St. Mary the Virgin, Downe, Kent

Description

The church of St. Mary the Virgin, formerly a chapel to Orpington and Cray, is of flint, in the Rectilinear style, and has a tower with spire containing a clock and 6 bells: there are several stained windows, two 15th century brasses with small figures, and in the chancel a larger one with effigies to John Vezeglini esq. a native of Venice, ob. 1606, and Elizabeth his wife, of the ancient house of Vanburen and Olace, of Antwerp, ob. 1607, and their children. The church was restored in 1872, at a cost of £2,000, and has 220 sittings. In the churchyard is a yew tree said to be 700 years old. By an Order in Council, gazetted Dec. 1, 1896, burials were discontinued in the churchyard, and a cemetery of half an acre has been opened as an extension of the churchyard. In 1904 a choir vestry was added.

Church Records

The parish register dates from the year 1538.

Findmypast have the following online for Downe, St Mary Magdalene: marriages 1538-1812, burials 1813-1851