A mayor and a Bishop are leading the charge for Farnham to be re-designated a ‘Minster Town’ – and possibly even to be renamed ‘Farnham Minster’ – reflecting its historic 1,300-year-old ties to the Church.

The mayor of Waverley, Farnham Residents councillor John Ward, was inspired to revive his ‘Farnham Minster’ campaign after reading Christopher Herbert’s latest book Invaders and Settlers: Romans and Saxons in Farnham.

Speaking at the Bishop’s book launch at the Museum of Farnham, Cllr Ward told the audience that, although he was a friend of the author, his main attraction had been the Bishop’s research into Farnham’s past as a minster town.

Cllr Ward felt that “although the municipal side of Farnham is well acknowledged, being the only recognised craft town in England and having won the Britain in Bloom competition and the council of the year title, the ecclesiastical side is falling behind”.

He added there was abundant historical evidence for Farnham to be re-designated as a minster town, which he said would bring valuable status to the church and town, and also encourage tourism.

A hangover from Anglo-Saxon times, minster is now a honorific title bestowed on major churches of regional significance in the Church of England to reflect their importance and contribution to the local communities they serve.

Cllr Ward says the minster title often results from a former monastic connection, and he believes Farnham’s parish church, St Andrew’s, has a strong claim to such a connection having been a place of worship since Anglo-Saxon times.

Bishop Christopher’s new book lays out evidence that a charter was granted in AD 688 for the founding of a monasterium – or minster – in Farnham. He comes to the conclusion that in Farnham’s case this monasterium provided the seed-bed for the town’s development and not vice versa.

Supporting the claim that this ancient minster lies under what is now St Andrew’s, the remains of a wooden seventh-century church were uncovered during a survey on the site of the current 12th-century town centre church in 2003.

So how does a church get minster status today?

“Well... it depends on the bishop of the diocese,” said Bishop Christopher.

Discover more about his conclusions by buying Invaders and Settlers: Romans and Saxons in Farnham at the museum or Farnham Waterstones.