Extract from The Times 5 Dec 1904 attached.

A correspondent writes: - The Bishop of Rochester on Saturday instituted the Rev. Kenneth Clake to the vicarge of the ancient church of Lingfield, Surrey. The church has an almost unique historical interest. The present building was erected on the site of an older one in the middle of the 15th century by Sir Reginald de Cobham, of Starborough Castle, who at the same time founded a 'College' of Secular Canons (six),, with four clerks and 13 bedesmen to minister in the church. His effigy still lies on an altar tomb in the chancel as founder. He was a well-known public man of the period, and took part in the campaign of Agincourt. His grandfather, the first Sir Reginal de Cobham , whose effigy in painted wood survives in the present church, the chief remains of the earlier one, fought at Crecy, where he had personal charge of the Black Prince, and at Poictiers, where he saved the French King's life. He was made a Knight of the Garter. At the suppression of the monasteries the Religious House was surrended to the King by a deed still extant, executed in duplicate. One part is in the Public Record Office and the other still remains amongst the title deeds of the  'College' Farm, which includes the site and many remains of the conventual buildings. The interest of the church does not cease with the Reformation. It contains illustrations of one epoch after another of subsequent Church history. There is a desk with a Bible 'of the largest volume in English' 'set up in a convenient place within the church' in obedience to the injunctions of Edward VI, and Elisabeth. There is also, chained to the same desk, Bishop Jewel's works, 'published in one volume.' in accordance with archbishop Bancroft's letter of 1610. Then there are pews which fill the place of some which occasioned a celebrated ecclesiastical decision ('Fuller v, Lane'} as to pew law at the beginnning of the 19th century. Finally, the church still possesses what is known as a 'two-decker' and until recently the preacher appeared in a black gown. A large congregation of residents in the neighbourhood and others assembled in the church on Saturday afternoon. After the institution the Bishop of Rochester preached, and the Archdeacon of Kingston (the Venerable G. W. Daniell) inducted the new vicar. Amongst those present were the Rev. R. H. Borradaile (rural dean), Revs, W, W, Hough, E. M. Blackie, W. M. Arnold, G. H. Martin, H. H. Williams,  and J. Thorpe, Sir Lewis Dibdin, General Chapman, C.B., Surgeon General Planck, Mr. F. H. Birley J.P., and Mr E. W.Oliver.