PARISH OF STANMER

Introduction

Land at Stanmer was given sometime between 765 and 771 by Ealdwulf, king of Sussex, to Hunlaf for the purpose of endowing a monastery, probably that at South Malling. In 1086 'Stanmere' was held by the Archbishop of Canterbury and of him by the canons of South Malling. This land continued in the possession of the college until it was surrendered with the rest of the site and possessions of the canons to Henry VIII, who in 1545 granted these to Sir Thomas Palmer (Victoria County History of Sussex 7 239).

On 30 March 1838 a faculty and citation were granted to allow the Earl of Chichester to pull down and rebuild Stanmer church and a further faculty and plan for the new church were issued on 24 October 1839 (West Sussex Record Office Ep.V/3/16 page 36, Ep.V/4/2, Ep.V/3/16 page 40).

The church was rebuilt during 1838-1839, probably by Ralph Joanes of Lansdowne Place, Lewes, architect, although the plan of the church and churchyard was drawn by J Butler, architect.

Summary of contents

INCUMBENT

PAR485/1/1 Pre-1812 registers; 1550, 1558-1825

PAR485/1/3 Marriage registers; 1820-1966

PAR485/2 Papers relating to registers; 1784-1949

PAR485/6 Income of the benefice; 1930

<p>For a copy of the text and translation of king Ealdwulf's charter see E Baker 'Sussex Anglo-Saxon Charters' Sussex Archaeological Collections 86 42-101; for an account of the college at South Malling see M S Holgate 'The Canons' Manor of South Malling' SAC 70 183-195; for the re-building accounts of the church, 1838-1839 see ACC 4600/9; for a plan of the proposed site of Stanmer Church and addition to the churchyard by J Butler, architect, Mar 1838 see ACC 3412/3/32; for papers concerning the united benefice of Stanmer and Falmer, 1808-1900 see CHR 16/5/1-19; for a volume of miscellaneous papers containing lists of estate deeds, papers concerning Stanmer church, official and other letters of thanks, 1850-1900 see ACC 4600/5; for a transcript of the Stanmer parish registers, 1558-1802 see ACC 4600/19; for a postcard album of Stanmer, Falmer and other Sussex scenes presented to the Earl of Chichester by the Rev H V Bickersteth, parish priest of Stanmer and Falmer, 25 Dec 1906, see ACC 4600/26.</p>

Deposited by the incumbent and PCC 5 Jan 1966 (ACC 715), 30 Jul 1979 (ACC 2443)