St. Mary, Bishopsbourne, Kent

Description

The church of St. Mary is of flint, in the Early English and later styles, and has a tower containing 4 bells: there is some stained glass, and in the chancel a mural monument with bust, erected in 1632 by Sir W. Cooper kt. to Richard Hooker M.A.. (commonly known as "the learned and judicious Hooker"), author of the celebrated "Ecclesiastical Polity," and some time fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford; he was rector of Bishopsbourne from 1595 till his death, Nov. 2nd, 1600: in 1890 a memorial window to Hooker was erected:: the church was repaired and re-seated in 1872, at a cost of £1,600: there are 215 sittings.

Church Records

The register of baptisms and marriages dates from 1558; burials from 1571.

Findmypast have the following online for Bishopsbourne, St Mary: baptisms 1561-1886, marriages 1563-1926, burials 1571-1841