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THE PARISH CHURCH: ITS VICARS, REGISTERS AND TITHE OWNERS. |
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CHAPTER IV.
Although the first mention of a church at East Grinstead is subsequent to the founding, in 1078, of the Priory of St. Pancras at Lewes, it is possible that a church had existed in the town long prior to that date. Christianity was introduced into Great Britain during the Roman occupation from B.C. 55 to a.d. 418, when the Romans were compelled to withdraw their forces from the extremities of their empire, including this island, in order to protect themselves at home. The Christian religion was tolerated during the Roman dominion and the churches were under the rule of their own British clergy and so remained until a.d. 449, when the invasion by the Angles and Saxons commenced. During the 200 years of Saxon domination the paganism of the conquerors was practically supreme throughout the country. When Christianity re-appeared, East Grinstead was possibly one of the last places, owing to its then isolated and inaccessible position in the Forest of Anderida, to be brought to the Christian faith. One of the earliest churches is supposed to have been dedicated to St. Edmund, King and Martyr (a.d. 840 to 870). Subsequently St. Swithun became the patron saint. His translation took place on July 15th, 971. No means seem available to ascertain why or even when the alteration (if such occurred) in the dedication took place, but it may have been due to the building of a new church in place of a former one. No mention of a church in East Grinstead is made in the Domesday Survey, but this is no argument for its non-existence, as churches are known to have been then existing, though not mentioned; the reason being that the Survey dealt |
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