Lingfield, St Peter and St Paul

Location: Vicarge Road, Lingfield, RH7 6HA

Map

Website: http://www.lovelylingfield.com/local_churches.htm

Opening Information:

History:

A Saxon church existed at Lingfield and it has a mention in the reign of King Edgar (959-975), but is not mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086). The 3rd Lord Cobham, Reginald Cobham rebuilt the church and the Chancel and founded the college in 1431, when the church became a Collegiate Church. The tower is 14th Century, but the rest of the Church was rebuilt in 1431. The marks on the doorway that leads to the south transept are thought to have been made by knights who blunted their swords before entering the church, and was a custom in those days.

Rectors:

1292 John de Hustwheyt

1322 John de Middleton

Adam Portewell

1383 Thomas Weyland

Effigies:

Reginald de Cobham, 1st Lord Starborough, called to Parliament 1342 to 1360, born about 1295, died 5 October 1361 of the plague, and married Joan de Berkeley. Joan was buried in St Mary, Overy, Southark. The alabaster effigy wears a helm with a camail that was said to have been orginaly of silver and blue enamel. The Jupon was richly guilt with small plaques of enamel set in the girdles. The effigy is one of the few early garter knights who show the garter in the effigy. Beneath his head is a Saracens head, and is probably a family crest. The church was restored nearly a hundred years later and the tomb had the heraldry around the tomb added. In 1344 Reginald was made an Adminral of the Fleet. In 1346 Reginald fought at the Battle of Crecy and was one of 3 knights in charge of Prince Edward. In 1352 Edward III made him a knight of the Garter. In 1356 Reginald fought at the Battle of Poitiers and was a marshal to the army. Later Reginald an Ambassador to Brabant and the Pope.

Brasses:

Elizabeth Stafford, died 1374, wife of 2nd Lord Cobham.

Lady Eleanor Culpepper, died November 1420, first wife of Reginald de Cobham.

Reginald Lord Cobham, the 2nd lord Cobham, born 1348, died 3 July 1403, It was directed in his will that he should be buried at the head of his father, but his tomb was later moved to its current location on the wall of the north aisle. Regianld married firstly Elizabeth Stafford who died in 1375, and later Eleanor Maltravers, widow of the Lord of Arundel. Reginald fought in Flanders and Gascony, and was a comissioner appointed to rule during the minority of Richard II. Reginald was exiled abroad where he met Henry Bolingbroke, later Henry IV. In 1402 he was in France fighting. The inscription on the tomb reads:

"Here lies Reginald, Lord Cobham of Starborough. As a soldier he was brave as a leopard, Wary in council, yet bold enough when occasion required. He carried away renown from all lands. He was sumptuous in his housekeeping, handsome, affiable, munificent and generous; and when it pleased the Most High that he should die, he breathed his last. May he be glorified in the heavens On the 3rd July 1403 he migrated to ...., May true rest be his, Amen, Our Father."