St Swithin Farthings

Before the Reformation some Surrey parishes collected small dues for St Swithin. The churchwardens of Horley entered 3s. 8d. of Saint Swithin farthings gathered over two years in 1505 and 1506, which Brand took to mean a collection on the saint’s day or on his account. At Kingston upon Thames a list of church payments of the reign of Henry VII, printed by Lysons, charged every householder a penny to St Swithin at Easter, alongside the priest’s wages and the paschal candle.