St. Swithun's Church, East Grinstead
Encyclopedia
St. Swithun's is a church in East Grinstead
, West Sussex, England. A Grade II* listed building.
The site had a church since the 11th century. It was struck by lightning in 1772 and after it was rebuilt by James Wyatt
it was opened in 1789. It is situated on a hill-top site near entrance to town, where in the past several tracks met. The area began to be settled in the late tenth century: and St Swithun (Bishop of Winchester, 852-862) was the choice for church patron. To this day it remains a visible landmark.
Near the entrance to the church, three stones mark the supposed ashes of Anne Tree, Thomas Dunngate and John Forman who were burned as martyrs on the 18th of July 1556 because they would not renounce the Protestant faith.
A national appeal for funds raised £516 in 1788. A programme of restoration
in 1874 inaugurated the present appearance. A Trust Fund was set up in 1979 to provide funding for restoration. It is independent of the Parochial Church Council.
East Grinstead
East Grinstead is a town and civil parish in the northeastern corner of Mid Sussex, West Sussex in England near the East Sussex, Surrey, and Kent borders. It lies south of London, north northeast of Brighton, and east northeast of the county town of Chichester...
, West Sussex, England. A Grade II* listed building.
The site had a church since the 11th century. It was struck by lightning in 1772 and after it was rebuilt by James Wyatt
James Wyatt
James Wyatt RA , was an English architect, a rival of Robert Adam in the neoclassical style, who far outdid Adam in his work in the neo-Gothic style.-Early classical career:...
it was opened in 1789. It is situated on a hill-top site near entrance to town, where in the past several tracks met. The area began to be settled in the late tenth century: and St Swithun (Bishop of Winchester, 852-862) was the choice for church patron. To this day it remains a visible landmark.
Near the entrance to the church, three stones mark the supposed ashes of Anne Tree, Thomas Dunngate and John Forman who were burned as martyrs on the 18th of July 1556 because they would not renounce the Protestant faith.
A national appeal for funds raised £516 in 1788. A programme of restoration
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
in 1874 inaugurated the present appearance. A Trust Fund was set up in 1979 to provide funding for restoration. It is independent of the Parochial Church Council.