The House
It is likely that there has been a dwelling and a church at Penhurst since Saxon days and the site of the original house was enclosed by a moat. Penhurst "Head of the Wood" is recorded in the Domesday book.
It is thought that the present house was built in 1652 by Revd John Gyles, the retired Anglican Minister of Ninfield. He built the house to move into with his wife. They married in March 1652 but, unfortunately, he died just eight months later, and the house passed into new hands.
Over the years the house became part of the estate of the Earl of Ashburnham and eventually became a farm house occupied by a tenant farmer.
The Broomhall Family
Paul and Rosalind Broomhall bought the house from John Bickersteth, founder of the Ashburnham Christian Trust in l956. Paul established the Friends of Ashburnham and Penhurst Churches and both the church and the house were restored at that time. A Thanksgiving for the restoration of the church of St. Michael the Archangel, Penhurst was held on Sunday October 16th l960, a year before Paul and Rosalind finally moved into The Manor House.
Born in China and India respectively, Paul and Rosalind did much to support overseas missionary work, travelling to India and Nepal five times between l950 and l974 on behalf of Interserve. Their travels involved riding and walking over the Himalayan mountains often at great personal cost and danger - to visit and encourage isolated missionaries. For some 35 years The Manor House was an oasis of warm hospitality - for family gatherings, for the refreshment of overseas workers on furlough, for the homeless, for church members and for casual visitors from many parts of the world. Until Paul's death in l995 a prayer meeting was held monthly to support the many people who had gone to work overseas from the parish. The Trust was formed in l996 by members of the extended Broomhall family, two of whom had served overseas as mission partners. The vision to found a Christian retreat centre at Penhurst was inspired by the words in 2 Corinthians "for the rendering of this service not only supplies the wants of the saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God".
Paul Broomhall was the great nephew of James Hudson Taylor and the house contains many fascinating artefacts associated with the history of mission, including original portraits of Amelia Hudson Taylor and Benjamin Broomhall, first Secretary of the CIM and brother in law to James Hudson Taylor, the 19th century pioneer missionary to China.
"In this place I will give peace"
This text was inscribed over the door of the late Mary Cundy's house in the mountain village of Paimey, Nepal. Mary, a medical social worker, was one of the many Interserve partners who was a frequent visitor to the Manor House. During her lifetime she encouraged the Trustees to persevere in their vision.
