Croston Family History Newsletter

Sometimes it works out that you end up in a certain place at the right time. This was the case the week that visited the village of Croston in November. I was happy to discover that St. Michael and All Angels church was having an open house and I would be able to see the inside and talk to someone who knew the history of the parish. Why is this church so important to our family history? Our surname began as de Croston (from Croston). The Village of Croston is thought to have been named after the Cross that was erected in the center of town for preaching before the church was built. There are many events in English history and politics; the most significant of which was the Reformation, that effected and influenced the lives of the Croston family that lived here, nearby and all the way to County Cork, Ireland. The Reformation or the Protestant Reformation in England began in the 16th century and ended in 1648 at the conclusion of The Thirty Years War. The Church of England broke a

I arrived in the village at dusk. The roads were narrow and winding. I managed to find a place to park my beast of a rental car and because the sun was quickly setting, I immediately crossed the road to look at the iconic bridge and St Michael and All Angels Church. Then I went to the Wheatsheaf for a pint of cider. Although it was cold and misting rain I sat outside at a table to soak it all in.   I had not planned to visit Croston for another year or more. But my life is in transition now, I may be relocating 1,200 miles away to another state in a couple of months for my job. This is also the cause of my not posting here in a while. It's been a busy and stressful time. Starting a job in the new office also means I may have less opportunity to travel. So when the opportunity arose to go to England during the week of Thanksgiving I decided this was the right time to gather information for my research and clear my head, with the plan to return again in 2020. Af