The Parish Church of St Mary Thorpe
There is architectural evidence that a church or chapel stood on the site of St. Mary, Thorpe, from the mid 12th century. The boundaries of Thorpe at that time show a flourishing community which would almost certainly have had a church to attend to its spiritual needs. Rebuilding of the church may have been carried out by Abbot Hugh in 1110. The walls of the church are built of flints and rubble and it has a 16th century tower. The roof is tiled. It is part of a conservation area which includes protected buildings from the 17th century. Inside the church are some remarkable and beautiful features. These include in the Nave a beautiful Norman arch on either side of which are panels inscribed with the Ten Commandments. Above the arch is a wall painting depicting the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ painted by Beatrice Playne in 1960. There are also in the church memorials to three famous local families, the Bondes, the Denhams and Fosters.
The early history of the church shows a lack of care by those responsible for its spiritual wellbeing. In 1333, the then Abbot of Chertsey, Abbot Rutherwyke, charged the Vicar of Egham with the care of Thorpe. However, a Chaplain for St. Mary's Church was still not provided. In 1401 the Abbey of Chertsey and the Vicar were in dispute over the provision of a Chaplain but again the Parish was neglected until 1428 when the parishioners themselves took responsibility for providing a Chaplain "who would be given “a cottage and garden, some land .... and all offerings”. They also secured the right to have their own parish cemetery. In 1548 an inventory of the church goods by the Commissioners of Edward VI proved to be a long one with some outstanding items. Unfortunately in 1552 when the King's exchequer was in need of money the bulk of the goods were confiscated and sold off.
No official record was made of incumbents even after the transference of the living to the Crown, and from c.1598 the list of Vicars is “doubtful”. In 1932 Mr. H.W. Leigh-Bennett presented the advowson ("the right of presentation to a vacant benefice") to Keble College, Oxford.
In 1907 the Rev. Henry Somerville Lushington was appointed vicar of St. Mary's. He immediately gave offence to some of his parishioners by making alterations to the interior of the church. These included the removal of pews to the chancel and the removal of the old singing gallery from the west end of the church, its balustrade being then used as altar rails. He also introduced "high church" liturgy to the services so that St. Mary's became a centre for those who see themselves as modern Catholic Anglicans. It is this witness to the Scripture Tradition and Reason that has become the hallmark of St. Mary's church mission and teaching.
In 1910 followers of John Wycliffe, founder of the Wycliffe Preachers, preached to a large crowd outside the church against the use of the confessional, and also, to quote James Lander in his book “The Heart of Thorpe”, there was “unease about the vicar's Romishness; a penchant for vestments, candles and incense and his extreme High Church views on the 'real presence' in the sacrament and on confession and priestly absolution”. Many people in the crowds were not there to support the Wycliffe Preachers but simply out of curiosity. One of the demonstrators against the vicar, Norman Chivers, was sentenced to seven days in prison, and a parishioner,Mr. Potter (the Verger) and his family were evicted from their home for supporting John Wycliffe. Mr. John Kinset, son of the founder of the Protestant Truth Society, spoke against the new “high church” form of service. Mr. Lander states, however, that “on the whole the villagers appear to have rallied around their Vicar”.
On display:
1. 19th. Century account of Thorpe Church by Douglas P. Milton.
2. Early 20thc. Postcards of St. Mary's Church, Thorpe.
3. St. Mary's Church 1905/7 from The Thorpe Picture Book by Jill Williams
4. Thorpe Church showing the Norman Chancel and mural from The Parish Church of St. Mary, Thorpe by Eric A Freeman, (1823-1892) [reprinted 1976]
5. Photographs of the Wycliffe Preacher's demonstrations in 1910.
6. Photographs of the Service of Writ and Mr. Potter's eviction in 1910.
7. List of Incumbents from 1562-1955 by Eric A. Freeman as above (see item 4)
8. Map of Thorpe and surrounding area before the motorways c. 1960.
9 &10. The Hundred of Godley containing the Parish of Thorpe from The History of the county of Surrey edited by H.E. Malden , 1911
Joan Wintour
April 2013
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