Tintinhull
939/946
About this period in time, we find the first mention
of St. Margaret’s Church by name The Church is dedicated to
Margaret, a young girl from Antioch, Syria, who was cruelly martyred
for her faith in the 3rd Century. She was later Canonised.
She was one of the most revered Saints of the Middle Ages, in the West.
c. 1066
Bishop Hobhouse said in his lecture, dated 1st Feb.
1883, that the manor, advowson and Hundred of Tintinhull was given at
an early date, probably soon after the Conquest, by William of
Normandy, to Robert Earl of Mortain, his half-brother.
1084
The Exon Cadex, or Domesday Book, records:-
“The Earl himself held TINTENHALIE. The Church of
Glastingberie (Glastonbury) held it in the time of King Edward.”
(The Confessor.) (It should be remembered that the Domesday Book
contained only the names of Churches and Mills. No other
buildings were recorded.)
1086
One tiny estate was probably, by this time, not in
the Manor of Tintinhull, namely the estate of the Rector, known as THE
PARSONAGE. We know very little about the Rector’s
estate. It was worth only £7 in 1334 and was composed
mostly of tithes and offerings from the parishioners, but there was a
small amount of Glebe Land, and presumably a house for the Rector.
1091
Charter of this date, drawn up by William, Earl of
Mortain, and son of Earl Robert, refers to the Church of Tintinhull as
part of the endowment for the upkeep of the Priory at Montacute, built
for the Cluniac monks.
1100/1189
Eleven charters were drawn up during these years,
all concerning the upkeep of the Priory of Montacute. They all
contain a reference to the revenues of the Church at Tintinhull being
part of the endowment for the upkeep of Montacute Priory.
1100/1135
Reginald, Chancellor to King Henry 1 (1100/1135)
enlarged the Monastery with buildings and possessions. He also
converted the remains of Earl Mortain’s castle or the Mount with
a beautiful chapel “roofed all wyth stone, carved verye
artyfycyallye, and dedicated to St. Mychell, vawted within with stayers
made with stone from the fote (foot) of the hyll to the toppe.”
(Cotton M.S. Julius F.vi.)
Walter ………. Was the first Prior of Montacute, in
whose time the lands of the religious were taken away on account of the
Founders’ Rebellion*, but were afterwards restored. (Let.
Itin ii 92)
* (William, Count of Mortain, was dispossessed of his Earldom and
estates by King Henry 1 in 1104, when the Earl became a monk at
Bermondsey Abbey and died without issue. He was blind at his
death.)
1174/5 The Church at Tintinhull is charged with a
pension for the benefit of the Monks at Montacute, which continued
until the year 1428.
1174 Thomas, Prior of Montacute, was elected Abbott of Hyde in Hampshire.
1180 Tintinhull Church is charged with a further sum
for the benefit of the Sacristan, he being an officer at Montacute
Priory who had charge of the sacred vessels and other moveables.
1184/1272 The Priory of Montacute and the Cluniac
Monks continued to hold the Manor of Tintinhull, which included St.
Margaret’s Church, as set out in the Charters of Count William
Mortain and his successors, without dispute during these years.
C1200 Nikolaus Pevsner traced the history of
buildings in south and west Somerset about 1961 and had the following
to say about the Church of St. Margaret, Tintinhull. (p.323):
Tintinhull.
ST. MARGARET. V.M. c. 13 century Church. Nave,
Chancel and slightly later north tower. The tower rather bare,
with higher stair-turret and parapet. Angle buttresses at the
foot. On the third stage two lancets, on the fourth, three cusped
lancets (with inserted Somerset tracery.) The other windows
preserved their c.13th century outline, but are filled with
Perpendicular tracery.
Inside there is a typical roll-moulding all along the walls at window sill level and rising round doorways.
Chancel windows are shafted.
Tower, when it was built, blocked a shafted nave North window.
Double Piscina, with two pointed-trefoiled arches, reconstructed.
Chancel Arch stands on head corbels. It looks early c 14th century.
South porch is Perpendicular, with a ribbed tunnel-vault inside. The middle rib stands on wall-shafts.
Pulpit. Jacobean, complete with back panelling and tester.
Bench-ends with perpendicular panels and flower. (The Rev. W.V.
Rushton kindly informs me that the Bench-ends were made in 1511.)
Rood Screen. Part of the stone base preserved.
Plate. Chalice and Cover dated 1635.
Monument. Brass to John Heth, Priest, 1464. Demi-figure 18 inches long.
Outside the porch the so-called ‘Stonying Door’ erected in
1515 by Prior Chard Montacute, who was also vicar of Tintinhull, with
Latin inscriptions.
Churchyard Cross. By Sir Ninian Comper. C,1920. M.H.L.G.
1207 During this year ”the conventional
church” was destroyed by fire. (See Willis’ History
of Abbies ii 199.)
‘Conventional Mass’ i.e. that which the Rectors of
Cathedral and Collegiate Churches are bound to have celebrated every
day, solemnly and with music after Tierce. It must be applied for
benefactors where religious orders of men are bound to celebrate the
liturgy in Christ. They too must have at least a low Mass daily
according to the Office of the Day, which Mass is called
‘Conventional’. (Ref. Cot. Dict. - Addis &
Arnold.)
1208 Durand, who was Prior of Montacute (and Rector
of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull?) was expelled for ill
behaviour.(!!!)
1218 Richard …… was the name of the
first recorded Priest / Prior of St. Margaret’s Church,
Tintinhull. The Prior and Convent of Montacute (Monte Acutis)
were his patrons.
1242/43 The Prior of Montacute was challenged for taking tolls at Tintinhull, from the men of Exeter.
1260 At this date the Rev. Roger Norman was Prior of
Montacute (and Rector of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull?).
1274/94 During this period, the Rev. Philip Luvell
was Incumbent of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His
Patron was the Prior and Convent of Monte Acutis (Montacute).
1278 The Rev. Guy de Marchaunt was Prior of Montacute (and Rector of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull?)
1280 The Burgesses of Ilchester complained that the
“Thirteen Day’s Fair at Tintinhull” granted by Earl
William Morton for the use of the Priory at Montacute, was detrimental
to their trade.
1289 The Rev. Peter Gaudener was Prior of Montacute (and Rector of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull?)
(1262) Gilbert de Clare was born in 1262. He married Joan Plantagenet on 2nd May 1290.
The reason that I have brought these two ancient families into my notes
is that some old encaustic tiles have been inserted in the Sanctuary
step at St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. These old tiles
bear the “Three Leopards” of the Plantagenets (1066/1485)
and the “Chevrons of the Clares” (1066/1313) showing that
at some early date there must have been a reason for putting them into
this Church.
The Ancient family of Clare came into England as Richard Fitz-Gilbert,
eldest son of Gilbert, Count of Berion of Sauci in Normandy, with his
kinsman, William the Conqueror, in 1066. After the conquest of
England, Richard was awarded the Manor of Clare, Suffolk. His
descendants were known as Earls of Clare or “de Clare”
until they obtained the English Earldoms of Hertford and
Gloucester. Richard Fitz-Gilbert was Chief Justice of England and
died before 1090.
The direct line died out with Gilbert de Clare, earl of Hertford and
Gloucester, who was slain at Bannockburn in 1313 and died without
issue, when the Earldom became extinct. The title was revived in
1624 when John Holles 1st Baron Haughton was created Earl of Clare,
Suffolk, in 1624. Their Arms were “Or, three chevrons,
gules”.
The Ancient family of Plantagenet took their surname from a sprig of
broom (Planta = plant. Genesta = broom.). The Plantagenet
family was founded by Geoffrey of Anjou. He married Matilda,
daughter of King Henry I of England, on 3 April 1127 as her second
husband. Joan (who was married to Gilbert de Clare on 2 May 1290)
was the daughter of King Edward I of England. She was born at
Acre, on the coast of what is today called Israel. Her marriage
to Gilbert de Clare ended at this death on 7th Dec. 1295. She
married, secondly, Ralph de Monthermer, to whom she brought the titles
of Hertford and of Gloucester. Joan Plantagenet died on 23rd
April 1307, leaving issue by her second marriage.
Another suggestion regarding the reason for these ancient tiles being
inserted in the Sanctuary step at St. Margaret’s Church is that
they are the arms of Edmund, Earl of Cornwall and nephew of King Henry
!!! (1216/72). Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, was also Lord of the
Manor of Ilchester / Ivelchester, a small town a few miles from
Tintinhull. Edmund married the daughter of Richard Clare, Earl of
Gloucester, but we do not have the name of the bride nor the date of
the marriage.
One wonders why these ancient tiles were built into St.
Margaret’s Church at Tintinhull, as it seems unlikely that either
of the two royal marriages mentioned above would have been solemnised
at St. Margaret’s Church, but rather at either Winchester or
Salisbury. Would the fact that Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, had
among his titles that of ‘Lord of the Manor of Ilchester’
be sufficient to account for this? Why were they not put into the
church at Ilchester? At one time there were five churches there.
Another possible explanation it that these ancient tiles were purloined
by an early Rector of St. Margaret’s as an enrichment. It
is not known at what date they were installed - possibly in the
Victorian Restoration of St. Margaret’s Church in 1883.*
* The Rev. John Collinson, writing in his book “The History of
Somerset” in 1791, refers to the Arms shown on the “Grand
Arch at Montacute Priory …. Show that the Priory was well
favoured and patronised by several of the House of Lancaster.”
1291 The Rectory (Parsonage?) was valued at £16 per annum this year.
1292 The Rev. Godfrey de la Doufe was elected to be
Prior of Montacute in the year (and Rector of St. Margaret’s
Church, Tintinhull?). The Prior and Convent of Monte Acutis
(Montacute) were his patrons.
1293 The Rev. John de Castria (Chester?) was
Incumbent of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. The Prior
and Convent of Monte Acutis (Montacute) were his patrons. He was
a Clerk to the King’s Bench.
1295 The Rev. Stephen Paulis, alias Rowland, was
Priest / Prior of Montacute (and Rector of St. Margaret’s Church,
Tintinhull?). The Prior and Convent of Monte Acutis (Montacute)
were his patrons.
1313 The Rev. Will. De Modeford* was Incumbent of St
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull - 4 Feb 1313. The Prior and
Convent of Monte Acutis (Montacute) were his patrons.
* Mudford is a village outside Yeovil on the way to Queen Camel.
1316 The manor of Tintinhull was still in the hands
of the Priory of Montacute and the Cluniac monks there, who were
returned again this year, were recorded as holding the ‘Manor in
Chief’.
1319 In this year the Monks at Montacute Priory
leased Wellham’s Mill in Tintinhull to Walter and Maude de
Welnham. These leases had rights to carry mill stones and large
timbers for the repair of the mill, when required.
1334 In this year the Rector’s estate at
Tintinhull was valued at only £7, which was probably an
under-estimate. It was comprised most of tithes, corn and parish
offerings, but there as also a small amount of Glebe land, and also
presumably a house for the Rector of Tintinhull.
It is not known at what date a house for the Rector of Tintinhull was
provided. By inference, however, we can be fairly sure that in
the later Middle Ages (circa 1400) the Rector lived on the south side
of the Churchyard of St. Margaret’s, where the principal range of
Tintinhull Court has a basic medieval plan.
1344 The Rev. Adam de Newbold was Incumbent of St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His patron was King Edward
III. (1328/77) The King was guardian of William de Montacute*
(later Earl of Salisbury**) during William’s minority.
* William de Montacute, 4th Baron Montacute, was created Earl of
Salisbury 16th March 1337 and died 1343. His son, William de
Montacute, 5th Baron, succeeded him and was one of the Founders of the
Order of the Garter. The 5th Baron died in 1397, s.p.s.
** Earls of Salisbury. See 1460, Robert de Montacute. See 20 March 1539 re Earls of Salisbury.
1346 It was during the Middle Ages that the Crown
took advantage of its occasional Patronage Rights to appoint Government
Clerks, such as the diplomat Richard de Sarum, who unsuccessfully
intruded in 1346.
1348 The Rev. Will. De Bolton was Incumbent of St.
Margaret’s Church. Tintinhull. His Patron was the Prior and
Convent of Monte Acutis (Montacute).
1350 Stocks were placed in Tintinhull village green by an act of Parliament.
(New stocks were erected in 1721 and were repaired in 1933. They are
immediately outside the gates leading into St. Margaret’s
Churchyard, Tintinhull. (1988))
7 April 1350 The Rev. Roger de Feriby was installed
as incumbent of St Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, on the
presentation of William de Montacute, Earl of Salisbury. (See 1344,
when the Earl of Salisbury was under the guardianship of King Edward
III.)
1362 The name of the Rev. Gerald Rocke occurs as
Prior of Montacute. In this same year the name of “the Rev.
William Croke, Parson” was Incumbent of St. Margaret’s
Church, Tintinhull. (I wonder if there could be a mistake in the
transcription of the two men, and it should have been the same? If so,
they may have been brothers.)
1379/1406 During these years the disputed ownership
of the Manor of, and hundred of Tintinhull dragged on, until it was
finally settled in 1406, when it became the undisputed property of the
Priory and Cluniac Monks of Montacute, where it remained until the
dissolution of the Monastery in 1539. It should be remembered that the
Church of St. Margaret at Tintinhull was part of the “Manor of
Tintinhull.”
1382 The Rev. John de Stone was incumbent of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull.
King Richard II (1377/1399) was his Patron.
(See ‘Thursday . . . 1416 and Oct. 1416.)
1384 The Rev. Francis ---- was Prior of Montacute
(and Rector of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull?).
1390 “The Fabric Rolls” of Wells
Cathedral contain the account of John Bonyngton, written in Latin,
under the head “Obligations 1390” when he answers for
£4.16s.7_d “received from the box of Sir Ralph Erghum,*
late Bishop, as set forth by Indenture between JOHN TYNTENHULL** and
John Bonyngton.”
* “1388 Ralph Erghum.
Translated from Salisbury to Bath & Wells 3 Apl.1388. Died 10 Apl.1400.”
** John Tyntenhull. This was probably John Gower who was
incumbent of Tintinhull in 1391, or John Stone the earlier incumbent.
1391 The Rev. John Gower was Incumbent of St.Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull.
King Richard II. (1377/1399) was his Patron. (See 1419 – William Gore.)
1395 The Rev. John Stone was (again) the Incumbent of
St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. King Richard II, (1377/1399)
was his Patron. (See 1382)
1399/1412 King Henry IV. (1399/1412) made denison or
naturalised and enfranchised the Monks at Montacute Priory, who were of
the order of Cluniac Monks from Clugny in the Diocese of Masoon in
Normandy, brought over by Earl William Mortain for his newly built
Priory at Montacute.
1406 The dispute regarding the ownership of the Manor
and Hundred of Tintinhull between the Lovell family and the Prior and
Cluniac Monks of Montacute, was finally resolved in this year. The
disputed lands then remained with the Prior and Monks until the
dissolution of the Monastery in 1539, when the lands passed to the
Crown. (These lands included the Rectory, or “Parsonage”
which were then leased to Dr. William Petrie.)
1416 The churchwardens’ accounts of St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, date from this year. (The parish
registers do not begin until 1561. They are all kept at the Somerset
County Record Office, Taunton.) (See 1432/1435.)
1416 On Thursday the Morrow of St. Calixtus the Pope. A.D.1416
I John Stone rector of the Parish Church of Tintenhulle in the Diocese of Bath and Wells make my Will in this manner:-
I bequeath my body to be buried in the Chancel* of the Church aforesaid.
To fabric and ornaments of said Church 20s. To the fraternity of the
light (luminis) of the Blessed Mary** in said Church 20s. To fabric
of the Cathedral Church of Wells 6s.8d. To fabric of the Chapel
at Preston*** 6s.8d. To William George of Tintenhulle 6s.8d. To John
Merscheton of same and his wife 6s.8d. To the children of a Welshman
(Wallicus) dwelling there next Merscheton 6s.8d. To the wife of Roger
Smythe of same place, one black cow in keeping with Roger. To each poor
person now in the Almshouse at Yeuele (Yeovil) 6s.8d. To Ellen Gylbys
of Tintenhulle 6s.8d. To the Bedeman* (oratori) of Tintenhulle that he
may pray for my soul whenever he passes, praying through the town
(orando transieri per villam) 6s.8d. To John Sparwe 40s.so that he be a
kind friend and counsellor of my executors underwritten. To John
Passware and his wife 40s. To the two serving women (duabus
servieatibus) of said John 13s.4d. To Robert Gore** 20s. To sir Henry
Gilbert, chaplain 6s.8d. To Sir Henry, chaplain at Preston*** 6s.8d. To
John Bardolphe, chaplain 5s. To Thomas Stawmpford (Stampford) chaplain
5s. And of this will I Make John Passeware and Robert Gore** my Exors.
Any residue and my rents in the Church*** to the houses of God and the
maintenance of the poor in the Almshouse at Yeuele (Yeovil) lately
founded.
Proved 21 Nov. 1416 (Somerset Medieval Wills, edited by the Rev F.W.Weaver, Milton-Clevedon Vicarage, Somerset. May 190?
Montacute Priory of Saints Peter and Paul 22 148 199. (37 Marche fo.289.)
* “ . . buried in the Chancel . .” A
brass tablet on the floor of St Margaret’s Church, next to the
Altar refers to his burial.
** “Blessed Mary”. See 1437, “Pro Bonus St. Mary.”
*** Preston. This was a village outside the town of Yeovil, but has now(1988) been incorporated into the town of Yeovil.
* Bedeman. One paid or endowed to pray for others.
** Robert Gore. An Incumbent of St. Margaret’s
Church, Tintinhull was called John Gower, and in 1418
William Gore was the incumbent.
*** “. . . rents in the Church . . .” It is not clear
whether he refers only to rents from St. Margaret’s Church or
not. Also whether they are to go to which ‘houses of God.’
He mentions Wells Cathedral, St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull
and Preston Chapel in his will.
24 Oct. 1416. A memorial brass at St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, placed on the floor immediately
next to the sanctuary steps reads:- “His jacet John Stone,
quondam Rector huius rectie, qui obit XXIV die mense Octobrie anno Dim
MCCCCXVI. Cuis sie impietur ds amie” which is translated:-
“Here lies John Stone formally Rector of this rectory, who died
on the 24th day of October in the year of our Lord 1416. On whose
spirit the Lord have mercy. Amen,”
(See letters dated 3 Feb.1883 and 16 Feb.1883.)
27 Oct. 1416. The Rev. Will Benet was the Incumbent
of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull at this date. The Prior and
Convent of Monte Acutis, (Montacute) were his patrons.
3 Nov. 1416. The rev. John (Archer) was summoned, as
Prior of Montecute (and Rector of St. Margaret’s Church,
Tintinhull
1418. The Rev. William Gore was the Incumbent of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull.
The Prior and Convent of Monte Acutis (Montecute) were his patrons.
(see 1391 – John Gower. See 1416 – Will of the Rev. John
Stone re. Thomas and Robert Gore. Were they all of the same family?)
1428. The Rectory at Tintinhull was valued at
£16 per annum in this year. Up to this date St. Margaret’s
Church, Tintinhull had been charged with the cost of a pension for the
Monks at Montecute Priory, but it ceased in 1428.
13 May 1428. The Rev. John Towker (Tucker) was the
Incumbent of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. The Prior and
Convent of Monta Acutis (Montacute) were his Patrons.
The Bishop’s* Register gives his surname as “Bishop”.
* John Stafford, Dean of Wells, Lord Treasurer. Consecrated as
Bishop of Bath & Wells 27 May 1425. Translated from Bath &
Wells by Bull dated 13 May 1443 to Archbishop of Canterbury. Died 25
May 1452.
1 Sept. 1429. The Rev. John Wodeword was the
Incumbent of St. St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull for a period
of four years. The Prior and Convent of Monte Acutis (Montacute) were
his Patrons.
1432/35
The Accounts of the Churchwardens of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, begin here
and end in 1678. A few parts were written in English, but most are in
clerical Latin. These have been translated. They tell us much about the
fabric of the Church, and details of the most important structural
alterations that went on from time to time. Consequently many of the
dates of the items built or restored or pulled down in the Church, can
be dated exactly, and even their cost known.
Little is now known about the Church fabric before these Accounts were
started, but they show us the main sources of income for the
Churchwardens, which were:-Hire of the Bake-House; Brew-House and
Church-House; gifts of money or livestock; bequests and the Church Ales.
I have taken the following information regarding items in the
Churchwarden Accounts from several sources, and in some case the dates
of the various entries do not entirely agree.
The sources are:-
The Somerset Record Society Proceedings for 1890. Ref; iv 175/207.
The Lecture of the Rev. J.B.Hyson, Vicar of Tintinhull, dated 29 Nov. 1883.
The Lecture of the Rt. Rev. Bishop Hobhouse dated 1st Feb. 1883.
An article of the Rev. W.G.Saunders dated 1st Jan. 1932 entitled “South Somerset
Churches”.
University of Bristol, Dept. of Extra-Mural Studies, dated . . . . .?
I have put all the above different records into chronological order as nearly as was
possible.
MONEY TABLE FROM THE MIDDLE AGES
1 Farthing. Usually written _d = one quarter of one (old) penny.
1d (1 Denarius) = one old penny.
12d (12 pence) = 1 shilling; (value 5p. in 1988)
20s (20 shillings) = £1. (libre) one pound/one sovereign.
6s.8d. (six shillings and eight pence) = one third of £1. known as 1 noble.
(value 33p in 1988)
13s.4d. (thirteen shillings and fourpence) = two thirds of £1. known as 1 mark.
(value 67p in 1988)
Most large sums of money were described in the Middle Ages (C.1400) as
“Marks” rather than “pounds” or
“sovereigns” although no Mark coin ever existed.
1433. The Churchwardens’ Accounts record:-
Spent in waxlight 3s.10d.
Spent on the Visitation 6s.00d.
Spent on binding an original (Ministerial function) 0s.10d.
Spent in washing the veils 0s.01d.
Spent in cord 0s.07d.
Spent in laten box for placing the Corpus Christi 10s.00d.
Paid to John the Chaplain
for celebrating
the souls of the benefactors. (John Wodeward)
0s.08d.
Receipts for collection for waxlight, a brewing and a gift 30s.02d.
Sale of a bullock 1s.00d.
For a bullock delivered to Jno. Helyer 2s.00d.
For a cow delivered to Jno. Smythe of Ash 2s.00d.
Ditto delivered to Jno.Gylle
(see 1433 re J. Gylle the “Collector” of the King’s XVth. Henry VI 1429 and
deposed in 1471)
For oil and clouting leather 0s.02d.
For hemmying alter cloth
For making the Common Oven (i.e. the Bake-House oven) 31s. 08d
For a capon 0s.03d.
Hire of a cow 2d. and from her hide when dead 1s.00d.
Profits of Bake-House for two years of Wm. Penday
Profits de Bonis St. Maria hoc a 6s.8d.
A Chalice 30s.00d.
A Cross of copper gilt 20s.00d.
For washing altar clothes and kerchiefs of the inmates and for mending
Churchyard wall. (Walls of timber frame filled in with
wattle and daub) 3.06s.01d.
Sale of a calf 2s.04d.
Hire of a cow
Cow and calf bought for 1s.01d.
22 Jan. 1433/4. The Rev. John Heth. Feb. 16. The
Bishop* having regard to the poverty of the benefice (i.e. St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull) commanded a Commission to be
directed to Master John Barnard to make Inquisition as to the right of
Patronage in respective of the presentation by the Prior and Convent of
Montacute, of John Heth, Clerk to the Parish Church of Tyntenhulle. See
3 Feb. 1464/5.)
*the Bishop. The Rt. Rev. John Stafford. (See 13 May 1428.)
It seems that it was the Rev. John Heth who arranged for all his
Churchwardens to keep an Account of all their outgoings and incoming
expenses. (See 1946 re. Mr. Estcourt Southcombe’s letter to the
Western Gazette.)
1433/4. The Churchwardens’ Accounts record:-
IN STOCK.
A Cow, a Bull and a Ewe.
One Cow in stock, value 10s.
100lbs of lead, sold to the steward. (Procurator) of the Brotherhood
of St. Mary, Tyntenhill.
Gift of a girdle (Zona*) of green silk.
A Bequest of beans and wheat.
(I wonder why the Chalice and Cross of copper gilt, bought the year before, are not included in the Inventory?)
An alabaster slab for the High Altar 26s.08d.
Two ditto, ditto per perochiancs (Parishioners?) 10s.08d.
One cow sold for 6s. after her year’s hiring at 2s.00d.
An alabaster slab sold to Robt. Shearne 1s.00d.
The bull. (i.e. his flesh) sold to divers people 5s.00d.
A flesher (carnifex) for slaying and distributing the bull 0s.03d.
Bequest from Friar Bartholomew of Ilchester 3s.04d.
Profit from a Christmas play by five parishioners 6s.08d.
From J. Gylle the collector of the King’s XVth.
(See 1433 re cow delivered to Jno Gylle)
For a new ‘Rode Lofe@ (Rude Loft) Wardens to find the materials,
service and meat etc
Contract with a carpenter for his skill 40s.00d.
40 new ‘Indaces for Rood-Loft’ (i.e. Pieces of wood which were
connected with uprights) 0s.03d.
Hive of Bees. (A legacy) 0s.03d.
1510 The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
For a Grail, Kalendar, Portuas and a Mass book
1510 The Churchwarden’s Accounts
record:-
To carpenter for sawing of tymber for seats for ye Church and for cutting and framyng part of the same. (See 1511/12)
16th century Freeholds in ‘stockett’ with
rights in ‘Tintinhull West Field’ may indicate the position
of the Tintinhull earlier estate. The estate formed when
Montacute Priory appropriated the Rectory in Tintinhull about the year
1528 or 1529, with whom it remained until the Dissolution of the
Monastery in 1539.
1511/12 The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
Bench Ends with Canopy to the pews were carved with panels and flowers
(See 1511 and C. 1560)
(I think the above reference to ‘Bench Ends with Canopy’
must refer to the hinged seats, outside, but attached to the pews, a
few of which remain to the present day.)
1513 The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
For paving the Church 1s.06d.
(Could this have been the period when the old Plantagent/Clare tiles
were introduced into St Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, and placed
where they now lie on the Sanctuary step leading up to the Altar?)
1515 The Rev Thomas Chard was Prior of Monte Acutis (Montacute) and was summoned, as Prior to the Convention.
(Chard is a small town a few miles distant from Tintinhull).
1516 The Church Warden’s Accounts record:-
Repairs to the Churchyard wall
(See 1518/19)
Paid to the painter
For painting of the King’s Crown (King Henry VIII (1509/46) 16s.11d
For making of the West Window in the Tower
For raising the Tower and Turret staircase £10.10s.00d
1516/17 The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
The top stage of the Tower and the North East stair Turret were added when the stairs to the Bell Tower were made.
A door head to the ‘Stonying Door’ was made. (See 1518/19)
1517 The Rev. Robert Cryche was the Incumbent of St Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull.
His Patrons were ……… (None were recorded but it is
fairly safe to assume that the Prior and Convent of Montacute were his
Patrons, as they had been in the past.)
1518/19 The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
Expenses in connection with the Eastern Churchyard Boundary Wall.
(It would appear that the repairs to the wall, made in 1516, were not
sufficient, and it was decided to make a thorough job of it in 1518/19.)
100 foot of coping stone 20s.00d.
Making of the wall 19s.00d.
Stuff for making of the ‘Stonyng Door’ 8s.00d.
Lime for same work 4s.08d.
Making of the hatch 2s.03d.
8 loads of stone from the Hill (Ham Hill) 0s.16d.
2 loads from Castell (Montacute Castle ruins) 0s.12d.
Total paid out by the Rector* and allowed to him by the wardens 57s.09d.
*The Rector was either the Rev. Thomas Chard, Rector in 1515 & 1521 or Rev. Robert Cryche, Rector in 1517.
26 Aug 1521 The Rev. Thomas Cherd/Chard, who had been Prior of Monte Acutis (Montacute) from
1515 was now the Incumbent of St Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patrons were the
Rev. Ric. Bere, Abbas of Glastonbury A.C., per Priorem, and the Convent of Monte
Acutis (Montacute).
The Rev. Thomas Chard is thought to have been the man responsible for having the
‘Stonyng Door’ built at St. Margaret’s Church, either in his capacity as Prior of
Montacute or as the future Incumbent of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull.
There have been many conjectures as to how the ‘Stonyng Door’ received its name, but I
think it was nothing more than a ‘Stone Door’ set into the Eastern Boundry wall of the
Churchyard, to gain entrance, mainly because the cost of it is included in the expenses of
building this wall.
The ‘Stonyng Door’ now stands to the South West of the Church, and in the
Churchyard. It was built from some of the ruins of the old Castle at Montacute, which
had been built by Earl Robert Mortain circa 1080. One Historian writes: ‘The Stonyng
Door came from the ruins of the Castle of Montacute which for some reason, the Prior,
was anxious to preserve.’ However, I do not think it was an act of sentiment, but rather
one of thrift. As the next Incumbent of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, he knew
where cheap stone from a nearby source could be obtained, and so arranged it.
It will be seen that the ‘Stonyng Door’ had a ‘door head’ added in 1516/17, and as the
Church Accounts include the cost of building the ‘Stonyng Door’ with those of repairs
to the Eastern Boundry Wall, it would seem that the ‘Stonyng Door’ was incorporated
into this wall, but was removed to its present (1988) position at a later date. It may have
been when the wall in which it stood had to undergo a further repair.
When the ‘Stonyng Door’ was removed to its present position, it was placed the wrong
way round, possibly because there was nobody locally who could read the Latin
inscriptions carved into both sides of it.
On one’s way out of the Church you are faced with the Latin inscription, in Gothic
letters:- IN DOMU DMI LETANTES HUIE’ – the translation being:- ‘Let us go into
the House of the Lord rejoicing.’
On the other side of the door one reads:- VERE LOCUM SANCTUS EST’ which
translates:- ‘Truly this is a Holy place.’
Although Glastonbury Abbey had exchanged their Manor and Hundred of Tintinhull for
Count Robert Mortain’s Manor of Camerton nearly five hundred years earlier in 1080,
the Abbott of Glastonbury still appears to have had ‘a say in the matter’ as he ‘presented
the Prior of Montacute, Thomas Chard’, ie who was himself!
Thomas Chard was both Rector and Prior of Montacute, and also Prior of Carswell in
Devon. He was also a Bishop, serving as Suffragan* in the Diocese of both Wells and
Exeter. He was also Bishop of Selymbris**.
*Suffragan. I could not find any reference to Suffragan Bishops in the Diocese of
Wells or Exeter at this date of 1521.
**Selymbris. I could not find this in any map I have. It may be an Honorary Benefice
awarded by the Pope for good service. During the Middle Ages, a Suffragan Bishop
took his title from an obscure Irish Diocese or from a remote part of the civilised world.
1521 The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
A door head to the ‘Stonyng Door’was made. (See 1516/17)
1521 About this date, the Rev. Thomas Chard built the
Priory Gatehouse at Montacute and may also have been responsible for
altering the Rectory house at Tintinhull (The Parsonage). In some
sense he was both Lord of the Manor and Rector, so that the house*
could thus claim then to have been the ‘Manor House of
Tintinhull’ (ref Dr R Dunning, Editor of the
‘Victoria County History of Somerset’)
*Tintinhull Court.
1521 It was at this period that Montacute
Priory/Convent was licensed to appropriate the remaining revenues,
provided that a Vicarage was built for the Incumbent, who was given a
stipend of £10 a year, and what had been the Rectory or
Parsonage passed to the Prior and Convent of Montacute, who may have
let it or used it for themselves.
1528/29 The Prior of Montacute became the permanent
Rector of Tintinhull, when an acre of meadow with orchard, garden and
close, was allotted to the Vicar.
1529/32 About this period, the Rev. Thomas Chard
probably occupied the Parsonage, but ceased to have care of the Parish
of Tintinhull, and a Vicar was appointed, though the Vicarage was still
being served by the Monks in 1532. (Ref. ‘Proceedings of
the Somerset Arch. Society 87. Quoting the abstract of title of
the Parsonage.)
The Vicar was ordained and was to receive from the Improprietor
£10 gross and £9.8s.7d nett, which he continued to be
paid through the seventeenth century.
1529/32 A house was assigned to the Vicar of St Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, about this period.
1530 The Ecclesiastical Authorities state that the
Rectory of Tintinhull was appropriated to the Priory of Montacute in
this year and that the sum of £10 per annum was charged to the
Priory for the Vicar’s stipend.
(This sum of £10 per annum was still being paid, and is
referred to at the sale of Tintinhull Court Estate under Lot 48 and
dated 30th May 1913.)
1531 A stone house was built to replace the Church
House built in 1497, to house the Brew-House and Bake-House. (It
was enlarged in 1533 when it reached its full extent.)
1534 The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
The South Porch of the Church, originally Saxon, was rebuilt. (see 1441/2)
For stone (brought from) Hardington, for the Porch 5s.04d.
(Hardington is a small village near East Coker and Odcombe)
For the porch 6s.03d.
For the plumber for mending the lead of the Church 7s.00d.
(Probably lead on the Church roof)
1535 After appropriating the Parsonage, the holding
of Montacute Priory in Tintinhull, was valued at £88.13s.3_d.
Of the £88.13s.3_d., over £64 came from the rents of free
and customary tenants, of whom there were two free and fifty eight
customary tenants. Both demesne and Rectory were let to farm
(presumably by Montacute Priory) the former for £23.17s.00d., and
the latter for £64.16s3_d.
Until appropriation, the Parsonage House was the residence of the
Rector and was let at the time of the Dissolution of Montacute Priory
in March 1539, to Sir John Cuffe, farmer of the tithes. (His son
held it in 1559.)
1535 The Incumbent of St Margaret’s Church,
Tintinhull, was now called a ‘Vicar’. One of the main
roads through the village of Tintinhull, is called ‘Vicarage
Street’, but the Glebe house in this road is called ‘The
Rectory’.
1535 Tithes and other dues were valued at £18 and were farmed for that sum.
1536 A valuation was made by King Henry VIII.
(1509/1546) for the purpose of raising Taxes and the Rectory/Parsonage
was valued at £18 nett and the Vicarage at £10 nett.
20 Mar.1539 The Rev. Robert Whitelock was the last
Prior of Montacute, and it was he who surrendered his Priory to
King Henry VIII. Another Historian gives the name of the
last Prior as the Rev. Robert Sherborne, who lived at The Chantry from
1532 until 1539, and whose initials can still be seen on the gabled end
of the house.
(The Chantry is situated at the entrance to the present Montacute House
in Middle Street. Before the present (1988) Village School,
opened in 1847, The Chantry was used as the School,, and then became
the village Post Office until 1954, when the present Post Office was
built.)
( The Clunic Monks built a ‘Monk’s House’ at the
opposite end of Bishopston to The Prior (and on the left as you drive
down to Montacute from Tintinull.) The Monks House is thought to
have been used as a Hospital and consequently was built some way from
The Priory to stop the spread of infection. It still (1988) has
its own water supply.)
20 Mar.1539 The Priory of Montacute was surrendered
in the presence of thirteen Monks, of whom the names of eleven have
remained to this day. They were:- Robert Warren,
Thomas Taunton, William Draper, John Crabbe, John Webbe,
William Winter, John Pouley, John Roberts, John
Skyner and William Crese.
The Prior was given a yearly pension of eighty pounds, allowed to him,
with a gratuity of twenty pounds and the Capital messuage of East
Chinnock, which is about eight miles to the south of Tintinhull,
towards Crewkerne, in which to live.
The Monks had free-warren here, or the right to preserve and hunt in a
stated area anything furred or feathered, except deer and boar, as well
as ‘Cock and Sack’ ie the privilege of holding
Courts, trying causes and imposing fines, as in a Manor Court.
Toll and Theam, Infangtheof/infangnetaef – the right of a Manor
Court or a Borough Court to judge a thief caught within its area of
jurisdiction and all other liberties and free customs within their
borough and Hundreds of Montacute, Tintinhull, Houndsborough, Creech,
Leigh and Frifeham in Devonshire. They were exempt from all
secular jurisdictions, exactions, impositions and taxes wherever,
throughout England.
It appears by their Arms, affixed to the Grand Arch at Montacute
– possibly the same as the ‘the Priory Gatehouse’
build by Thomas Chard at Montacute in 1515 – and other remains of
the Monastery, still existing (1791) near the parish Churchyard,
in ancient and venerable magnificence, that they were favoured and
patronised by several of the House of Lancaster. (See p.3/4 re.
The Plantagenet/Clare tiles in St Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull.)
The society (who having been originally subject to the Monks of Clugy
in the Diocese of Masoon in Normandy) were made denison, ie naturalised
and enfranchised by King Henry IV (1399/1412).
(In the year 1360, the ‘Traite d’Bretigny’ was signed
to establish for good what lands in France belonged to the English
Kings, and what to the French Kings. Normandy went to France,
whilst Calis, Le Quercy, Le Ponthieu and Gascony etc came to the
English Crown.)
Mar.1539 The revenues of Montacute Priory were rated at £456.13s.7_. and the Rectory and
the Rectorial tithes were secularised, and The Parsonage passed to the Crown
(Henry VIII).
1539. Until the Dissolution of Montacute Priory in
1539, the Advowson of Tintinhull belonged to that Priory. As a
Cluniac House, however, its property was seized several times during
the 14th century by the Crown, which then exercised the Patronage
itself, or granted it to the Earls of Salisbury. (See 1346).
Sr. William Petre, who later became Sir William Petre, and was
Secretary of State, was responsible for procuring the surrender of many
of the Monasteries, including that at Montacute, and helped himself
liberally to Church lands, particularly in his native Devon and
Somerset.
The Priory of Montacute had retained the Manor of Tintinhull from 1406
(when the long drawn out dispute between them and the Lovell and
Seymour families was finally settled over the ownership of the Manor)
until the Dissolution of the Monastery in 1539.
1540. The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
A King’s Proclamation (Henry VIII) orders that a Bible of the
largest volume is to be provided by the Curate and the parishioners,
under a penalty of 40s. per month.
This was Cranmer’s great Bible, which was a corrected edition of
Matthew’s Bible. Cranmer wrote a Preface to it.
1541. The Church Warden’s Accounts record:-
For half price of a Bible bought this year 6s.08d.
A Chaynet (Chain) to hold the Bible 0s.03d.
One new clocke bought 33s.04d
1542. In this year the Rectory was reduced from its value in 1291, and in 1428 of £16 per
annum, to £9.9s.0d.
1542. The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
Margaret Crotte paid for he Knell to be rongee (rung) 0s.04d
1543. The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
The Bible seems to have been suppressed in this year.
1546/59. The Parsonage House, until appropriation,
the residence of the Rector of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull,
was let to Sir John Cuffe, farmer of the tithes. (Presumably
collector of the tithes). (See 1539)
1546/53. During the reign of King Edward VI (1546/53)
there was a Cell at Montacute Priory called ‘Bablew’ or
‘Balbew’ – the site of which belonged to John Lyte of
Lyte’s Carey, Co. Somerset.
1558. During this year the holding in Tintinhull,
belonging to Montacute Priory increased to the sum of £77.
1559. The nett income of the Impropriator was
£7.9s.1_d. The Advowson was expressly exempted from the
Grant of the Parsonage Estate in this year. (This may be the reason why
the Napper family were so careful to record on their Memorial tablets
in
St. Margaret’s Church, that they were the owners of the advowson.)
1559/60. The Tintinhull Fair was no longer worth
anything to the assets of Montacute Priory. (It had been part of
the benefits given by Earl William Mortain for the up-keep of his
Priory of Montacute in 1091.)
1559. Nicholas Napper, who died in 1579, purchased
the Rectorial lands from the Crown in 1559, for the sum of £237.
1560. The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
The Bench-Ends of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, date from
about this period. These are the bench-ends of the pews.
(See 1511/12.)
1561. The site and lands of the old Montacute Priory,
and presumably the Hundreds that went with it, including the Hundred of
Tintinhull, were granted to Sir William Petre, and sold by him to Mr.
Robert Freke, from whom it was soon after purchased by the family of
Phelips, who at that time possessed some other parts of the
Manor. (This is the family of Phelips who owned Montacute House
at one time. A house they built in about 1588.)
1561. This is the year that the St. Margaret’s
Church Parish Registers begin. However, there is a gap in the
Registration of Baptisms between the years 1607 -1610. (These
Church Registers should not be confused with the Churchwarden’s
Accounts.)
When the Napper family became Lay Rectors of St. Margaret’s
Church, Tintinhull, they lived at the Parsonage. They carved
their Arms above the main door to the house.
26 Sep. 1566. The Rev. Ric. Loughe was the Incumbent
of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron was Queen
Elizabeth. (See 1539 re Crown Patronage)
1568. The Rev. Richard Loughe, the Vicar of St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, was reported as being non-resident
in 1568. It was stated that no quarterly sermons had been
preached, and the fabric of the Church needed attention.
1568. The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
Bishop’s Bible was published, and was purchased in the same year. (See 1576).
3 April 1571. The Rev. Geo. Johnson was the Incumbent
of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron was Queen
Elizabeth. (1559/1603)
12 April 1571. Sir William Petre made his Will and
gave to the poor of Tintinhull and Montacute the sum of
£6.13.4d. (Pat. 33 Hen.VIII.p.6.)
1571. The Vicar of St. Margaret’s Church,
Tintinhull, the Rev. Geo. Johnson claimed to have suffered ‘open
wrong’ because the Improprietor would not pay ‘tenths and
subsidies’ originally agreed.
(A tithe was a tenth part of anything, but especially that of the
profits and stock of parishioners, due, under Canon law, to their
Incumbent for his support. The Tithe system in England was first
mentioned in the year 747).
12 April 1571. Sir William Petre made his Will and
gave to the poor of Tintinhull and Montacute the sum of
£6.13.4d. (Pat. 33 Hen.VIII.p.6.)
1571. The Vicar of St. Margaret’s Church,
Tintinhull, the Rev. Geo. Johnson claimed to have suffered ‘open
wrong’ because the Improprietor would not pay ‘tenths and
subsidies’ originally agreed.
(A tithe was a tenth part of anything, but especially that of the
profits and stock of parishioners, due, under Canon law, to their
Incumbent for his support. The Tithe system in England was first
mentioned in the year 747).
1576. The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
Bishop’s Bible was purchased, which had been published in the same year. (See 1568)
15 Aug. 1576. The Rev. Jno. Knyght was the Incumbent
of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron was
entered as ‘Nicholas Napper, yeoman of Tyntenhull’.
25 Sep. 1579. Nicholas Napper made his Will:-
‘To be buried in the Chancel of St. Margaret’s Church,
Tintinhull’. He left money to the poor of Tintinhull and
Montacute.
24 Dec. 1579. Nicholas Napper died.
28 Dec. 1579. A Memorial Brass was let into the floor
of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, being the third from the
Sanctuary steps, which reads:- ‘Here lies the body of Nicholas
Napper, Proprietor of the Rectory and Parsonage of this Parish who was
buried 28 December 1579’. (See 1599).
18 Mar. 1580. The Rev. Jon. Lorrimer was the
Incumbent of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patrons
were entered as ‘Joc. and Thos. Napper, Yeomen’. This
refers to John Napper and Thomas Napper (1).
1586/7. The Montacute Priory Court Rolls, books and
documents, survive only from 1539 when the Dissolution of the Priory
was ordered by King Henry VIII. One assumes the earlier ones were
destroyed.
1593. The Rev. John Lorrimer, Vicar of St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, was crushed to death under a
collapsing Linhay. This was the name used in the south of England
in dialect from, for a Farm-Shed or out-buildings open along the front.
7 July 1593. The Rev. Will. Chaffie was the Incumbent
of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron was Thomas
Napper (1).
1596/7. An acre of land on Tintinhull Moor was assigned to the Church House.
12 Feb. 1601 The Rev. Fran. Williams was the
Incumbent of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron
was Thomas Napper (1). (He being the eldest son of Nicholas
Napper who died 25 Dec. 1579).
1602 The Church Bell, No.4 at St Margaret’s
Church, Tintinhull, was thus dated and inscribed:- (Cast by)
‘Robert Wiseman of Montacute; Give thanks to God. A.D.
1602’.
Although this is the earliest record of the Church bells, it is
numbered ‘No.4’ as it is tuned to the treble pitch.
All Church bells being numbered according to their pitch, and not their
date.
15 Nov. 1606. The Rev. Abr. Drewe was the Incumbent
of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron was Thomas
Napper (1). (He was buried 23 Sept. 1626).
1608. The Rev. Edward Robarts, clerk, was the
Incumbent of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron
was presumably Thomas Napper (1) but no name is recorded as Patron.
13 Sept. 1609. The Rev. Adam Farneham was the
Incumbent of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull until his death in
1646. His Patron was presumably Thomas Napper (1) though no name
is recorded as Patron.
Note that it is this Adam Farneham who signs the Churchwarden’s Accounts in 1645 for the last time.
(In the year 1661 a Thomas Farneham was the Incumbent of St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. Possibly a son or grandson
of Adam Farneham?).
1609. The Rev. Giles Flint presented by virtue of a Grant from Thomas Napper (1).
1609. The Churchwarden’s Accounts report:-
Church Ales proved an income for the Parish of Tintinhull until this date.
1610. The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
Two Wardens and three Overseers leased some waste land from the Lord of
the Manor, near the Church House, on which to build. (This was
probably to build the Poor House. (See 1745 re Paupers).
1611. The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
The Parishioners were responsible for repairing the road through their
Parish from Tintinhull Forts to Ilchester. This was the old Fosse
Way now the A.303. (1988)
See 1753.
1612. The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
The Churchwardens were presented for not having a copy of Jewel’s
Works. They had acquired one by the following year.
1612/22. The Manor Court Registers during these dates
were with the Tintinhull Church documents. (Those from 1622/1875
were held by Mr. Henry Southey Howard at Tintinhull Court during his
life there. He bought the Court through his wife, Dorothy nee
Croshall who came from Chislehurst, Kent, on 23rd Nov. 1927. He
died on the 17th Oct. 1959).
The Manor Court Registers which had begun in 1612 and, except for a few
years during the Cromwellian period of 1640/60 – are complete up
to the year 1885 when the Manor Courts ceased to exist. These
Courts were described as ‘Curia Legalie’ and ‘View of
Frankpledge’ (See 10 April 1622.) These Court Rolls are
among the Tintinhull Church records deposited at the Somerset County
Record Office, Taunton.
1613. The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
The custom of selling seats in St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, began in this year.
The first rates were made about this time, and the Churchwardens were
frequently ‘excommunicated for not attending to episcopal
orders’.
1613/78. The second part of the Churchwarden’s
Accounts are dated between these years. (The earlier ones were
dated from 1433/1611).
1614. The Churchwarden’s Accounts record-
Paid for a Bible for the said Church (St. Margaret’s Church,
Tintinhull) from one Mr. Helme in London
48.08d.
And paid him for a Communion Book at the same time
Also paid for the carriage of the said books and a pack cloth to
‘paicke’ (pack) them in for saving of them in carriage from
London to us, and for the carriage of letters from us to the said Mr.
John Helme 4s.08d.
Total paid to Mr. Helme 48s.00d.
Paid for fires for Sudbury in Devon and Walden in Essex, also Southampton, Peckham
(I could not find Sudbury or Walden on any map I have.)
Loss at sea by pirates at Lyme. (Lyme Regis, Co. Dorset)
Timing bottle (? an hourglass) exchanged for a pewter pott
(these were briefs)
For whipping dogs out of the Church (of St. Margaret’s)
Sallet oil for the Clock
For my state being excommunicated. (See 1613)
2_ quarts of wine, at 16d. a quart 3s.04d.
For bere (beer) coming home (to Tintinhull) from Somerton. Had dinner
at Somerton and a drop (of beer) at Ilchester on the way
(No cost for the above
dinner etc. is given. Somerton is about ten miles due north of
Tintinhull, and Ilchester is about three miles due east of Tintinhull).
1615 Thomas Brown (of Tintinhull) bought the old
Church Bible from the Churchwardens. (Under the Will of Thomas
Napper (4) dated 25 Aug. 1694, he left the reversion of Henry
Browne’s tenement to his son Andrew Napper).
1617 The Church Bell No. 1 is inscribed:-
‘Geeve (give) thanks to God 1617. John Napper and John
Mabbard. (Cast) by Robert Wiseman of Montacute. (See p.26
1635 re the Silver Chalice initials). (The oldest Bell is No.4
and is dated 1602).
1623 The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
That the Churchwardens were ‘rather merry’. (Perhaps
coming back from Somerton via Ilchester. (See 1614).
A new Pulpit and Communion
Table………………………………………………….
23 Sep.1626 The third Brass Memorial on the floor of
St. Margaret’s Church by the Sanctuary steps, reads ‘ Here
lieth the body of Thomas Napper, eldest sonne of the said Nicholas
Napper and Propriator of the said Rectory and Parsonage, was buried
here the 23rd day of September A.D. 1626(Note that the Memorial Brass
to Nicholas Napper and his son Thomas Napper are both on the same piece
of Brass).
1629 The St. Margaret’s Church Bell No. 5 is
inscribed:- I.W. A.S. 1629. Cast by William Wiseman the son of
Robert Wiseman.’
(Robert Wiseman cast bell No.1 in 1617. The initials I.W. stand
for John Wilkins; The initials A.S. stand for Adam Smythe who were both
Churchwardens of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull at this period
of time.
(See 1602, 1603, and 1617. Also 1650 re the ‘tenement of John Wilkins).
1633 The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
A kitchen was added to the Vicar’s house at Tintinhull. The
Vicar at that time was the Rev. Adam Farneham who died in 1646.
1635 The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
The South Porch of the Church of St. Margaret’s at Tintinhull was
re-built. Thomas Napper (2) collected tithes to the value of
£30.16s.11d. The King’s Arms (i.e. the Armorial
Bearings of King Charles 1. who reigned from 1626/1648/9) and a
sentence of Scripture were set up in the Church. (See
1648)…………………………………….
1635 The Church Chalice and Paten with this date is
marked ‘R.W.’ I think these are the initials of Robert
Wiseman of Montacute who cast the bells of St. Margaret’s Church,
Tintinhull in 1602 (Bell No.4) and again in 1617. (Bell No.1) Or
it may have been given to the church by his son William Wiseman in
memory of his father, since it was William and not Robert who cast the
Bell No.5 in 1629, possibly because his father had either retired or
died in the meantime.
1645/6 About this time Oliver Cromwell and his Troops
were in the neighbourhood of Tintinhull. This was during the last
years of the Rev. Adam Farneham’s life – he died in 1646.
The Cromwellian Troops smashed the windows of St. Margaret’s Church, and did what damage they could. (see1646).
1646 The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
The two surplices the Troopers did take them out of the Church and cut
them in pieces, and the poor of the Parish had the pieces.
Alice Brown, a Churchwarden at this date* cut up the Cope and made it into a covering for the Altar Table.**
*’..woman Churchwardens.. See p.53.
** See 1648/9 re Tablecloth made from a Cope.
1645/60 A note in the Bishop’s* Register reads:
‘Between 1645 and 1660 (during the time of the wars)** there were
no persons admitted to any parish throughout the Diocese of Bath and
Wells’.
*Between 1632-1670 William Pierce was the Bishop of Bath and
Wells. Translate from Peterborough 26. Nov. 1632. He died
in April 1670.
** The Wars referred to were the Civil Wars between the
Roundheads of Oliver Cromwell’s Army, and the Cavaliers of King
Charles 1’s Army.
1645 The Rev. Adam Farneham, as Vicar of St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, signed the Churchwarden’s
Accounts for the last time. (He died in 1646).
1646 The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
For striking out the King’s
Arms…………………(This entry
refers to the Armorial Bearings of King Charles 1. who was beheaded by
order of Oliver Cromwell on the 30th Jan. 1648/9. See 1624 when the
Arms were erected in the Church).
Inventory of Goods. (Vestry)
3 surplices. (Presumably these were replacements for those torn up by Cromwell’s Troopers in 1645/6).
1 table cloth made of a Cope. (See 1645/6 re Alice Brown).
1 cushion for the Pulpit.
1 table cloth (linen) (‘The Table’ must mean the Altar Table).
2 towels. (linen).
1 apron of linen to put about the Communion Cup.
1 pewter standing pot.
1 Spit with two rackets. (This was used to strain or draw off from the lees, or sediment of wine).
1 Racket for the Clerk. (The Rev. John Pym was the Curate in 1651).
5 Jun. 1650 Thomas Napper (2) died and was buried at
St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. The brass Memorial
Tablet on the floor of the Church, and 4th from the Sanctuary steps,
reads: HIC JACIT CORPUS THOMAE MAPPER – GENERUSI HVIVS RECTORIAE
PROPRIETARIJ QUI SEPULTUS ERAT VICESIMO QUINTO DIE 1V111J A.D.
1650’. Which is translated:- Here lies the body of Thomas
Napper gentleman (who) was proprietor of the Rectory who died 5th day
June A.D. 1650.
1651 The Rev. John Pym, Curate, was the Incumbent of
St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. Thomas Napper (3) may
have been his Patron, though the Register does not record the name of
any Patron. (Thomas Napper (3) born in 1636. Died 15 June
1700).
1657 The Rev. Robert Hunt was the Incumbent of St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. Thomas Napper (3) may have
been his Patron, though the Register does not record the name of any
Patron.
1660 The Rev. Jno. Large was the Incumbent of St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron may have been
Thomas Napper (3) though the Register does not record the name of any
Patron.
1661 The Rev. Thos. Farnham* was the Incumbent of St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron may have been
Thomas Napper (3) though the Register does not record the name of any
Patron.
*Note that on the 13th Sept. 1609 the Rev. Adam Farneham was the
Incumbent of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. Possibly
the father or grandfather of the Rev. Thomas Farnham.
1662 The Rev. John Hopkins was Curate Pro Tem. Of St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron may have been
Thomas Napper (3) though the Register does not record the name of any
Patron.
1662/1673 The ‘Easter Book’ started by
Thomas Napper (3) who died 15 June 1700, records ‘donations and
tithes due yearly at Easter’. (Ref. Somerset Country Record
Office DD/X/HO).
1667 The Rev. Nathaniel Boughton, Curate, was the
Incumbent of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron
may have been Thomas Napper (3) though the Register does not record the
name of any Patron.
1668 The reputed value of the Benefice of Tintinhull was £30 per annum at this date.
1669 Thomas Napper (3) purchased the Manor of
Tintinhull, which had not been acquired with the impropriation a
century earlier. In 1559 Nicholas Napper, the great grandfather
of Thomas Napper (3) purchased the impropriation of the Rectory and the
Lease of the Estate for the sum of £237.
The title, both to the Manor and also to the tithes and advowson
coalesced (came together) for in 1669 the Manor was purchased by Thomas
Napper (3) so that the title to the tithes and advowson passed in
direct male line for seven generations of Nappers, and existed over 232
years in this same family.
1670 The Churchwardens Accounts record:-
Payments for the redemption of Captives in
Turkey…………………………………
1672 The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
Two seamen wounded in the last engagement at sea……
(Presumably they had come from the village of Tintinhull. I do
not know to what ‘battle-at-sea’ this entry refers).
(written in pencil on side: 3rd Anglo Dutch War 1672-4. 1672 Battle of Sole Bay off the Essex Coast).
1678 The Churchwarden’s Accounts end in this year. They began in 1432/3.
1685 The ‘Easter Book’ kept by Thomas
Napper (3) and after his death in June 1700 by his grandson Thomas
Napper (5).
In 1685 Thomas Napper (3) notes: ‘Mrs. Naper’s new
house’. (This house became known as ‘The Dower
House’ since it was lived in by three widows of Napper men, the
widows being Honor the widow of Thomas Napper (2) and Rebecca the widow
of Thomas Napper (4) and then by Elizabeth who outlived her husband
Thomas Napper (5) by two years only.
28 Oct.1690 The Rev. Robert Pittard Rector of Thorne
Coffin and Curate of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His
Patron may have been Thomas Napper (3) though the Registers do not
record any name as being a Patron.
At this time the Parsonage estate consisted of tithes and small
scattered pieces of Glebe land, including presumably, a close of
pasture to the West of the Church, still known in the year 1839 as
‘Parson’s Close’. (I do not know if the name
still remains in 1988).
27 Aug.1694 A Memorial inscription in St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, reads:- ‘Near this spot lie
the body of Thomas Napper, Gentleman, grandson of Thomas Napper, second
son of Thomas Napper, successively owners of the
impropriation’. (Here follows some Latin words which were
not sufficiently clear for me to read). Obit 27 die Aug. A.D.
1694 aged 33’.
4 Aug.1712 A Memorial Stone on the floor of the South
Porch of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, reads: ‘Here
lies the body of Arthur Hody, Gentleman who departed this life the 4
August in the year of our Lord 1712 and of his age 39 years. (He)
married Mary the only daughter of the Rev. Mr. Perry of West Coker by
whom he had 3 children. The eldest is interred under this stone in the
same grave with him. Mary the youngest daughter
only…’ (I could not read any further as the rain was
coming down too heavily, and the light was almost gone).
1721 The ‘Cross Tree’ was planted on the
Tintinhull Village Green’ to celebrate a victory’. I
do not know to what victory this refers. (The ‘Cross
Tree’ died in 1973 due to the Dutch Elm Disease and was cut down
in 1974 at the age of 252 years.(Its roots were removed in June 1989
and a Park Seat is to be erected where one the Cross Tree stood).
1 July 1721 .
A Memorial Tablet in St. Margaret’s Church Tintinhull, reads:
‘Martha daughter of Solomon Andrews of Lyme Regis Esq., relict of
Henry Manton of Harwood in Calstone* died 1 July 1721 aged 56.
Erected by John Fursman, Chancellor of Exeter**. Sculptured by
Louis Francis Roubiliac. (1695/1762).
*Calstone in probably Calstone Wellington, south and east of Calne, Co. Wilts.
** John Fursman. 1717 Lancelot Blackburn was dean of Exeter.
Elected 30 Jan 1716/17. Translated to York 1724. I could
not find any reference to John Fursman.
Martha was a sister of Rebecca Andrews who married Thomas Napper (4).
1721 New stocks were erected to replace the old ones erected in 1350. (see 1933).
1722 The Churchwarden’s of St. Margaret’s
Church, Tintinhull, arranged for the Churchwarden’s Accounts and
other Church documents to be bound at a cost of 4 shillings. As
Thomas Napper (4) was one of the Churchwardens, it was agreed that the
books should be kept at The Parsonage/The Mansion – I do not know
which as the Napper family owned both houses. (See Feb. 1883).
1722 The Church Overseers were renting 5 houses known as ‘Poor Houses’.
1724 Andrew Napper (1) youngest son of Thomas Napper
(4) married Elizabeth Lockett, possibly the daughter or relative of the
Rev. Henry Lockett who was appointed rector of Thorn Coffin by Thomas
Napper (5).
1729 The Living at St. Margaret’s Church,
Tintinhull, was augmented by the impropriator* and in 1761** it was
augmented again.
*The impropriator at this date was Thomas Napper (5) who died 24 Nov. 1737.
**The impropriator at this date was John Napper (1) who inherited The
Parsonage from his elder brother Thomas Napper (6) on the
latter’s death on 10. Jan 1760. (See 1761 and 1819).
23 Sep.1730 The Rev. Henry Lockett was the Incumbent
of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron may have
been Thomas Napper (5) though the Register does not record the name of
any Patron.
*5 Aug. 1998
Above the Porch leading into St. Margaret’s Church is a slab of stone. As far as we could read it:-
IV ANNO THEODOR
*THOMAS HO
NS O< SET.V
OE. MARCH (1634 or 1654).
*Could this be Thomas Napper or Thomas Brown who bought the old Bible (Checked by Robert Hughes and Ann Hughes July 1998).
1615 Thomas Brown (of Tintinhull) bought the old
Church Bible from the Churchwardens. (Under the Will of Thomas
Napper (4) dated 25 Aug. 1694, he left the reversion of Henry
Browne’s tenement to his son Andrew Napper).
1617 The Church Bell No. 1 is inscribed:-
‘Geeve (give) thanks to God 1617. John Napper and John
Mabbard. (Cast) by Robert Wiseman of Montacute. (See p.26
1635 re the Silver Chalice initials). (The oldest Bell is No.4
and is dated 1602).
1623 The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
That the Churchwardens were ‘rather merry’. (Perhaps
coming back from Somerton via Ilchester. (See 1614).
A new Pulpit and Communion
Table………………………………………………….
23 Sep.1626 The third Brass Memorial on the floor of
St. Margaret’s Church by the Sanctuary steps, reads ‘ Here
lieth the body of Thomas Napper, eldest sonne of the said Nicholas
Napper and Propriator of the said Rectory and Parsonage, was buried
here the 23rd day of September A.D. 1626(Note that the Memorial Brass
to Nicholas Napper and his son Thomas Napper are both on the same piece
of Brass).
1629 The St. Margaret’s Church Bell No. 5 is
inscribed:- I.W. A.S. 1629. Cast by William Wiseman the son of
Robert Wiseman.’
(Robert Wiseman cast bell No.1 in 1617. The initials I.W. stand
for John Wilkins; The initials A.S. stand for Adam Smythe who were both
Churchwardens of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull at this period
of time.
(See 1602, 1603, and 1617. Also 1650 re the ‘tenement of John Wilkins).
1633 The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
A kitchen was added to the Vicar’s house at Tintinhull. The
Vicar at that time was the Rev. Adam Farneham who died in 1646.
1635 The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
The South Porch of the Church of St. Margaret’s at Tintinhull was
re-built. Thomas Napper (2) collected tithes to the value of
£30.16s.11d. The King’s Arms (i.e. the Armorial
Bearings of King Charles 1. who reigned from 1626/1648/9) and a
sentence of Scripture were set up in the Church. (See
1648)…………………………………….
1635 The Church Chalice and Paten with this date is
marked ‘R.W.’ I think these are the initials of Robert
Wiseman of Montacute who cast the bells of St. Margaret’s Church,
Tintinhull in 1602 (Bell No.4) and again in 1617. (Bell No.1) Or
it may have been given to the church by his son William Wiseman in
memory of his father, since it was William and not Robert who cast the
Bell No.5 in 1629, possibly because his father had either retired or
died in the meantime.
1645/6 About this time Oliver Cromwell and his Troops
were in the neighbourhood of Tintinhull. This was during the last
years of the Rev. Adam Farneham’s life – he died in 1646.
The Cromwellian Troops smashed the windows of St. Margaret’s Church, and did what damage they could. (see1646).
1646 The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
The two surplices the Troopers did take them out of the Church and cut
them in pieces, and the poor of the Parish had the pieces.
Alice Brown, a Churchwarden at this date* cut up the Cope and made it into a covering for the Altar Table.**
*’..woman Churchwardens.. See p.53.
** See 1648/9 re Tablecloth made from a Cope.
1645/60 A note in the Bishop’s* Register reads:
‘Between 1645 and 1660 (during the time of the wars)** there were
no persons admitted to any parish throughout the Diocese of Bath and
Wells’.
*Between 1632-1670 William Pierce was the Bishop of Bath and
Wells. Translate from Peterborough 26. Nov. 1632. He died
in April 1670.
** The Wars referred to were the Civil Wars between the
Roundheads of Oliver Cromwell’s Army, and the Cavaliers of King
Charles 1’s Army.
1645 The Rev. Adam Farneham, as Vicar of St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, signed the Churchwarden’s
Accounts for the last time. (He died in 1646).
1646 The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
For striking out the King’s
Arms…………………(This entry
refers to the Armorial Bearings of King Charles 1. who was beheaded by
order of Oliver Cromwell on the 30th Jan. 1648/9. See 1624 when the
Arms were erected in the Church).
Inventory of Goods. (Vestry)
3 surplices. (Presumably these were replacements for those torn up by Cromwell’s Troopers in 1645/6).
1 table cloth made of a Cope. (See 1645/6 re Alice Brown).
1 cushion for the Pulpit.
1 table cloth (linen) (‘The Table’ must mean the Altar Table).
2 towels. (linen).
1 apron of linen to put about the Communion Cup.
1 pewter standing pot.
1 Spit with two rackets. (This was used to strain or draw off from the lees, or sediment of wine).
1 Racket for the Clerk. (The Rev. John Pym was the Curate in 1651).
5 Jun. 1650 Thomas Napper (2) died and was buried at
St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. The brass Memorial
Tablet on the floor of the Church, and 4th from the Sanctuary steps,
reads: HIC JACIT CORPUS THOMAE MAPPER – GENERUSI HVIVS RECTORIAE
PROPRIETARIJ QUI SEPULTUS ERAT VICESIMO QUINTO DIE 1V111J A.D.
1650’. Which is translated:- Here lies the body of Thomas
Napper gentleman (who) was proprietor of the Rectory who died 5th day
June A.D. 1650.
1651 The Rev. John Pym, Curate, was the Incumbent of
St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. Thomas Napper (3) may
have been his Patron, though the Register does not record the name of
any Patron. (Thomas Napper (3) born in 1636. Died 15 June
1700).
1657 The Rev. Robert Hunt was the Incumbent of St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. Thomas Napper (3) may have
been his Patron, though the Register does not record the name of any
Patron.
1660 The Rev. Jno. Large was the Incumbent of St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron may have been
Thomas Napper (3) though the Register does not record the name of any
Patron.
1661 The Rev. Thos. Farnham* was the Incumbent of St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron may have been
Thomas Napper (3) though the Register does not record the name of any
Patron.
*Note that on the 13th Sept. 1609 the Rev. Adam Farneham was the
Incumbent of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. Possibly
the father or grandfather of the Rev. Thomas Farnham.
1662 The Rev. John Hopkins was Curate Pro Tem. Of St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron may have been
Thomas Napper (3) though the Register does not record the name of any
Patron.
1662/1673 The ‘Easter Book’ started by
Thomas Napper (3) who died 15 June 1700, records ‘donations and
tithes due yearly at Easter’. (Ref. Somerset Country Record
Office DD/X/HO).
1667 The Rev. Nathaniel Boughton, Curate, was the
Incumbent of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron
may have been Thomas Napper (3) though the Register does not record the
name of any Patron.
1668 The reputed value of the Benefice of Tintinhull was £30 per annum at this date.
1669 Thomas Napper (3) purchased the Manor of
Tintinhull, which had not been acquired with the impropriation a
century earlier. In 1559 Nicholas Napper, the great grandfather
of Thomas Napper (3) purchased the impropriation of the Rectory and the
Lease of the Estate for the sum of £237.
The title, both to the Manor and also to the tithes and advowson
coalesced (came together) for in 1669 the Manor was purchased by Thomas
Napper (3) so that the title to the tithes and advowson passed in
direct male line for seven generations of Nappers, and existed over 232
years in this same family.
1670 The Churchwardens Accounts record:-
Payments for the redemption of Captives in
Turkey…………………………………
1672 The Churchwarden’s Accounts record:-
Two seamen wounded in the last engagement at sea……
(Presumably they had come from the village of Tintinhull. I do
not know to what ‘battle-at-sea’ this entry refers).
(written in pencil on side: 3rd Anglo Dutch War 1672-4. 1672 Battle of Sole Bay off the Essex Coast).
1678 The Churchwarden’s Accounts end in this year. They began in 1432/3.
1685 The ‘Easter Book’ kept by Thomas
Napper (3) and after his death in June 1700 by his grandson Thomas
Napper (5).
In 1685 Thomas Napper (3) notes: ‘Mrs. Naper’s new
house’. (This house became known as ‘The Dower
House’ since it was lived in by three widows of Napper men, the
widows being Honor the widow of Thomas Napper (2) and Rebecca the widow
of Thomas Napper (4) and then by Elizabeth who outlived her husband
Thomas Napper (5) by two years only.
28 Oct.1690 The Rev. Robert Pittard Rector of Thorne
Coffin and Curate of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His
Patron may have been Thomas Napper (3) though the Registers do not
record any name as being a Patron.
At this time the Parsonage estate consisted of tithes and small
scattered pieces of Glebe land, including presumably, a close of
pasture to the West of the Church, still known in the year 1839 as
‘Parson’s Close’. (I do not know if the name
still remains in 1988).
27 Aug.1694 A Memorial inscription in St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, reads:- ‘Near this spot lie
the body of Thomas Napper, Gentleman, grandson of Thomas Napper, second
son of Thomas Napper, successively owners of the
impropriation’. (Here follows some Latin words which were
not sufficiently clear for me to read). Obit 27 die Aug. A.D.
1694 aged 33’.
4 Aug.1712 A Memorial Stone on the floor of the South
Porch of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, reads: ‘Here
lies the body of Arthur Hody, Gentleman who departed this life the 4
August in the year of our Lord 1712 and of his age 39 years. (He)
married Mary the only daughter of the Rev. Mr. Perry of West Coker by
whom he had 3 children. The eldest is interred under this stone in the
same grave with him. Mary the youngest daughter
only…’ (I could not read any further as the rain was
coming down too heavily, and the light was almost gone).
1721 The ‘Cross Tree’ was planted on the
Tintinhull Village Green’ to celebrate a victory’. I
do not know to what victory this refers. (The ‘Cross
Tree’ died in 1973 due to the Dutch Elm Disease and was cut down
in 1974 at the age of 252 years.(Its roots were removed in June 1989
and a Park Seat is to be erected where one the Cross Tree stood).
1 July 1721
A Memorial Tablet in St. Margaret’s Church Tintinhull, reads:
‘Martha daughter of Solomon Andrews of Lyme Regis Esq., relict of
Henry Manton of Harwood in Calstone* died 1 July 1721 aged 56.
Erected by John Fursman, Chancellor of Exeter**. Sculptured by
Louis Francis Roubiliac. (1695/1762).
*Calstone in probably Calstone Wellington, south and east of Calne, Co. Wilts.
** John Fursman. 1717 Lancelot Blackburn was dean of Exeter.
Elected 30 Jan 1716/17. Translated to York 1724. I could
not find any reference to John Fursman.
Martha was a sister of Rebecca Andrews who married Thomas Napper (4).
1721 New stocks were erected to replace the old ones erected in 1350. (see 1933).
1722 The Churchwarden’s of St. Margaret’s
Church, Tintinhull, arranged for the Churchwarden’s Accounts and
other Church documents to be bound at a cost of 4 shillings. As
Thomas Napper (4) was one of the Churchwardens, it was agreed that the
books should be kept at The Parsonage/The Mansion – I do not know
which as the Napper family owned both houses. (See Feb. 1883).
1722 The Church Overseers were renting 5 houses known as ‘Poor Houses’.
1724 Andrew Napper (1) youngest son of Thomas Napper
(4) married Elizabeth Lockett, possibly the daughter or relative of the
Rev. Henry Lockett who was appointed rector of Thorn Coffin by Thomas
Napper (5).
1729 The Living at St. Margaret’s Church,
Tintinhull, was augmented by the impropriator* and in 1761** it was
augmented again.
*The impropriator at this date was Thomas Napper (5) who died 24 Nov. 1737.
**The impropriator at this date was John Napper (1) who inherited The
Parsonage from his elder brother Thomas Napper (6) on the
latter’s death on 10. Jan 1760. (See 1761 and 1819).
23 Sep.1730 The Rev. Henry Lockett was the Incumbent
of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron may have
been Thomas Napper (5) though the Register does not record the name of
any Patron.
*5 Aug. 1998
Above the Porch leading into St. Margaret’s Church is a slab of stone. As far as we could read it:-
IV ANNO THEODOR
*THOMAS HO
NS O< SET.V
OE. MARCH (1634 or 1654).
*Could this be Thomas Napper or Thomas Brown who bought the old Bible (Checked by Robert Hughes and Ann Hughes July 1998).
TITHES (Contd.)
Tithe books of the seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries have been preserved in a few parishes, as also have
miscellaneous papers referring to tithes. These may be in Church
Vestries or at the County Record Office.
The records of Ecclesiastical Courts have some references to the
enforcements of tithe payments. The Exchequer Court of Pleas, and
other Lay Courts, also have cases of disputes between Clergy and laity
about tithes.
1839. The Parsonage Estate consisted of tithes and
small scattered pieces of Glebe land in 1681, including presumably a
Close of Pasture to the west of the Church of St. Margaret’s,
Tintinhull, which was still (1839) known as ‘Parson’s
Close’. (I wonder if it has retained this name today in
1988?)
1839. The Parish of Tintinhull became part of the
Yeovil Poor Law Union and the Tintinhull Poor Houses were sold.
(See 1722. 1762. and 1777.)
1840. The Vicarage at Tintinhull was ‘let as a cottage’.
1842. The last election of a ‘Tithingman’ took place in this year.
These were a group of men and boys, originally ten in number, who were
held responsible to the Manor court for its members’ good
conduct. Each male of the age of 12 and over was obliged to be in
a tithing. The Tithing List of the manor was checked at each View
of Frankpledge, and all boys who had reached the eligible age were
enrolled. The elected representative of the tithing was the
Tithingman. He was responsible for presenting to the Manor Court
all misdemeanors committed by members of families within his
tithing. (Later the term came to mean a sub-division of a parish.)
13 July 1843. A Memorial Tablet at St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull records:- ‘To betty Clark,
wife of John Clark of Perrins Hill in this Parish, who died 13th July
1843 aged 78 years. (See 10 Nov. 1849 & 1. Nov. 1856.)
18 July 1844. A Memorial Tablet in St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, records:-
‘To the Memory of the Rev. John Valentine B.A., for 27 years
Rector of this Parish, who died 18 July 1844. (See 30 March 1854
& 25 Nov. 1857.)
9 Nov. 1845. The Rec. Alex Ramsay was the Curate of
St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron was the Hon.
Hugh Arbuthnott. (See 21 Dec. 1811.)
14 Sept. 1848. A Memorial Tablet at St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull records:-
‘Sacred to the Memory of Alexander Macfarlane of Tain, in the
south of Scotland, who died 14 Sept. 1848 aged 44 years. Erected by his
widow Josephine Loking. (I think the surname is Loking, but it
was difficult to read.)
10 Nov. 1849. A Memorial Tablet at St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, records:- ‘….. and to
John son of the above named John and Betty Clarke of Perrins Hill,
Tintinhull, who died 10 Nov. 1849 aged 56 years.’ (See 1st.
Nov. 1856 and 13 July 1843.)
22 May 1851. The Rev. William Allford was the Curate
of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron was the
Hon. Hugh Arbuthnott (See 21. Dec. 1811.)
13 Nov. 1853. The Rev. S.B.Plummer was the Curate of
St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron was the Hon.
Hugh Arbuthnott. (See 21. Dec. 1811.) There is a Memorial
Tablet in St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull to the Rev. Seth
Burge Plummer, but it was too faded, and too high to be read without a
strong light.)
30 March 1854. A Memorial Tablet in St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull ‘….. also of Edmund
the son of the above John Valentine, who died 30 March 1854 aged 11 (?)
years.’
3 Jan. 1855. The Rev. George Henry Newman was the
Curate of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron was
the Hon. Hugh Arbuthnott. (See 21 Dec. 1811. – the
Arbuthnott’s firm of solicitors dealing with their Tintinhull
Estate was Newman, Paynter, Gould and Newman of Yeovil.)
14 Dec. 1855. The Rev. William M. Smith was the
Curate of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. His Patron was
the Hon. Hugh Arbuthnott. (See 21 Dec. 1811.)
1 Nov. 1856. A Memorial Tablet at St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, records:- ‘….also the
above name John Clark of Perrinshill in this parish, who died 1st. Nov.
1856 aged 92.’ (See 13 July 1843 and 10 Nov. 1849.)
25 Nov. 1857. A Memorial Tablet at St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, records:- ‘….also
Sarah relict of the above Rev. John Valentine who died 25 Nov. 1857
aged 51 years.’ (See July 1843 and 30 March 1854.)
1862. Major William Wilson, of The Limes, Tintinhull,
by his Will dated in 1862, left:- ‘ A Rent-Charge of £5
payable yearly on 24th Dec. for a dinner of roast beef and plum pudding
on Christmas Day to the ‘deserving pupils’ of the
(Tintinhull) Sunday School.’ It was still being
administered one hundred years later for the benefit of children
connected with St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull.
Mrs Russ nee Brown, who lived to be 103 recalled the ‘Christmas
Dinner’ in the Big Hall of The limes in the time of Mr William
Wilson, which must have been before 1862 when he died. Mrs Russ
died 20 May 1946 aged 103, and so would have been aged 20 in 1862 when
Major Wilson died.
26 Aug. 1862. A local newspaper recorded that
‘A great gloom has been thrown over the parish of Tintinhull by
the death of William Wilson Esq., who died in the 95th year of his
age. He had resided in the same house in which he died for 66
years. (i.e. from 1796 onwards) His Major’s Commission is
dated 10 Jan. 1807. He transferred into the East Somerset
Regiment of Local Militia and his Commission is dated 24 Sept.
1808. He will be buried at Tintinhull.’
1871. A new Vicarage was built in the village of Tintinhull. (See 1968.)
1 Sept. 1871. The Rev. J.B.Hyson was the Rector of
St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull. The Hon. William
Arbuthnott was his Patron. (His elder brother the Hon. Hugh
Arbuthnott having died unmarried 11 July 1868 and the Tintinhull Court
Estate passed to his next eldest brother.)
Nov. 1882. Work on the Restoration of St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, was begun. The plans were
prepared by Mr. A.W. Hansell, and architect from London, whose designs
wisely provided that none of the interesting features of the original
building should be destroyed. Mr. Hansell bore testimony to the
faithful way in which the Contractor, Messrs. Fredk. Fane and Son of
Stoke-Sub-Hamdon, carried out the work, (The Church was re-opened
by Lord A.C, Hervey, 28 Nov. 1883.)
1st Feb. 1883. Mr. Sam B. Penny was one of the
Churchwardens of St. Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull at this date.
Up to this time the old Churchwarden’s Accounts had been kept by Mr. Sam B. Penny of Tintinhull House, Tintinhull.
1st. Feb. 1883. The Rev. J.B. Hyson asked Bishop
Hobhouse, an eminent Ecclesiastical archaeological scholar to examine
the old Churchwarden’s Accounts which dated from 1433/4 –
1650.
The Rt. Rev. Bishop Edmund Hobhouse, D.D. Oxon., was the son of the Rt.
Hon. Henry Hobhouse, Under-Secretary of State at the Home Dept. who
died in 1854.
Bishop Edmund Hobhouse was born in 1817 and married first the daughter
of Lt. General the Hon. J. Brodrick. He married secondly the
daughter of the Rev. D. Williams, D.C.L. Warden of New College, Oxford.
Bishop Hobhouse was Vicar of St. Peter’s Oxford, 1843/58.
Bishop of Nelson* 1858/64. Chancellor of Lichfield 1874/5.
Assistant Bishop of Lichfield 1869/80, at which date he lived at Wells,
Somerset.
*The Atlas gives nineteen places called ‘Nelson’ round the
world, of which two are in Great Britain, namely one in Glamorgan,
Wales, and the other in Lancashire, England.
Bishop Edmund Hobhouse gave a Lecture on Friday afternoon, the 1st of
February 1883 in the village Schoolhouse at Tintinhull, to a large and
attentive audience, under the heading :- ‘The ancient Church and
Parish Books of Tintinhull’. He was applauded on rising.
He said that ‘A number of ancient and most interesting documents
relating to the Ecclesiastical affairs of Tintinhull had recently come
to light. (C. 1883) They had been in the possession of the
family of Mr. Sam B. Penny, but as they were illegible to all except
scholars who understood Church Latin of the 15th or 16th centuries,
their real character was never suspected until recently.
1st. February 1883 (Contd.)
In the year 1772 Thomas Napper, then one of the Churchwardens of St.
Margaret’s Church, Tintinhull, had these records neatly bound at
a cost of 4 shillings, and left them, with numerous other interesting
documents, books, Court Rolls etc, in the house now (Feb. 1883) in the
possession of Mr. Sam B. Penny, whose father purchased the house* of
the said Thomas Napper’s descendants.
*This is Tintinhull House, not Tintinhull Court, but both belonged to
the Napper Family in 1722. It was sold by the Nappers of East
Pennard to the Penny family.
Beginning about the year 1433 (Henry VI 1429/61) the records give
something like a continuous history of the Ecclesiastical affairs of
the parish of Tintinhull for some two centuries, with a brief but
important gap for the period comprising the short reign of Edward VI
(1546/53) and Queen Mary (1553/58) when the records were either lost or
not recorded.
The Vicar of Tintinhull, the Rev. J.B. Tyson, with a laudable desire to
make public property of all of that was interesting in these documents,
submitted them to him for examination, when it was found that the
papers, or rather parchments, threw much light on the public life of
the parish four or five centuries ago, he had been asked to put the
results of his investigation into the form of a Lecture. This he
had done.
He said that they had all been sufficiently informed of his reason for
coming to Tintinhull that afternoon. They knew there was in the
possession of their Parish a most unusual inheritance, namely,
Churchwarden’s Accounts running back into the 15th century.
He knew of no other rural parish possessing such an inheritance.
There were, however, in some town parishes, documents as old, or older
than these. For example, in the parish of St. Michael, Bath,
there was a complete arrangement of documents running back to the 14th
century. They had been published by the Somerset Archaeological
Society.
They were all worth examining, and threw much light on many of the manuscripts of Tintinhull.
The documents of the Parish of Tintinhull dated from the early part of
the reign of Henry VI (1429/61). The earliest was dated in
1433. He had gone through them all cursorily, and hastily with
the eye. A large number he had examined closely, and could almost
venture to certify that there was nothing more of interest to be found
in them than he had extracted. Others he had only passed his eye
over, and might possibly have omitted interesting facts which future
examiners would catch up.
He said that he would first speak of the condition of the Parish before
the commencement of these records, and he hoped a few words on that
point would enable them to understand better than they otherwise might,
the subject on which he was addressing them.
The Manor, Advowson – the right of presentation to a Benefice
– and Hundred of Tintinhull were given at some early date –
probably very soon after the Conquest of 1066, by the Conqueror to the
Earl of Mortaine, who was the Founder of the Castle of Montacute, and
by him or his immediate successor – they were given to Montacute
Priory.
The Priory was the owner of the land, and presented a Rector to the
Bishop for Institution. In 1529 the Prior became the permanent
Rector, and had to appoint a Vicar.
1st Feb. 1883 (Contd.)
In 1537, when a valuation was made by Henry VIII, for the purpose of
raising taxes, the Rectory was valued at £18 nett, and the
Vicarage at £10. He could remind them that these Accounts
related only to the Ecclesiastical life of the Parish. They were
not records of its Civil Life, which would be found in the Manor Court
Rolls, if they existed but these records doubtless went into the
possession of Montacute Priory, and possibly disappeared at the time of
its dissolution on the 20th March 1539.
The Ecclesiastical Constitution of a parish was far more distinct from
the Civil constitution in the 15th century, than it was in the 18th and
into the 19th centuries, until the recent (1883?) changes took place.
(i.e. the Manor Courts ceased to be held in Tintinhull).
Though the persons composing the Ecclesiastical, and the persons
composing the Civil parish, were precisely the same, yet they acted in
their different capacities under different officers.
The centre of the Civil Parish was the Manor House, and the Manor Court
held in that house, and to that centre men of the manor (sometimes
co-existensive with the Parish) sometimes not, were summonable by the
Lord of the Manor.
There they met under the Lord’s bailiff, and could present any
nuisance that affected the tenants of the Manor. The Jury of
Tenants could adjudge fines on any offence against the un-written laws
of the Manor.
They appointed such Officers as Haywards (see 1842) – who had
power over the Parish Pound – and conners of ale and bread.
But alongside that which concerned the Civil Life of the parish was the
Ecclesiastical life of the community.
When these same persons met for Ecclesiastical purposes, they entirely
forgot the name of the ‘Manor’ and did not meet in the
Manor House. They met in the Church, made the Parish Priest the
natural Chairman and President, and elected two representative laymen
as Wardens of the Church and Church goods.
In some town parishes, where they sometimes had a room for Meetings,
they acquired the name of ‘Vestry’ in any of the documents
of that parish.
The word ‘Vestry’ appeared to have originated in some town parishes.
The parishioners of Tintinhull met, it did not appear where, but no
doubt in the Church of St. Margaret’s, for Ecclesiastical
business, and the Ecclesiastical parish, when thus convened, had
certain powers, in virtue of prescriptive rights – probably the
‘community-right’ of managing local affairs by majorities
– of taxing themselves for their common needs.
But they used the power very sparingly, for he could not find in that
parish any early records of any Church rates, which had not been made
by any Statute, but only when Civil charges were thrown on the
Parish. They then began to use their own power of rating
themselves.
The parishioners in Vestry were not a Court like the parishioners in
Manor Courts were. They could not impose penalties or fines, or
make presentments of nuisances as in the Manor Court, but they were
under the Bishop’s Court, and they could present defaulters to
that Court.
An offence against that order of the Vestry was presentable and
punishable in the Bishop’s Court. He did not know of any
Vestry proceedings being extant. If there were such, they would
have as good a picture of the workings of the Ecclesiastical Parish, in
its assembled form, as they had of the Civil work in the Manor Court
Rolls.
1st Feb 1883
(cont'd)
Bishop Hobhouse continued by saying that it was
quite evident that the documents with which he was dealing were
produced in Vestry, and were regularly written by persons specially
employed for the purpose, for in those days there were very few
'CLERKLY' hands, and reading and writing were distinct professions.
The Accounts were always written out by hired clerks, and
audited. Thus the Church goods were transferred from the outgoing
Churchwardens to the new Churchwardens, who were elected by the
parishioners.
Other acts were also done by the parishioners in what is now known as
'Vestry'. There was no doubt that the parishioners had the power
of rating themselves; but they did not do that until after the failure
of voluntary means.
Early in King James I's reign (1603/25) they began regularly to levy
rates. The amount of these rates and the acreage were regularly
written in the Accounts, so that they had a nominal roll of all the
parishioners.
Now, as to the Officers of the parish. Of course, there was a
Rector. In 1529 (King Henry VIII, 1509/46) when the Rectory
became appropriated to the Priory of Montacute, a Vicar was substituted
for a Rector. The Churchwardens were chosen by the people, but
that did not mean that the senior warden might not have been nominated
by the Vicar, as at present (1883), but if it was the custom for the
Vicar to nominate his warden, that appointment was ratified by his
parishioners. The mode of electing the wardens was not
stated. The election was always annual, though the length of the
term of office sometimes varied. First the term was from Easter
to Easter, then from Easter to St. Mary Magdalene's Day (1439), then
from St. Mary Magdalene's Day to St. Michael's Day (1465), then from
St. Michael's Day to Saints Simon and Jude, then from Palm Sunday to
Palm Sunday.
The earliest title of the Wardens was 'Wardens of the Goods of the
Church'. The Wardens' duty was to look after the fabric of the
Church - to see that it was kept in proper repair. Their Titles
varied. They were called 'custodes honorum eccleasist guerdiant'
and 'procuratores'.
There were also female wardens*, who, as far as could be gathered,
performed the functions of the office. The Wardens were always
present at Visitation to the received authority, to make presentations,
and to receive monitions. They had no assistants.
* Female Churchwardens. See 1645/6 re. Alice Brown.
Bishop Hobhouse did not find any mention of any Sidesmen. He only
found that now and then they took other parishioners to the Visitation
- he presumed when presentments were made, to support them in their
allegations.
The name of 'Sidesmen' was given, possibly, to those who supported the
Wardens in any allegations they made in their presentments - it was a
short word for 'synodsmen' - 'taken to act as witnesses.'
The Wardens employed regular accountants - men who were very learned,
and kept accounts in a very clear and systematic manner. The
Accountants were always hired officers, very often, no doubt, the
clergyman of the parish, or a neighbouring clergyman. There was
also an Auditor. Seeing that the Accounts were all in Latin it
was necessary for the parishioners to have a skilled Auditor.
Then there were minor officers, such as the clerk 'agua bajulus' water
carriers, from the fact that he carried vessels containing the Holy
Water to sprinkle on the heads of the congregation; the Incense-bearer,
and banner-bearer.
One of the most consistent servants of the parish was the Parish Clock, which was always doing its duties.
Bishop Hobhouse came next to the charges which were to be provided for
by the Wardens. First of all were the repairs of the Clock - not
the Chancel, because that was the Rector's charge; but other parts were
under the charge of the Churchwardens, who repaired them at their
expense.
Then the cost of the repair of the Churchyard fell on the
Wardens. The Churchyard was always called 'cinititium' - that was
'Cemetary'. That was the name given to all ancient Churchyards;
but the word had now come to mean, not a Churchyard, but a
burial-ground away from the Church.
Another constant entry in the Accounts was expenses of Visitations,
which were not small items. Bishop Hobhouse explained that the
Parish books of parchment and other assessories of the Church were made
on the spot, the Churchwardens finding the material and employing
workmen from towns, who were provided with meat, drink and lodging
until their work was done.
Other considerable items in the Accounts were 'Vestments' which were,
no doubt, richly adorned; and wax-lights used to a large extent for
ritual purposes, some being always kept burning, whilst others were
burnt at particular Festivals.
A collection was always made at Easter* amongst the parishioners for
the'Pascal Taper' which was always made on the spot; the wax being
bought and the taper made. Another constant item of expense was
the 'obit' or benefactor's anniversary. Once in every year a
service called 'benefactor's anniversary' was held. A book was
kept containing the names of those who had been benefactors of the
Church, and there appeared to be a great desire amongst the
parishioners to get their names inscribed in the 'Book of
Benefactors'. His Lordship said he saw one entry in one of these
books in which a person (he believed the name was Brown) 'covenanted to
maintain one of the lights for the rest of her life provided she should
have her name inscribed in the 'Book of Benefactors'.
* See Thomas Napper's Easter Book - 1685.
Then there were the repairs of the fixed property, which was the cause
of frequent entries, and the renewal of livestock; which were accounted
amongst the 'goods of the Church'.
Then they came to the means for maintaining these charges. In old
documents they were met entirely by bequests - seldom in money, but
almost always in kind - and all sorts of things were bequeathed; in
fact no one, he supposed, died without leaving something to the
Church:- rings, jewels, gowns, brass pots, etc. etc.
It was the universal feeling that there should be a principal bequest
given to some object connected with the Church, and it was by means of
these bequests that the Churchwardens secured the funds they
needed. They rejected nothing; they received everything; and part
of their duty consisted in turning the goods so left into money.
At the end of each Churchwarden's year, a careful inventory of the
stock, etc. was made. They found such entries as cows, now and
then a bull, sheep, hive of bees. All these things were mentioned
in the Churchwarden's Accounts and they - the Churchwardens - had to
make the best they could of them. Then, as they proceeded, they
found another and more profitable means, resorted to for making money
for the support of the Church - that was, having a Church-House in
which were the necessary appliances for brewing and baking.
The Church House was a curious institution; but Bishop Hobhouse would speak more at length on this subject later in his lecture.
Bishop Hobhouse said that the Churchwardens had some property on the
moor - to what extent he could not make out. This property was
sometimes let; sometimes crops were grown on it; and various
expressions concerning it were rather puzzling. At any rate there
was an allotment on the moor - whatever that was - the proceeds from
which were devoted to the Church.
The parish was finally deprived of this allotment in the 17th century,
at the time of the Rebellion (the Civil war between Charles I and
Oliver Cromwell). He found in one account that the corn crop on
the moor was given for the use of the Church 'by consent of the Lord
and tenants of the Manor'. That must have been given in a Civil
capacity; the crop was given as it stood to the Churchwardens and it
was harvested for the benefit of the Church.
Bishop Hobhouse now came to the Church House, which appeared to have
been a small building, held by the Prior of Montacute, as Lord of the
Manor, and to whom a 'Quit/Rent' was paid. There was an oven
in this house, and that was employed, he supposed, for baking (as
it was required) the wafer for the Holy Communion and the Holy Loaf.
It was, he believed, a universal custom throughout England for the
Church to bake bread at a certain period, and for the Priest to sell it
for the benefit of the Church.
Sometime afterwards, a brewing apparatus was added for brewing ale,
which was known as 'Holy Ale'. This was sold for the
benefit of the Church. No doubt this Church House was used for
the purposes he had indicated.
In the reigh of King Henry VII (1485/1509) the building was enlarged
bit by bit; and he found that in 1533 (Henry VIII, 1509/46) it had
reached its full extent as a Brewing House and Bake-House.
Lodgings were to be had at this house, which was also used for
Festivals, to which the parishioners of Stoke-sub-Hamdon and Montacute
were sometimes invited, and they, in turn, entertained the parishioners
of Tintinhull in a similar manner. So that there was a general
system of entertaining people at what were called the 'Church
Ales'. His Lordship read extracts from the old records showing
the profits realised on festive occasions by means of the 'Church Ales'
- the amount in one case being £4 - and said it also appeared
that the baking and brewing tackle was frequently used by parishioners
for private purposes.
In the course of the 16th century the 'Church Ales' (which were
sometimes held, when there was no Church House, in the Churchyard, and
even in the Church porch) became quite the principal source of parish
income. They were extremely popular - and the Reformers found it
necessary to denounce them. They were not, however, finally
supressed until the time of the Stewarts. (James I, 1603, was the first
Stewart King.)
Bishop Hobhouse drew attention to several of the old parish books (a
pile of which had been placed on the table) and then said he would
proceed to show how far they threw light on the fabric of the
Church. They had very little notice of the fabric before 1450
(Henry VI, 1429/61). It was standing as its present (1883) walls
tell the eye, on the same place as now, not accepting the South Porch,
mentioned in 1482/3 (Edward V, 1483*). The changes since
then had only been changes of detail, such as new windows put in old
walls.
* Edward V. The Boy King, murdered in The Tower of London, uncrowned.
The Bishop said that the old Rood-Loft was pulled down and its material
sold. A Christmas Play was got up by five parishioners in aid of
the new Loft. The nett profit was only 6s.8d. but it served,
perhaps, like bazaars, to kindle bounty, and other gifts flowed in.
The old Loft was probably of stone. The breast-work was left (the
sockets being filled in) to support the wooden screen and the Loft
'solarium' above. The Wardens found the material, as was the
universal custom, and made contact with a carpenter for the job (40s.),
they finding him meat and service.
The whole cost of the Rood-Loft was about 55s. There was also a
row of 40 'judacis' (candlesticks), probably for purposoes of
illumination. These cast their illuminations upwards, to the Holy
Cross - or rather Crucifix; and downward over the Nave.
In 1482/3 (Edward V, 1483) the ceiling over the Rood was adorned - as might be seen at Bruton Church, Somerset, and elsewhere.
There must have been an Altar to the Blessed Virgin with specal
services in her honour, for in 1437 (Henry VI, 1429/61) there was an
entry among the receipts - 'Pro Bonis St. M.' and there was another
entry, as follows:- 'The Procurator or Steward of the Brotherhood of
St. Mary begs the Wardens 100lbs. of lead.' There must have been
other Altars, for the repairs of which entries were made. In a
half sheet, bound between the Accounts of 1516/17 (Henry VIII, 1509/46)
was a list of payments to masons for making the stairs in the Bell
Tower (£4). There was the outside Turret Stair-case.
The work was done under the Rector's oversight by special contributions, apparently.
His Lordship, Bishop Hobhouse, stated that the custom of selling seats
in the Church (which he strongly deprecated) commenced in 1613 (James
I, 1603/25). He gave some interesting particulars respecting the
Bells, which were made at Chiselborough, and in conclusion, referred to
some splendid workmanship exhibited in the old oak Bench-Ends, which
would, he said, have done credit to any architect.
His Lordhip resumed his seat amidst applause.
In the course of a discussion which followed, the Rev. E.F. Hopkinson
said that at the date referred to by His Lordship there was a
Bell-Foundry at Closworth.
The Vicar, the Rev. J.B. Hyson, said the Bookbinder, named John
Bokebynder, came from Martock. Referring back to the remark made
by His Lordship that the play at Christmas realised only 6s.8d, he said
the audience should understand that at that time 2s. represented the
price of a cow, and 10d. the hire of a cow for a year. So that
they would see that 6s.8d. was something considerable.
Mr. Troyte-Bullock said he observed that there was a piscina in the
north side of the Rood-Loft. The Vicar said it would appear that
this was the original base of the Rood-Loft. Mr. Troyte-Bullock
said it was a very curious place for a piscina. His Lordship said
that wherever they found an Altar, there they also found a piscina.
In reply to the Dean of Wells, the Rev. L. Burrows, His Lordship said
he did not think there were any fixed seats (except those for the use
of the aged or infirm) until the beginning of the 16th century. A
gentleman asked whether the female Churchwardens carried out the duties
herself? His Lordship replied that there was no proof to the
contrary.
The Vicar said the female Churchwardens appeared to have done the
work. It was recorded that Alice Brown cut up the Cope and made
it into a covering for the Altar Table (1645). (Daughter).
The Rev. Preb. Salmon, the Rev. P. Hanswell and Mr. Hansell also took part in the discussion.
Bishop Hobhouse said he had only to express the hope that this
interesting fabric, whose history had thus far been elucidated, might
receive as good handling from the present (1883) parishioners as it did
in olden times - in the 15th and 16th centuries. It appeared from
the records that whatever the parishioners were minded to do, they did.
They did it in the old ways, by 'Church Ales' and that kind of thing,
but they did it amongst themselves. They did not go far afield to
ascertain what their neighbours at a distance would do. They put
their shoulders to the wheel, they did their own work and maintained
their own place of worship.
After many years of neglect the restorers of the present fabric would
have a heavy business on hand, but he hoped there would be plenty of
sympathy amongst Church people generally, with the people of
Tintinhull, in restoring the place of worship in the village. At
the same time he had to commend to them most heartily the virtues of
their forefathers in helping themselves and in setting heartily to work
to bear their own burdens. It was quite certain that their
forefathers got very little help indeed outside the parish - even the
Priory of Montacute, which owned all the land there, seemed to have
helped them only in the very smallest degree. Their forefathers
found the means for doing what was necessary, and he must commend their
example to his hearers.
He hoped the parishioners of Tintinhull might find amongst themselves
the spirit which animated their forefathers to keep the House of God in
a good state; and he hoped and trusted and believed that in the
discharge of that duty they would receive the sympathy and assistance
of their fellow-Churchmen throughout the County. (Applause.)
The Vicar, Rev. J.B. Hyson, said he was gratified to see such a large
company present. The Lecture they had heard had not only been
gratifying, but interesting and instructive. (Hear. Hear.) His
Lordship had said that he hoped the people of Tintinhull would imitate
their forefathers who did not go far abroad for assistance to carry on
their work, but did it themselves right nobly. He (the Vicar) was
very happy to be able to say that the people of Tintinhull would
imitate their forefathers, who now had just the same spirit. They
had seen some very ancient manuscripts at that meeting, which he hoped
they would inspect more closely before leaving; but he held in his hand
a modern manuscript (containing a list of the subscribers to the
Restoration Fund) which would show the spirit which pervaded the people
of Tintinhull. (Applause.) They had known for a long time that
their Church wanted to be repaired, but the grand question for them to
consider was - where is the money to come from? The people of
Tintinhull said, 'Make an effort, and we will do what we can.'
But when he looked at the Church and saw what was wanted, he felt bound
to abandon the task until they had someone to come forward and help
them.
A gentleman, (Mr. Sprackett)* who had property there, and who had just
come to live in the parish, said, 'Let us begin. The Church is
certainly a disgrace. I cannot think that the people can expect
God to meet them in such a dirty place. We like our own houses to
be clean and comfortable, and when we go to God's House we like to be
comfortable too. But the Church at present is not fit for the
lowest and poorest to go into. I will give £100.'
(Applause.)
* Mr. Sprackett. The Poor Law Records of 1883 refer to:-
'George Sprackett of Half Way House owning 78 acres, 2 roods and 35 perches of land.'
Half Way House is on the old Fosse Wayy, now the A303. It was here that horses were changed when 'half way' between ...?
The Vicar said that they then at once convened a Meeting, and commenced operations.