Forum Topic

anglican parishes - history buff question

This letter was sent to the paper from America - anyone know the answer and I 'll pass it on...            I am researching the life of David Franks, a merchant in Philadelphia during the Colonial period. He is reported to have died during the last part of 1793 or the year 1794. He was staying with a son in Isleworth who had been raised in the Anglican Church (Christ Church, Philadelphia) and, very likely would have been a member of the local Anglican parish.             My problem is determining what Anglican parishes existed near Isleworth in 1793/1794. I want to find out where he is buried and when he actually perished. Can you help? Can you aim me at the right churches? I would be much obliged.             Thank you.

Sally Henfield ● 7379d8 Comments

"No Jim, It's Anglican."    (That church on the south side of the Great West Road..near Gillettes)Thanks for the info Keith...we/I learn something every day about local matters.....on these Forums!  Keep the cells active!

Jim Lawes ● 7371d

No Jim, It's Anglican. There is a small social club attatched, hence the beer barrels(probably!)

Keith Iddon ● 7371d

Cheers everyone,I passed all your posts on to the American bloke, hope he finds what he is looking for!

Sally Henfield ● 7378d

The other possible churches are St.Lawrence, New Brentford. The records are at the London Metropolitan Archive or the Parish Churches in Heston, Hounslow or Twickenham. Again I think all the records are at the LMA.

Neil Chippendale ● 7378d

For the period you are looking for the only church it can be is the one near the London Apprentice, called All Saints. All the early records are held by the Local Studies Dept at Hounslow Library. Contact James Marshall, he is the LOcal Studies Librarian. The only problem is that some of the early records are in very bad condition. The church was burnt down by vandels during the war.

Neil Chippendale ● 7379d

Ok I know it sounds obvious, but the answer is in the Parish Registers. To locate details of the parishes and also the current whereabouts of the parish registers you need to consult a book commonly known as 'Phillimore's Parish Registers'. That's not the exact title of the book (it's slipped my mind) but the key is 'Phillimore's' on any index search. The book sets out all the old parishes county by county. I'd have thought any reference library would have a copy.Whether the parish register survives for the era you want is another matter of course, but the book tells you the dates covered by the registers.A pound to a penny says that the registers are at the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) in Farringdon and can be consulted there. Incidentally the LMA has a tremendous collection of old photographs of the London area that anyone can go and look at for free. Bound to be many of the area here - I used one from there of the old Sperry Giro works on the A4 from the 1930's to illustrate details of a bombing raid on that factory in 1941

John Wood ● 7379d

Keith: I must visit that Church on the A4..isn't it RC...and I've seen beer barrels outside the Church Hall on occasions..or was I dreaming.St Mary's Church in Church Road, Osterley (Parish Office 020 8569 7312) covers parts of Isleworth.The main church for Isleworth is near the London Apprenticeand has a history going back to the |Domesday book...acording to a brochure loaned to me by Paul Fisher.There is an old burial site there..and Sally, I'd make that Church your first port of call. Some of their older records are held at Hounslow Library.Good luck.

Jim Lawes ● 7379d

I know St. Francis of Assissi church(which is lovely inside, by the way) on the A4 is an Anglican church,so they may well have parish records or historical docs./knowledge there that may help you.Hope this helps :-)

Keith Iddon ● 7379d