Help with a couple of words from 1668 please

[BridgetM]

I'm going to go with South or Forren (Foreign) Church porch.

[Redroger]

A quick Google re veals that Wendover church does have a North and South Porch! They are referred to as the North and South porches. I am not happy about the transcription though, Google: stmaryswendover.org.uk to see more .

[BridgetM]

I looked at the link, Redroger, and now I'm not sure what I think!  (Though I do think the elusive word begins with a double "f.")

[Redroger]

I know that feeling only too well Bridget, the mention of "Foreign" made sense contextually, as did the 2 small f's for a capital. Do you know when the term was first used? Why not google and ask them? A definite date would clinch things.

[slam]

OED has a word variously spelled 'foran / forne / foren / forrn / forn' and meaning 'at the front'.

[BridgetM]

Thanks, Slam.  Front porch definitely makes sense--but, in a way, so does foreign.  So perhaps I'll leave it forren on my transcription.

[Redroger]

If you do Bridget, then make sure you annotate it by an asterisk *, otherwise in a few months you won't remember, and others reading it would have no chance at all.

[BridgetM]

Thanks for the suggestion, Redroger.  It's a good idea, and one I hadn't thought of.