History of St Mary's the Virgin, Buckland

The parish registers date back to 1560, and the first recorded vicar to 1308. The present church is thought to have been built in 1380 and was extensively refurbished in 1860.

The church has 6 bells, still regularly rung, and an unusual wooden spire. Some of the windows date from the 14th and 15th centuries. The window nearest the font suffered heavy damage as a result of an enemy bomb in 1941. The glass was then removed and lost, until  the 600 separate pieces were rediscovered in the old Rectory cellar 52 years later, wrapped in newspaper. The window was restored in 1994, though part of it now forms the light-box at the West end of the Church.

Our church of St Mary the Virgin is within the Diocese of Southwark the Diocese of Southwark [Bishop: The Rt. Rev. Tom Butler] and the Area of Croydon. It shares the Rector with St. Michael’s, Betchworth.

Although Buckland’s St. Mary the Virgin is closer to Reigate, it is in the Mole Valley Council District, based in Dorking.

For a Plan of current Services, see Church Matters, page 2 of the Parish Magazine.

Should you have any questions about church matters, please feel free to email the Rector: stephenbaileyrev@compuserve.com

Diocese of Southwark: Parishes - Buckland, St Mary the Virgin - http://www.dswark.org/parishes/044h.htm St. Mary the Virgin is Buckland's only church, and continues to represent the Church of England with a full programme of weekly services and activities. The Parish of Buckland is currently within the Deanery of Reigate, the Episcopal Area of Croydon and...

Volunteers for church activities should contact the people listed on this linked page