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.
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St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes looking north. When rebuilt on it's Saxon stone base with four foot thick walls over 800 years ago the Tower became the most prominent building for miles around. This prominence grew by 80 feet with the superimposition of an octagonal broach spire around 1604. The church is Grade 1 listed. 06.04.2013 6580
St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes looking north from the churchyard. On the nearest wall is an outline of a covered in arch which, until it's demolition in 1850, was the entrance to the 14th Century Marie de Bradehurst Chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary and private chapel of the owners of Broadhurst Manor. Before it's demolition it served for a time as the village school. Through the 1708 benefaction of Edward Lightmaker, Horsted Keynes has possessed a village school for as long as any in England. 06.04.2013 6617
The inscriptions on the War Memorial at St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes.
"Sacred to the imperishable memory of the men of this parish who laid down their lives for King and Country in the Great War 1914 - 1918.
These died in war that we at peace might live. These gave their best so we our best should give. Not for themselves for justice, freedom, right. They fought, and bid us forward to the fight."
And of those who laid down their lives in the war 1939 -1945:
Adams John E
Avis Charles
Baxter Kenneth W J
Bish Claude F
06.04.2013 6690.The inscriptions on the War Memorial at St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes.
Killed in the 1914 - 1918 war:
Avis Charles
Browning Charles
Cole George
Cook Albert
Cox Briton
Curd Arthur
Deacon George
Deacon Jack
Francis Frederick C
Hollands Clement A
Jessop Robert
And from the 1939 - 1945 war:
Chandler Charles A
Gibbes Nigel St.G
Gibbs Stanley E
Holman Wallace G
06.04.2013 6693The inscriptions on the War Memorial at St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes.
Killed in the 1914 - 1918 war:
James Thomas
James Oliver
James William
Langridge John
Miller George
Manners William
Newnham Herbert William
Pears Maurice L
Perrin George
Ruewell Jesse
Ruewell Thomas
And from the 1939 - 1945 war:
Knapp Winifred E
06.04.2013 6692The inscriptions on the War Memorial at St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes.
Killed in the 1914 - 1918 war:
Randall George
Spain Leonard
Slaughter John
Tester Mark
Wheeler Henry
Wickens Walter J
Woolven Albert G
Woolven Charles M
Woonton George
Wyatt Godfrey
Walder Edward J
And from the 1939 - 1945 war:
Montefiore Langton
Munnings Harold J
Munnings Russel G
Payne James W
06.04.2013 6691The Rector looking at the war grave of the young couple (Gunner and Mrs Knapp) killed together whilst walking on the railway track near Waterworks on 31st July 1943. Just married, they were sheltering under a cape in a heavy storm and failed to hear a train approaching from behind them whilst they were taking a short cut back to the nearby Nobles Farm shortly after their wedding reception. Signs of an accident were seen when the locomotive arrived at Horsted Keynes Station, and a search of the track revealed their bodies.
St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes. 06.04.2013 6599The Knapp Grave. St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes.
"1790567 Gunner
R. Knapp
Royal Artillery
31st July 1943 Age 22
2029508 A.C.W. 2nd Class
Winifred Ellen Knapp
Women's Auxiliary Air Force
31st July 1943 Age 21
Underneath Are The Everlasting Arms."
The combining of army and air force symbols on the memorial is a unique tribute to a couple killed on their wedding day.
Although not shown on the stone, the groom's name was Ronald Knapp, and his bride's maiden name was Winifred Ellen Standing.
06.04.2013 6604On 31 July 2013, the 70th anniversary of the accident, the Knapp gravestone was blessed by the Right Reverend Dr Martin Warner MA PhD, Bishop of Chichester. Also pictured are Canon John Twisleton (Father John), Rector of St Giles and Chaplain to the Bluebell Railway, Hilary Nicholson, Chair of St Giles Churchyard Committee, Tim Baker, Commercial Director, Bluebell Railway, and (in uniform) from the Bluebell Railway are John Hotston. Ian Fribbens and Geoff Peters.
St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes 31.07.2013 9619St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes looking east down the main aisle towards the high altar. A 13th Century rebuilding of the chancel and south transept (now the sacristy and choir vestry) supplemented the rounded Norman arch with one pointed in the Decorated style. The tower, where there are three bells and a clock, is accessed by the white ladder. 06.04.2013 6585