St. Mary Magdalene

The Photo below was taken in about 1965.

Debenham, the Church c1965. (Neg. D121051) © Copyright The Francis Frith Collection 2008. http://www.francisfrith.com

Reproduced courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection.

Details

Chancel, nave, aisles, W. tower, Galilee porch and priests chamber
1086 3 parts of church of St. Mary & 30 acres land, 4th part of church of St. Andrew, 4th part of its lands
1260 Chancel, restored (1883)
14th Century Tower, upper section, lower section exhibits Saxon work
1871 Restoration
1883 - 1884 work began on restoration of Chancel

More details of St. Mary's can be found on the Suffolk Churches Website http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/debenham.htm

Clergy and Preachers associated with St. Mary's

Full details and notes are available in "Debenham's Ecclesiastical Heritage", Published by Debenham Historical Society.

1851 - Census of Religious Worship

The following information for the Parish Church of Debenham is taken from the 1851 Census of Religious Worship. Reference No 474 Page 88.

Population 1653. Area 3271 acres.

Parish Church. Endowed with rent charge and glebe, fees and Easter Offering.

Sittings free 300; others 300: children's 120.

Present morning 100 + 120 scholars; afternoon 200 + 100 scholars.

Average (12 months) morning 150 + 100 scholars; afternoon 380 + 100 scholars.

Remarks No endowment inserted as not specified whether gross or net income is desired. If still required, a (private) return can be made.

Signed James Bedingfield, Vicar [Debenham.] (7).

Ownership: Class V. Small town. Benefice; gross income, £282. Holy communion twelve times a year; average of 50 communicants. Vicar inst. 1840; also Rector of Bedingfield. See 456. Many Independents. [T 132; W55, p.454; NV84/3]

1844 - Rev. Jas. Bedingfield B. A. Vicar & rural dean (taken from 1844 White's Suffolk Directory)
1855 - Rev. Jas. Bedingfield B. A. rural dean & Vicar of Debenham, Bedingfield Rectory (taken from 1855 White's Suffolk Directory)
1869 - Rev. Charles John Cornish B. A., The Parsonage (taken from 1869 Post Office Suffolk Directory)
1892 - Rev. William Alex Duke B. A., The Vicarage (taken from 1892 Kelly's Suffolk Directory)
1900 - Rev. William Alex Duke B. A. of Trinity College, Dublin - The Vicarage (taken from 1900 Kelly's Suffolk Directory)