St Michael and All Angels is a grade II listed church in the village of Pirbright in Surrey. This delightful church is located on a quiet road next to meadows, and has an interesting history and two notable memorials.
The first church on this site was built between 1210 and 1214 during the reign of King John. By 1783 this old church had become delapidated. About this time a coach carrying King George III overturned while travelling through Pirbright. The village people rescued him and provided aid until his coach was repaired. As a measure of his gratitude the King issued a petition for churches across England to contribute to the rebuilding of Pirbright Church. The old church was removed and a pleasant new St Michael and All Angels church was built that we still see today.
Inside the church on its north wall is a brass memorial to Ross Lowis Mangles. Mangles was a British administrator in India and was the first civilian to be awarded the Victoria Cross - the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry. After retiring from Indian service Mangles lived in Pirbright.
At the east end of the church’s large graveyard is the grave to Sir H. M. Stanley, the famous African explorer who searched for and found Dr David Livingstone in 1871. Stanley spent his final years living in Pirbright.