Rectory & Rectors
This section includes information on Walkern Rectory, and articles on our more famous, or infamous Rectors, including bibliophile Benjamin Heath, and ‘that turbulent priest’ John Gorsuch
Dr Benjamin Heath
Benjamin was born in Exeter in 1739 the eldest of 13 children. His father, also Dr Benjamin Heath (1703-1766), was the Town Clerk of Exeter and an avid and well-known collector of rare books. Although originally destined for the Bar, Benjamin Snr...
John Gorsuch
Coming soon, information and articles about 'that turbulent priest' John Gorsuch, Rector of Walkern in the 1630s. In the meantime see the article on St Mary's website
List of Walkern Rectors
From
To
Rector
Patron
1274
1290
William de Walkern
Abbey & Convent of St John, Colchester
1290
1309
Henry de Lanvale
Abbey & Convent of St John, Colchester
1309
1318
Geoffrey de Colchester...
The Old Rectory
The Old Rectory, now a private house, was built around 1632 for Rector Dr John Gorsuch (1600-48). It is an early example of a brick house, described in 1638 as having: 'below, one parlour, a hall, a kitchen, a milk house, a brew house, a store house,...
