Vicars of the parish

The Registers and Vicars of the Parish

Including the Parish of Blackheath and Chilworth
This page is still being revised. Photographs and additional resources will be added in due time.

Wonersh was not a lucrative living for an incumbent. It was not well endowed, as the lay rector took all the tithes—though some evidently made the vicar an allowance. In 1589, the Convocation reported to Queen Elizabeth I that there were scarcely 600 benefices in the land with a stipend sufficient to support a “learned clerk.”

From the parish register, however, it appears that Wonersh was fortunate to have a resident incumbent up to 1640. In the 17th century, there was a widespread shortage of clergymen, especially those suitably educated to preach and teach, and most benefices were too poorly paid to attract qualified clergy.

Vicars of Wonersh were at times also responsible for the adjacent parish of St Martha’s, a benefice without endowment. It was common practice for one priest to serve more than one parish—this was known as plurality. More often than not, the vicar appointed a curate to undertake his duties.

Some lay rectors are known to have made private allowances to vicars in order to attract a suitable priest as their nominee. In 1724, the value of the living was reported to the bishop as £180 per annum. By 1739, payments to some curates had dropped to £26 per year.

The Earliest History

For the first two hundred years (until sometime before 1295), Wonersh was part of the parish of Shalford.
After this, it became a parish in its own right.
We know almost nothing about the early rectors, except the name of the last one:
Richard de Rollying, who died in 1306/7.

Under the Convent of St Mary of Bethlehem

For approximately 250 years, the Rector of Wonersh was the Abbot of the Convent of St Mary of Bethlehem (St Mary without Bishopsgate, London). The convent, as lay rector, received the Great Tithes, maintained the chancel, and appointed a vicar to oversee the spiritual care of the parish.

Only the names and dates of these early vicars are known:

1307 – Geffrey de Berton
First vicar appointed under the patronage of the Hospital of St Mary without Bishopsgate.
1333 – John de Wodeford
(Register for 1345–1366 lost)
1367 – William Brown
[Date unknown] – William Wase
1388–1396 – John Appleton
Exchanged with the parish of Chipsted in 1396.
1396–1397 – Henry Greene
Exchanged from Chipsted.
1396–1398 – Richard Wrask
1396–1399 – Thomas Cleming
(Register for 1415–1446 lost)
1455 – John Markewyke
Resigned
1456–1471 – William Smith
1471 – John Brown
(Register for 1492–1500 lost)
1536 – Robert Russell
The last vicar presented by the Prior of St Mary’s.

The Reformation and Early Modern Vicars (1536–1755)

In 1536/7, Henry VIII instituted the Dissolution of the Monasteries. St Mary's (Bishopsgate), which had held the patronage of Wonersh, was divested of its property, including the rectory. The crown impropriated the living, and Sir John Baldwin, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, acted as the first lay rector.

It was under his patronage that John Fyrbe was introduced as Vicar in 1536, marking a major change in the history of the parish.

Royal Injunctions and the Parish Register

Thomas Cromwell’s Royal Injunctions of 1538 introduced several reforms, including:

The requirement for an English Bible to be available in every church.
The extinguishing of lights before religious images.
The institution of parish registers to record baptisms, marriages, and burials.

The Wonersh Register begins in March 1539 (then considered the start of the new year). Early dates can be confusing, as:

Before 1751, Britain followed the Julian calendar.
The year began on 25 March and ended on 24 March.
The Gregorian calendar was introduced in 1752, with a shortened nine-month year in 1751 (ending on 31 December), and a correction in September that removed 11 days.

The original paper register is lost, but a vellum copy was made in 1609. The surviving entries are relatively complete up to 1640, when political disruption led to a significant gap.

The Vicars of the 16th and Early 17th Century

John Fyrbe (1536): First vicar appointed by the lay rector.
John Charnock (instituted 1554): Likely served through the religious changes under Edward VI and Mary. According to the Bishop’s Register at Winchester, he was instituted on 22 May 1554 (see CCEd).
John Holt (1557–1565): Presented under the new advowson of Alice Polstead (with Henry Weston acting for her). There are gaps in the register during his time, possibly due to non-residency or absences. No record of his death exists.
John Kytchen (1565–1585): Patron again was Alice Polstead. A more settled period begins with him. Entries in the register are regular for 20 years. He was the first vicar whose burial is recorded—on 11 March 1585.
Thomas Taunton (1585–1595): Appointed by John Wolley Esq. on behalf of his wife Elizabeth Polstead (More). He kept records carefully and resigned in 1595 to take up the benefice of Chobham.
John Sandforde (1595–1614): Also introduced by Sir John Wolley. The first married vicar of the parish (not to be confused with the rector of Holy Trinity, Guildford). He transcribed the original register to vellum in 1609 and made marginal notes. Likely the same John Sandford who was Master of Guildford Free School in 1580. He lived in Wonersh and had three sons baptised here. Buried on 30 August 1614.
John Street (1614–1629): Diocesan records cite Sir John Wolley as patron (though Sir John had died in 1596, so this may need review). Street had one son baptised in Wonersh. He resigned in 1629 and became Rector of East Clandon, dying in 1640.
Stephen Geree (1629–c.1640): Patron was George Duncombe. Geree was a Yorkshireman, educated at Magdalene Hall (Oxford) from age 17. He became a puritan-leaning clergyman with a strong sabbatarian stance.

Geree refused to read the King's Declaration on Sunday recreations in 1635, an act reported to Archbishop Laud’s visitors. He may have later complied or been excused, as he was not deprived of his post. He also complied with orders to rail in the Communion Table.

Between 1631–1640, eight children appear in the register, three of whom died in infancy. In 1645, Geree was recommended as a “godly and orthodox divine” by the Parliamentary Commissioners after the ejection of Thomas Wall from Holy Trinity, Guildford. Though nominated, he instead pursued the more lucrative benefice of Abinger, to which he was appointed in 1646. He died there in 1664/5.

The Register Falls Silent (1640–1668)

From 1640 to 1668, the Wonersh register is almost blank, apart from a few baptisms.

This period aligns with:

The Long Parliament (from November 1640)
The Puritan Commonwealth
The suppression of the Church of England
Prohibition of the Book of Common Prayer

It is likely the church was closed or services suspended at various points. The epitaph to Henry Chennell (d.1672) thanks him for his "conciliatory influence" during religious upheaval—he appears to have been a devout churchman in a time of uncertainty.

Restoration of Worship and Curates (1668–1684)

In September 1668, the parish register resumes, likely marking the return of regular ministry.

Between 1671–1675, there is again a gap.
The only known vicar from this time is William Gale, whose name appears in a vestry minute at the end of Volume 1.
Thomas Quincie appears as “Minister” in a 1671 subscription list for English captives of Turkish pirates. He is listed in CCEd as Curate at St Martha’s in 1672, and was buried in Wonersh in 1681.
- It’s likely he acted as curate for a non-resident incumbent (possibly Gale).
After Quincie's death, parishioners selected a curate themselves.
- Richard Lewis, a clerk, was recommended by the churchwardens and licensed by the Bishop of Winchester.
- He served from 1681–1684, recording his own marriage and the baptism of his daughter.

A New Era of Stability (1684–1755)

Thomas Bannaster (1684–1718): Inducted under the patronage of Henry Duncombe of Albury. According to John Aubrey, he received a voluntary allowance from Richard Webb, who leased the impropriated tithes—this likely provided something like a living wage. Bannaster was resident for 34 years, with four children. Buried 25 May 1718.
William Bannaster (1718–1755): Son of Thomas. Inducted at age 29, again under Duncombe’s patronage. A pluralist, he became Rector of Holy Trinity and St Mary’s, Guildford in 1721. His epitaph is in the churchyard of Holy Trinity. He likely moved to Guildford after this, appointing curates to serve Wonersh:
- One such curate, John Godfrey, also served as schoolmaster at Wonersh parish school from 1722–1725.

Complaints arose during William Bannaster’s tenure about neglecting the parish—records from the Commissary Court at Southwark point to parishioner dissatisfaction with his absences.

Decline, Dilapidation, and Revival (1739–1852)

In 1739, a presentment was made against Mr Bannaster, the then vicar of Wonersh. It reads:

"Mr Bannister, Vicar of Wonersh, had not lived there for many years, and had not preached one sermon for two years; never had a licensed curate residing there, and several times had indigent mean persons for his curates. No afternoon service. Some of the curates had been allowed £26 yearly. Some had left without paying their debts."

Mr Bannaster’s interest was evidently more focused on Guildford, where he also held the living at Holy Trinity. His marriage to Susan Lynn in 1740 is noted in a marginal (and somewhat gratuitous) entry in the Wonersh Register.

Ironically, Holy Trinity fared little better. On St George’s Day 1740, the central tower collapsed, crashing through the roof of the nave. This was a direct consequence of the support pillars having been removed the year before during “repairs and alterations.” The building remained a ruin for 10 years, eventually demolished and replaced with a Georgian structure by 1763. The later changes at Wonersh (1793–94) would follow this Georgian aesthetic—but fortunately did not result in total destruction of the original church.

1756–1779: Revd John Proctor

In 1754, John Proctor appears in the Register as curate (noted in his own marriage entry), and in 1756 he succeeded as Vicar of Wonersh, under the patronage of George Sturt.

He was likely a pluralist, holding multiple livings, and lived elsewhere most of the time.
He also held the vicarage of St Martha and appointed several curates, including:
- Jno. Hinde
- T. Davies – who also served as parish schoolmaster in 1777.
- David Morgan – licenced in 1765 (CCEd Record).
His death is recorded in the parish register.

During Proctor’s incumbency, changes were underway in the ownership of Great Tithes:

In 1759, they were leased to Mr T. Harris.
Records show that some parishioners attempted to purchase the tithes—perhaps in a bid to restore them to their proper ecclesiastical use.
However, in 1765, they were sold to Sir Fletcher Norton, who became the new Lay-Rector and acquired patronage rights in 1770.

1779–1803: Dr James Hill

Sir Fletcher Norton, as Patron, presented Dr James Hill in 1779 as Vicar (CCEd Record).

Hill was also Rector of Puttenham, and held Wonersh and St Martha’s in plurality.
He continued to reside in Puttenham until his death in 1803.
Despite being non-resident, he seems to have given reasonable attention to Wonersh.
Curates served the parish in his absence, including:
- Henry Hill, licenced in 1789 (CCEd Record).

In 1791, Dr Hill reported that the church was:

“In a ruinous state and no divine service performed therein.”

As a result, he oversaw major structural alterations to the church in 1793/4. These changes followed Georgian ecclesiastical design trends, turning the medieval building into what resembled a conventicle. Much of the ancient structure and detail was either removed or obscured, leaving a tidy, if architecturally simplified, church interior. It remains unclear whether this redesign was initiated by Hill or directed by the Lay-Rector.

1803–1806: Revd James Fielding

Following Hill’s death, the living was given to Revd James Fielding, appointed by William, 2nd Lord Grantley.

Fielding had been Rector of Cranleigh since 1765, and now held Wonersh and St Martha’s in plurality.
He resigned both livings in 1806.
His marriage to Mary Mansell is recorded that year in the register.
Though likely non-resident during his tenure, Fielding moved to Wonersh after resigning and lived in a cottage on the site of the old Vicarage, remaining there until his death in 1818.

1806–1852: Revd William Hodgson Cole

Revd William Hodgson Cole was appointed in 1806 and served as Vicar for 46 years, one of the longest incumbencies in Wonersh’s history.

At the time of his appointment, he was Master of Guildford Grammar School.
He also held:
- The vicarage of St Martha’s.
- From 1822, the rectory of West Clandon.
- He served as Domestic Chaplain to the Duke of Gloucester.
Despite these multiple duties, he served largely alone, appointing only one curate (Revd H. Wright) in the final two years of his life.

Notable points during Cole’s incumbency:

Revd John Carr (1820–24) is listed in the register as “Minister,” though never as Curate. He apparently lived in the “vickaradge,” the location of which is now lost, possibly subsumed into Wonersh Park. He died in 1825, and he and his wife Jane are buried in the north chapel.
Francis John Cole, possibly William’s son, is listed in CCEd records as Curate in 1827.
William Cole resigned as Master of Guildford School in 1819 and moved permanently to Wonersh, living first in The Dower House, then in the old cottage on the site of the Rectory.

Cole’s Legacy

Revd William Hodgson Cole ministered through a period of profound change in the Church of England:

He began under the influence of the Evangelical Revival.
In 1833, the Oxford Movement (Tractarians) began, calling for renewed Catholic traditions in Anglicanism.
A copy of his 1826 sermon, “The Claims of the Established Church”, survives and reflects his character as a moderate, pre-Tractarian churchman, committed to tradition and parish life.
In 1842, he founded the National School at Norley Common, supported by the National Society for the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church. The school served the entire parish and was centrally located between Wonersh and Shamley Green.

Revd Cole died aged 82. His wife Mary is buried in the north chapel, and he is buried in the churchyard.

The Vicars of Wonersh: From 1852 to Present

Revd Elihu Edmund Body (1852–1892)
Inducted under the patronage of David Stow of Glasgow. Formerly a schoolmaster, ordained in 1846 as Chaplain of the Grammar School Clapham.
- Not a pluralist; held the office for 39 years until his resignation at age 75.
- Died in 1899 at St Leonards-on-Sea; buried in Shamley Green.
- Oversaw the closure of the churchyard at St John the Baptist and the opening of the extension at Shamley Green.
- Instrumental in founding Christ Church, Shamley Green (1864) and Lawnsmead Infants School.
- Assisted by curates from 1872 until Shamley Green became its own parish in 1881.
- Lost wife and two daughters within weeks in 1855. A new vicarage was built in 1856, possibly in response to poor sanitary conditions.
- Remarried later; his widow commissioned a stained-glass window in his memory.
- His only surviving son became a professor at General Theological Seminary in New York.
Assistant Curates during Body’s tenure:
- Edward Pigott (1872–73)
- Thomas Edwin Hamer (1874–76)
- John Gardner (1876–82)
- James Staffurth
- Revd Thomas William Ward (1883), who reinvigorated parish life:
  - Launched the Church Magazine (1884)
  - Introduced a choir
  - Advocated for church reordering and school expansion
  - Oversaw the opening of Lawnsmead School (1890)
Revd Joseph Beckett Sherrin MA (1892–1898)
- Took on the vicarage when the stipend was only £120/year.
- Introduced regular weekly services, a major development at the time.
- 1893 saw the opening of St Martin’s Blackheath (though Wonersh had limited involvement).
- Left for the vicarage at Chidham, Sussex in 1898.
Revd William Clarke (Interim, 1898)
- Lived at Ashlands; began the first Service Register during the interim between Sherrin and Cunningham.
- His wife donated the Bishop’s chair in his memory.
Revd Philip Cunningham (1898–1906)
- Introduced by new patron Lord Ashcombe.
- Oversaw a complete restoration of the church building.
- Instituted Morning and Evening Prayer—possibly the first instance of daily worship at Wonersh.
- In 1900, re-established a parish churchyard for Blackheath.
- Resigned in 1906 to become Rector of Cranleigh.
Revd Algernon Leslie Brown (1906–1947)
- First nomination by Selwyn College, Cambridge (new patrons).
- A Don and liturgiologist, he compiled a detailed history of Wonersh Church around 1940.
- Memorial brass lies in the chancel floor (1950).
- Lord Ashcombe also returned the Great Tithes to the parish during this period.
Revd Robert Saville Brown (1947–1953)
- Appointed by Selwyn College.
Revd Hugh Anthony (1953–1980)
- Served through a period of societal and ecclesiastical change.
Revd Tom Farrell (1981–1990)
Revd Malcolm Williams (1990–1996)
Revd Jeff Wattley (1996–2006)
Revd Ian Scott-Thompson (2006–2010)
Revd Debbie Sellin (2010–2019)
Revd David Peters (2021–present)

St Martin’s Church, Blackheath

Established largely through the efforts of Sir William Roberts-Austen.
Early services conducted by lay-readers and Frederick Elsley.

Curates-in-Charge (pre-parish status):

1901–1905: J. R. Spittal
1905–1907: C. T. Tapsfield
C. M. Wheeler
1913–1916: F. C. Frewer
–1919: M. Peart
A. J. C. Young
A. C. Hawkes
H. C. Wright
1923–1924: S. Wilson Ruscoe
1928–1946: Revd Herbert Frederick Poole

Formation of Parish:

In 1928, Blackheath united with Chilworth (from Wonersh, Shalford, and St Martha’s parishes) to form a Church District.
Following a successful trial, a £300 per annum endowment fund was raised.
The new Parish of Blackheath and Chilworth was consecrated on 25 September 1937.

Vicars of Blackheath and Chilworth:

1946–1961: Revd E. O. Ware
1961–1969: Revd D. A. Box
1969–1979: Revd D. Hedges
1979–1998: Revd Eric Gibbons

In 1998, Blackheath was rejoined with Wonersh to form the current Parish of Wonersh with Blackheath, sharing one ministry team.