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Category Archives: Church and religions
From flames to fame, Waddon’s Knox family made their mark
CROYDON CHRONICLES: From the night of the Great Fire of Croydon, DAVID MORGAN tells the story of a family of vicars and bishops, of writers and editors, and Enigma codebreakers The fire which destroyed Croydon Parish Church in 1867 had … Continue reading
Vicar of Croydon announces move to Walsingham this summer
Canon Andrew Bishop is standing down as the Vicar of Croydon, to take up a position in the Diocese of Norwich. The Vicar of Croydon is an ancient church position that dates back to Saxon times, closely associated with Croydon … Continue reading
The wartime night that the ‘first lady of jazz’ sang for Croydon
CROYDON CHRONICLES: Adelaide Hall performed at the Cotton Club, sang with Duke Ellington and took to the stage in the Berlin of Sally Bowles. And she was a star of the old Croydon Empire, as DAVID MORGAN explains It was … Continue reading
Music Hall performer whose potato song helped the war effort
CROYDON CHRONICLES: Musical director of the Croydon Empire theatre enjoyed a colourful career and played a part in the community, writes DAVID MORGAN A century ago, long before we had mass media in our living rooms and at our finger … Continue reading
Posted in David Morgan, History, Music, Theatre
Tagged Croydon Empire, David Morgan, History, Jack Morgan, Music Hall, Second World War, Theatre
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Festival of Choral Classics, St John’s, Old Coulsdon, Mar 28
C O M M U N I T Y A D V E R T I S E M E N T
From a few lines in Henry V, actor stood alongside the greats
CROYDON CHRONICLES: An outstanding producer-director at The Old Vic who performed alongside the likes of Sir Henry Irving and Sir Laurence Olivier, and appeared in some of the most notable films of the 1940s and ’50s, Harcourt Williams’ acting talent … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Cinema, David Morgan, History, Theatre, Uncategorized
Tagged Around The World In Eighty Days, Audrey Hepburn, Croydon, David Morgan, Gregory Peck, Hamlet, Harcourt Williams, Henry V, John Gelgud, Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson, Roman Holiday, Sir Henry Irving, The Old Vic, Whitgift Grammar Shool, Whitgift School, William Shakespeare
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Festival of Choral Classics, St John’s, Old Coulsdon, Mar 28
C O M M U N I T Y A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Cycle Carnival saw thousands lining the streets for good cause
CROYDON CHRONICLES: There was a time when the town’s streets were not such a hostile environment for cyclists as they are today. They even had an annual event to celebrate, and raise large amounts for charity. DAVID MORGAN takes up … Continue reading
Posted in Cycling, David Morgan, History
Tagged Croydon Cycle Carnival, Croydon Minster, David Morgan, Wulfruna
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Gertrude Massey’s masterstrokes showed Royalty in best light
CROYDON CHRONICLES: A prize-winner at Croydon School of Art went on to become one of the most sought-after portrait artists in Edwardian London, and taught Evelyn Waugh and the Wizard of Oz’s Scarecrow. DAVID MORGAN recalls the stellar career of … Continue reading
Indoor Boot Sale, St Paul’s Church Hall, South Croydon, Mar 7
C O M M U N I T Y A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Charity Quiz Night, St Peter’s Hall, South Croydon, Feb 28
C O M M U N I T Y A D V E R T I S E M E N T For information, email events@soutcroydonbenefice.or.uk
Charity Nickel Support is providing people with real life skills
CROYDON CHRONICLES: This week, DAVID MORGAN pays a visit to an organisation operating very much in the present, providing a future for dozens of young people It is rare that any of us don’t require some help to learn a … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Charity, David Morgan
Tagged Carshalton, charity, Cheam, Croydon, Croydon Chronicles, David Morgan, Merton, Nickel Support, Sutton, Whitehall Cheam
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Palace winger Harrison’s Match of the Day at Croydon Minster
DAVID MORGAN uses the Minster archive to trace the life and career of former Hampshire batsman and Crystal Palace winger Bernie Harrison, who played at Selhurst Park in the era when footballers earned a maximum £20 per week What was … Continue reading
National Gallery artworks exhibit comes to Croydon’s doorstep
You would probably be blissfully unaware if you relied on information from the propaganda bunker at part-time Mayor Jason Perry’s dysfunctional council, but parts of Croydon are today arrayed with a selection of some of the world’s greatest artistic masterpieces. … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Coulsdon Sixth Form College, Croydon Council, Croydon Minster, Croydon parks, Education, National Gallery Art On Your Doorstep, Park Hill Recreation Ground, Queens Gardens
Tagged Art On Your Doorstep, Coulsdon, Croydon, Croydon Council, JMW Turner, Minster Green, Monet, National Gallery, Pablo Picasso, Park Hill Park, Purley, Queens Gardens, Renoir, Stubbs, Thornton Heath, Upper Norwood, Van Eyck, Vincent van Gogh, Whitgift Centre
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All downhill for Odlings after they dismantled London Bridge
CROYDON CHRONICLES: A dynasty began in the late 1800s with a family living at Lennard Road whose relatives would build a global business empire from marble, played roles in running the British team at the 1936 Winter Olympics, helped to … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Croydon Minster, David Morgan, History
Tagged 1936 Winter Olympics, Anselm Odling, Anselm Odling and Sons Ltd, Broadcasting House, Cedric Odling, Croydon Minster, D-Day, David Morgan, Dunkirk, London Bridge, Marble, Michelangelo, Michelangelo's David, Portland Place, Prisoner of war, Royal Artillery, Switzerland, The Eiger, The Odling Cup, Wengen, World War I, World War II
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Minster choir to sing world premiere of Wallen’s latest work
CROYDON CHRONICLES: Minster archivist DAVID MORGAN looks to the futurethis week and a world premiere performance by the church’s choir to take place at Southwark Cathedral Croydon Minster’s choir, which already has a substantial list of musical achievements, will add … Continue reading
Posted in Bishop of Croydon, Church and religions, Croydon Minster, David Morgan, Music, Rosemarie Mallett
Tagged BBC Proms, Bishop of Croydon, Croydon Minster, Croydon Minster choir, David Morgan, Errollyn Wallen, Jerusalem, Last Night of the Proms, Master of the King's Music, Missa Brevis, Rt Rev Dr Rosemarie Mallett, Southwark Cathedral
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Civic service at Town Hall will mark Holocaust Memorial Day
Croydon’s Holocaust Memorial Ceremony is to take place in the Council Chamber at the Town Hall from noon next Tuesday, January 27. And while this is a civic ceremony, Jason Perry, the Conservative Mayor who is up for election, intends … Continue reading
The curious case of the Croydon curate and his woman stalker
CROYDON CHRONICLES: For six years at the end of the 19th Century, church services and the lives of clergymen in Croydon and in Southend were disrupted by the behaviour of one woman. DAVID MORGAN with his latest discovery from the … Continue reading
Friday lunchtime music recitals, Croydon Minster, Jan-Mar 2026
C O M M U N I T Y A D V E R T I S E M E N T
This teacher’s Foss way always led her back to South East Asia
CROYDON CHRONICLES: In his latest delve into the archives, DAVID MORGAN recalls the life of a missionary, the daughter of a former Mayor of Croydon, who worked in China, Malaysia and South Africa, and survived almost four years in the … Continue reading
Friday lunchtime music recitals, Croydon Minster, Jan-Mar 2026
C O M M U N I T Y A D V E R T I S E M E N T
