St Mary's Church, Downe
St Mary's Church in the village of Downe, Kent is the Church of England Parish Church for the parish of Downe in Kent (now officially within the London Borough of Bromley). It is a Grade II* listed building, which dates from the 13th century.[1] The church is dedicated to "St Mary the Virgin", although St Mary Magdalene.[clarification needed]
The Church, as with the village of Downe itself, is closely linked with the naturalist Charles Darwin who lived at nearby Down House from 1842 to his death in 1882. John Brodie Innes was the vicar from 1846. Darwin played a leading part in the parish work of the church,[2] but from around 1849 would go for a walk on Sundays while his family attended church.[3] Charles's wife, Emma Darwin, was Unitarian and the family would face away when the Anglican Trinitarian Creed was read.
Several members of the Darwin family are buried in the churchyard, including Emma's sister Sarah Elizabeth Wedgwood (died 1880), Charles's brother Erasmus Alvey Darwin (died 1881), Emma Darwin (1896), Charles and Emma's children Mary Eleanor Darwin (1842), Charlie (1858), Elizabeth (1926), Henrietta (1927); Elinor Monsell (1954) and her husband, Charles and Emma's grandson Bernard Darwin (1961). Charles Darwin had wished to be buried here too but was instead buried in Westminster Abbey.
References
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- ↑ van Wyhe 2008b, p. 41
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