalmisleyThomas Attwood Walmisley was an English composer and organist.-Early life:He was born in London, the son of Thomas Forbes Gerrard Walmisley , a well-known organist and composer of church music and glees...
1830 - 1833 - John Pyke HullahJohn Pyke HullahJohn Pyke Hullah , English composer and teacher of music, was born at Worcester.He was a pupil of William Horsley from 1829, and entered the Royal Academy of Music in 1833...
- John Rhodes 1857 - 1868
- Frederick Cambridge 1868 - 1911
- F Rowland Tims 1911 - 1918
- H Leslie Smith 1918 - 1948
- Edward Shakespeare 1948 - 1952
- J A Rogans (Hon) 1952 - 1953
- B Aldersea 1952 - 1957
- J A Rogans (Hon) 1957 - 1958
- Derek HolmanDerek HolmanDerek Holman, CM is a choral conductor, organist, and composer.Holman attended the Royal Academy of Music from 1948 to 1952 and studied with Sir William McKie, Eric Thiman, and York Bowen...
1958 - 1965 - Roy MasseyRoy Massey (musician)-Biography:Roy Massey was born in Birmingham and was educated at Moseley Grammar School, Birmingham, and the University of Birmingham. He took the Birmingham degree of B.Mus...
1965 - 1968 - Michael Fleming 1968 - 1978
- David Brookshaw 1978 - 1980
- Simon LoleSimon LoleSimon Lole is well known as a choral director, organist, composer, arranger and broadcaster. He was organist of Barking Parish Church , Croydon Parish Church , Director of Music at St...
1980 - 1985 - Carl Jackson 1986 - 1990
- David Swinson 1990 - 1992
- Peter Nardone 1993 - 2000
- Nigel McClintock 2000 - 2007
- Andrew CantrillAndrew CantrillAndrew Cantrill is a British-born organist and choral director. He has held cathedral positions in New Zealand and America and is currently Organist & Master of the Choristers at Croydon Minster.-Education:...
2008–Present
Organists Laureate
- Martin HowMartin HowMartin How is a British composer and organist. Martin is the son of the late Most Revd J C H How, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church....
2011 -
Organists Emeritus
- Derek HolmanDerek HolmanDerek Holman, CM is a choral conductor, organist, and composer.Holman attended the Royal Academy of Music from 1948 to 1952 and studied with Sir William McKie, Eric Thiman, and York Bowen...
2011 - - Roy MasseyRoy Massey (musician)-Biography:Roy Massey was born in Birmingham and was educated at Moseley Grammar School, Birmingham, and the University of Birmingham. He took the Birmingham degree of B.Mus...
2011 -
Bells
The tower houses a ring of 12 bells cast by the famous Croydon firm of Gillett and Johnston Ltd. in 1936, replacing an earlier ring of eight. The eight original bells were recast and hung with new fittings in a new frame with four additional trebles. The new ring of 12 was dedicated by The Right Rev Lord Bishop of Croydon on 12 December 1936 and the first peal on the new 12 was rung for the Coronation of King George VI in 1937.The tower and ringers are affiliated to the Surrey Association of Church Bell Ringers.