Bells
Ring of 6 bells (8-1-27 / 431kg) in the key of A flat.
Location
St. Mary’s Avenue, Purley-on-Thames.
OS map ref. SU 667761 (map 175)
Click to view map.
Parking
There is space for approx. 25 cars immediately outside the church.
Access/Height
Ground floor ring. The draught is slightly long and there are no rope guides. The ringing circle is small, with 1 and 2 close together. Audibility is good-to-loud. Entrance is via the new hall and the church nave. The belfry is accessed using a fixed metal ladder (lower rungs protected by a plank).
Service ringing
Sunday mornings – 10:45am to 11:15am
Sunday evenings – 5:30pm to 6:30pm (1st Sunday only)
Practice ringing
Thursday evenings – 6:15pm to 7:00pm
Facilities
The new hall has a large kitchen and there are toilets nearby.
| No. | Weight cwt qr lb | Note | Date Cast | Founder | Inscription |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3-2-21 | F | 1788 | Thomas Jannaway, Chelsea | THE GIFT OF JOHN GEORGE LIBENROOD OF THE PARISH OF PURLEY ESQR : JOHN SHERWOOD CHURCHWARDEN : THOS JANAWAY FECIT : ANNO DOMINI J788 |
| 2 | 4-2-3 | Eb | 1635 | Ellis Knight I, Reading | PRAYES YE THE LORD X635 |
| 3 | 4-2-9 | Db | 1629 | Ellis Knight I, Reading | PRAYES YE THE LORD X629 |
| 4 | 5-0-5 | C | 1627 | Ellis Knight I, Reading | PRAYES THE LORD X627 |
| 5 | 5-3-16 | Bb | 1787 | Thomas Jannaway, Chelsea | THIS BELL WAS RECAST ANNO DOMINI J787 : IOHN SHERWOOD CHURCHWARDEN : THOMAS JANAWAY FECIT |
| 6 | 8-1-27 | Ab | 1629 | Ellis Knight I, Reading | LORD GRANDESONN X629 S R O-S |
History
The tower, with chalk interior and brick facing, is dated 1626. The font is 12th century font and there are several 17th century monuments. The church was largely rebuilt by G.E.Street in 1860. The central aisle is very dark. There are some photographs of the old church before it was rebuilt in 1860.
For many centuries there was a ferry from Purley to Mapledurham, just on the other side of the Thames. The rector took services in both churches until, while crossing on the night of 20th December 1914, he unfortunately drowned having just preached at Evensong in Mapledurham.
The bells date from the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1999 the Whitechapel Bell Foundry tuned and rehung the bells with new fittings and framework.