St. Stephen's Church.
Hackington. (Hacca's Farmstead)

St. Stephen's Church, Hackington - Winter's Day
© P.E. Blanche

Available records for researchers:

Registers: Baptisms: 1567 - 1971
Marriages: 1567 - 1967
Burials: 1567 - 1942
Archdeacon's Transcripts: CMB: 1560 - 1812
Bishop's Transcripts: CMB: 1603 - 1813
Bishop's Transcripts II: CB: 1813 - 1893, 1900 - 1905 M: 1813 - 1837

This Church is of particular note because I happen to have been baptised here. In addition, I spent many Sunday mornings shivering in the pews or behind the organ, where I got the job of pumping the bellows, while the Reverend Barnes tried to keep an expremely disinterested group of children, interested. I suppose it's not until one gets older that the lack attention to the Reverend is somewhat regretted. It was his claim that the green outside the Church was once used as "butts" and that the Black Prince spent the night at this Church in prayer, prior to making his way to the Cathedral the following day to receive his spurs and be Knighted.

Manwood Family Memorial © P.E. Blanche 1998

The physical building contains a mixture of Norman, Early English, Decorated and Perpendicular. Close to the foundations can be found pieces of Roman tiles. Construction on the Church was apparently started by Archbishop Baldwin against the wishes of the then Pope, Urban III. Surrounding the Church are the inevitable yew trees but also near the gates, "Indian Bean Trees" or Catalpa, somewhat unusual for an English churchyard.

In the South Transept is a memorial to the Manwood family that used to hold my attention for many more hours than the Reverend Barnes. It was built, as was often the habit in those days, prior to the death of the eventual occupant, Sir Roger Manwood. The memorial includes the bust of Sir Roger, two wives, five children and a life size wooden skeleton - reclining!

Bell-ringing practice is on Monday nights and is a beautiful sound if you're ever in the area.

SEE ALSO:

Hackington - St. Stephen's
The Hales Chapel - exterior
The Hales Chapel - interior

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