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Tag Archives: Croydon Minster
The Whybrew family trade that really put a feather in your cap
CROYDON CHRONICLES: Trades and professions come and go with the passing years, as fashions ebb and flow. Using the Minster’s archive records, DAVID MORGAN discovers another skill, common in Victorian times and used by a local family firm, but which … Continue reading
After eight years, Bishop prepares for his final Minster service
CROYDON CHRONICLES: History is happening every day, all around us. And today marks the latest important date in the 700-year history of the Vicar of Croydon. By DAVID MORGAN Father Andrew Bishop was in a reflective mood when I caught … Continue reading
The weather warnings from history: thunderbolts and lightning
CROYDON CHRONICLES: A timely trawl through the Minster archive has discovered reports of extreme weather episodes going back more than 400 years. By DAVID MORGAN “Rycharde Esteinge, a young man, being killed suddenlye with a stroke of thunder and lightning … Continue reading
Roll up! Roll up! Enjoy Croydon’s summer fayre, 1920s style
CROYDON CHRONICLES: With summer fairs being planned and organised across the borough, this week DAVID MORGAN looks back more than 100 years at the stalls and events staged for the church fête of 1921 The bunting’s up. The marquee is … Continue reading
Help at the Minster on Sunday with sleep packs for refugees
In this Volunteers’ Week, Croydon Minster is asking for people to come along this Saturday to help assemble sleep packs for young refugees. The Minster is partnering again with The Separated Child Foundation, and is seeking help this Sunday, June … Continue reading
Grave error in the failure to reconstruct great Grindal’s tomb
CROYDON CHRONICLES: The Minster’s archive is a rich source of documents, registers, publications and correspondence that have yielded vast quantities of detail and information about the history of Croydon for DAVID MORGAN. But here is a letter that the archivist … Continue reading
Here’s Croydon’s election results – from Coronation year 1953
In a special edition of the Croydon Chronicles as the borough goes to the polls, DAVID MORGAN has trawled through the Minster archive to take a look at how local elections were run more than 70 years ago Allegations of … Continue reading
Posted in David Morgan, History
Tagged 1953, Conservative, Coronation year, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Minster, David Morgan, Labour, Liberal Party, London, London Borough of Croydon, Tory, Winston Churchill
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Croydon Minster choir on the road to Windsor and the Abbey
Today marks the centenary of the birth of Elizabeth Windsor, who as Queen Elizabeth II set records as the United Kingdom’s longest reigning monarch – 70 years and 214 days – until her death in September 2022, aged 96. So … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Church and religions, Croydon Minster, David Morgan, Music, Whitgift School
Tagged Croydon, Croydon Minster, Croydon Minster choir, David Morgan, HM Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth II, St George's Chapel, Westminster Cathedral, Whitgift School, Whitgift School Choir
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Friday lunchtime music recitals, Croydon Minster, April-July
C O M M U N I T Y A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Duke survived death after he hunted with Croydon’s hounds
CROYDON CHRONICLES: Two hundred years ago, the Derby Arms off Handcroft Road ran a well-regarded livery stables and was a centre for local hunts that were attended by princes and dukes, butchers and shop-keepers. From a single gravestone in the … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Minster, David Morgan, History
Tagged Alfred Bignell, Croydon Hunt, Croydon Minster, Croydon Parish Church, David Morgan, Duke of Cumberland, Fox-hunting, Joshua Bignell, King George II, Old Surrey Hunt, Parsons Mead, Pitlake, Rabies, The Derby Arms, The Old Surrey and Burstow Hunt:, West Croydon
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Friday lunchtime music recitals, Croydon Minster, April-July
C O M M U N I T Y A D V E R T I S E M E N T
The day Dr Bookless took the wicket of the great WG Grace
CROYDON CHRONICLES: A long career in medicine based at Croydon General Hospital and on Harley Street followed for a sporting young man who, when a student at Guy’s Hospital, once enjoyed a cricket moment of a lifetime. DAVID MORGAN explains … Continue reading
Posted in Church and religions, Cricket, Croydon Minster, David Morgan, Health, History, Mayday Hospital, Purley Hospital
Tagged British Medical Journal, cricket, Croydon, Croydon General Hospital, Croydon Minster, Croydon Parish Church, Crystal Palace, Crystal Palace Park, David Morgan, Dr John Bookless, Guy's Hospital, London, London County Cricket Club, Mayday Hospital, Purley Hospital, WG Grace
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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
Police seek Fiat driver after Old Town suspected hit and run
A stretch of Church Road in Croydon’s Old Town remained closed to traffic this morning, more than 24 hours after what the police are treating as a “serious” hit and run which has left a 51-year-old man in a critical … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Surrey Street
Tagged BT, Charles Street, Church Road, Croydon Minster, hit-and-run, Met Police, Metropolitan Police, Q Car Park, Ryland House, Surrey Street
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Colourful sunset over Church Street caused by African sands
Croydon and the rest of London were treated to a special golden light show at sunset yesterday, caused by an unusual combination of meteorological factors, including sand particles blown thousands of miles from the Sahara Desert. The spectacular sight included … Continue reading
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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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
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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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
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
Mead’s Minster time to end after 32 years of church service
CROYDON CHRONICLES: Denise Mead became verger at Croydon Parish Church in 1993. This week, after working with three Vicars of Croydon, organising countless church events and welcoming Archbishops and a Princess Royal to Croydon, she will take her leave for … Continue reading
