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Parish church name

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  • Parish church name

    Helping a friend today wander through the parish records we got to wondering how churches in England got their name. Why is this church St. Peters and that one St. Mary the Virgin and other there is All Saints. Is there a logic to the naming of the churches or has the logic been lost in time? I suspect some were named a thousand years ago.
    Donelda

    searching for the Berkshire Hobbises, Rowles, Staniford, Rogers, Parkers, Thackhams, Gouts, LeBouviers, Heaphys and Wilsons

  • #2
    Depends on the church and if they have been rededicated since being constructed. But usually the saint was decided before it was built. Sometimes the saint was a local one, sometimes it depended on the order who built the church. Patron saints were popular.

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    • #3
      There was a very strong following of the Virgin Mary in mediaeval Britain which accounts for the older St Mary's. Our local church had altars dedicated to a number of saints which were endowed by benefactors, for a while it was known as St Johns, but is now All Saints.

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      • #4
        There are churches which have no dedication at all. For example the Parish Church in Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria. In spite of the fact that the town name actually means 'Church Stephen' there is apparently no dedication to St Stephen or any other saint.
        Anne

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        • #5
          interesting question - and some have 2 too, Harlow is St Mary and St Hugh!
          Carolyn
          Family Tree site

          Researching: Luggs, Freeman - Cornwall; Dayman, Hobbs, Heard - Devon; Wilson, Miles - Northants; Brett, Everett, Clark, Allum - Herts/Essex
          Also interested in Proctor, Woodruff

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