History

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 Revd John Bickersteth, founder of the Ashburnham Christian Trust in 1956. Together Paul and John established the Friends of Ashburnham and Penhurst Churches and Penhurst church was restored before work on the Manor House was completed. A Thanksgiving for the restoration of the church of St. Michael the Archangel, Penhurst was held on Sunday October 16th 1960, a year before Paul and Rosalind finally moved into their 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 1950 and 1974 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 1995 a prayer meeting was held monthly to support the many people who had gone to work overseas from the parish. Paul is pictured at his desk in the Manor House writing to mission partners overseas.

The Trust was formed in 1996 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 Verse 9 "This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks 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.