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For more than 1,000 years
St Stephen's church has served the Christian community. According to the thirteenth
century monk and chronicler Matthew Paris, the parishes of St Michael's, St Peter's and St
Stephen's were created at the behest of Ulsinus, the sixth abbot of St Albans Abbey in
AD948. The abbot also directed that a church be built in each parish. The precise date for
Ulsinus's rule is not known, though a mid-ninth century date is widely accepted. However,
sufficient physical evidence remains 'locked-into' the structure of the church to confirm
a late Anglo-Saxon date in the tenth century.
TENTH CENTURY
The Anglo-Saxon building was approximately 34 feet wide by 38 feet long and was probably
divided into two interconnected rooms. The larger of the two rooms acted as the nave and
the other the chancel. Consistent with other Anglo-Saxon churches, it is unlikely there
would have been a tower. It is from this simple building that the present day structure
has developed over ten centuries of adaptation and alteration.
TWELFTH CENTURY
About 50 years after the Norman conquest of 1066, the church was enlarged during the
abbacy of Richard de Albini. The new building was consecrated by Gilbert, Bishop of
Limerick. From documentary evidence it would appear that a north aisle was added about
1170 whilst Robert de Gorham was abbot. The new structure was dedicated by Ralph, Bishop
of Durham. However excavations carried out in the 1960s failed to find any physical
evidence of its existence.
THIRTEENTH CENTURY
The Lady Chapel was constructed in 1220 during the rule of abbot William of Trumpington.
Shortly afterwards a south aisle was added.
FOURTEENTH CENTURY
In 1320 the two eastern bays of the south aisle were remodelled in the 'decorated' style.
FIFTEENTH CENTURY
During the middle of the fifteenth century many works took place. A belfry was formed over
the western bay of the south arcade. The height of the walls of the nave were increased
and windows inserted at high level to allow more light to penetrate the interior of the
church. This window feature is known as a "clerestory". The chancel was enlarged
and the wooden framework of the chancel arch dates from this time.
NINETEENTH CENTURY
By 1840 the church was in an advanced state of disrepair and a parish vestry meeting (a
group of people responsible for the governance of parish matters) voted that St Stephen's
be demolished. It was resolved that a new church be built "in a more populous part of
the parish" using the materials of the old church. The following month the decision
to demolish St Stephen's was reversed and agreement was reached to build a 'chapel of
ease' at Park Street. This was completed in 1842 using new materials, financed primarily
by public subscription. In 1859 the parish boundaries were redrawn and the chapel of ease
was rededicated as the Holy Trinity Church of Frogmore.
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