St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes, Sussex
Please note that the inscriptions from some memorials have been transcribed (and spelling updated) so that they may be found by search engines for genealogical purposes. Some inscriptions are worn and not always clear.
My Great Grandfather, William Charles Balch Priestley was married in this church on 25 December 1880 to Annie Louisa Awcock. He was, at the time, engaged in the construction of the nearby railway. Those with genealogical enquiries relating to Horsted Keynes families with surnames of Priestley, Balch or Awcock (later Allcock or Alcock), are asked to contact the photographer for more information. At the end of the gallery some of the surviving headstones of the Awcock families are pictured for the benefit of researchers.
The church has it's own website. SCROLL DOWN to view the pictures. Click here to return to the main website index page.
![A gravestone incorporated within the south exterior wall of the church. Parts are now badly eroded but it is believed to say:<br />
<br />
"Near this stone is interred the body of Thomas Awcock late of Barcombe in this [unclear, possibly "County"] Gentleman (Gent) who died the 16th day of February 1786 in the 70th Year of his Age.<br />
<br />
Also of Mary Awcock [unclear, possibly "wife"] of the above Thomas Awcock who died the 2nd day of April 1788 in the 79th Year of her Age."<br />
<br />
St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes 06.04.2013 6694](https://photos.smugmug.com/Horsted-Keynes-and-vicinity/St-Giles-Church-Horsted-Keynes/i-7STNG3f/0/fd8091a9/L/Awcock%20Grave%20St%20Giles%20060413%206694%20E-L.jpg)
A gravestone incorporated within the south exterior wall of the church. Parts are now badly eroded but it is believed to say:
"Near this stone is interred the body of Thomas Awcock late of Barcombe in this [unclear, possibly "County"] Gentleman (Gent) who died the 16th day of February 1786 in the 70th Year of his Age.
Also of Mary Awcock [unclear, possibly "wife"] of the above Thomas Awcock who died the 2nd day of April 1788 in the 79th Year of her Age."
St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes 06.04.2013 6694st giles churchsaint giles churchhorsted keynesthomas awcockmary awcock
One of the gravestones relating to the Awcock family in the churchyard:
"Here lieth the Body of Sarah, the wife of Thomas Awcock, who departed this Life October the 8 1781, Aged 72 Years.
Also here lieth the Body of the said Thomas Awcock who departed this Life April 20th 1790 Aged 83 Years."
St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes 06.04.2013 6664st giles churchsaint giles churchhorsted keynesthomas awcocksarah awcock
One of the gravestones relating to the Awcock family in the churchyard:
"In memory of Abraham Awcock who died August 8th 1868, Aged 76 Years.
Also of Charlotte, his wife, who died July 12th 1865, Aged 68 Years."
St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes 06.04.2013 6667st giles churchsaint giles churchhorsted keynesabraham awcockcharlotte awcock
![One of the gravestones relating to the Awcock family in the churchyard:<br />
<br />
"[Top dedication unclear, possibly "In Loving Remembrance of"]<br />
Mary, the beloved daughter of Abraham and Ann Awcock, of this parish, who died 9th Jane 1874, aged 25 years.<br />
<br />
Take ye heed, watch and pray, <br />
for ye know not when the time is."<br />
<br />
St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes 06.04.2013 6668](https://photos.smugmug.com/Horsted-Keynes-and-vicinity/St-Giles-Church-Horsted-Keynes/i-Wms8kV6/0/316c96bb/L/Awcock%20Grave%20St%20Giles%20060413%206668%20E-L.jpg)
One of the gravestones relating to the Awcock family in the churchyard:
"[Top dedication unclear, possibly "In Loving Remembrance of"]
Mary, the beloved daughter of Abraham and Ann Awcock, of this parish, who died 9th Jane 1874, aged 25 years.
Take ye heed, watch and pray,
for ye know not when the time is."
St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes 06.04.2013 6668![One of the gravestones relating to the Awcock family in the churchyard:<br />
<br />
"[Top dedication unclear, possibly includes "Remembrance"] <br />
Abraham Awcock of Horsted Keynes, who died 18th August 1876, aged 54 years.<br />
<br />
Also of Ann, widow of the above, who died 28th December 1888, aged 62 years"<br />
<br />
[Bottom dedication unclear, includes "...the Blessing.....the Glorious Appearing of the..... and our Saviour Jesus Christ."<br />
<br />
St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes 06.04.2013 6669](https://photos.smugmug.com/Horsted-Keynes-and-vicinity/St-Giles-Church-Horsted-Keynes/i-qp3TtJ3/0/4363a3fc/L/Awcock%20Grave%20St%20Giles%20060413%206669%20E-L.jpg)
One of the gravestones relating to the Awcock family in the churchyard:
"[Top dedication unclear, possibly includes "Remembrance"]
Abraham Awcock of Horsted Keynes, who died 18th August 1876, aged 54 years.
Also of Ann, widow of the above, who died 28th December 1888, aged 62 years"
[Bottom dedication unclear, includes "...the Blessing.....the Glorious Appearing of the..... and our Saviour Jesus Christ."
St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes 06.04.2013 6669st giles churchsaint giles churchhorsted keynesabraham awcockann awcock
![One of the gravestones relating to the Awcock family in the churchyard:<br />
<br />
"[Top dedication unclear]<br />
Isaac Awcock [section unclear, month possibly "January"] ...29th 1915, aged 64 years.<br />
<br />
Also of Lydia<br />
Widow of [line unclear, presumably Isaac]<br />
who died January [day unclear] 1922<br />
aged 73 years."<br />
<br />
St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes 06.04.2013 6671](https://photos.smugmug.com/Horsted-Keynes-and-vicinity/St-Giles-Church-Horsted-Keynes/i-kT4cSvv/0/9a4527a6/L/Awcock%20Grave%20St%20Giles%20060413%206671%20E-L.jpg)
One of the gravestones relating to the Awcock family in the churchyard:
"[Top dedication unclear]
Isaac Awcock [section unclear, month possibly "January"] ...29th 1915, aged 64 years.
Also of Lydia
Widow of [line unclear, presumably Isaac]
who died January [day unclear] 1922
aged 73 years."
St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes 06.04.2013 6671st giles churchsaint giles churchhorsted keynesisaac awcocklydia awcock
One of the gravestones relating to the Awcock family in the churchyard:
"In Loving Memory of William Horace Awcock, who died February 3rd 1924, aged 64 years.
Also Elizabeth, the beloved wife of the above, who died May 29th 1927, aged 65 years.
Thy will be done."
St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes 06.04.2013 6582st giles churchsaint giles churchhorsted keyneswilliam horace awcockelizabeth awcock
One of the gravestones relating to the Awcock family in the churchyard:
"In memory of Alice Awcock, died 14th October 1956."
St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes 06.04.2013 6672