My earliest known ancestors were baptised, married & buried here. The  parish records are in remarkably good condition but there are a few crucial (to me) years where the information is either missing or "unreliable". I blame the Civil War for that! The earliest recorded marriage is that of Samuel Chelver to Alice Farnor on 17 January 1591. I am claiming them as my earliest known ancestors. Samuel would have been born circa 1568.

The date of the building of the first church is unknown but the rebuilding after the old church collapsed was commenced in 1454 and not completed until after 1510.  This church is probably most remembered for the story of John CHAPMAN, the "Pedlar of Swaffham". For more information I recommend that you read: - "Ribbons from the Pedlar's Pack" by Ben Ripper "The Pride of Swaffham" by Wm. B. Rix. "Swaffham, Bygone Gleanings Past and Present" by William Bertram Rix.

 

Edited 14 April 2000