THE CHURCH OF NORBURY. 75 



A later insertion can be made in the long list of rectors, 

 between the death of rector John Fitzherbert, who died in 

 1551, and the institution of Thomas Harpur in 1627. Richard 

 Brown occurs as rector of Norbury during the intervening 

 period, when there is a gap in the diocesan registers.* 



Any account of the fabric of a church usually and appro- 

 priately opens with a statement as to its dedication or invoca- 

 tion. In the case of Xorbury, the church has generally been 

 assigned to the Blessed Virgin, and this is the dedication given 

 in Eaton's Thesaurus (1742) and in Bacons Liber Regis (1786). 



In the light, however, of definite statements in pre- 

 Reformation wills, this generally-accepted invocation must be 

 re-considered. If anyone in the fifteenth century was likely to 

 know the true and ancient dedication of this church, it would 

 assuredly be members of the Fitzherbert family who had lived 

 under its shadow and been its patrons and benefactors for so 

 many generations. The exact terms of two of these Fitzherbert 

 wills were given by the Rev. Reginald H. C. Fitzherbert, 

 from the originals preserved at Swynnerton, in the volumes of 

 this Journal for 1897 and 1898. 



Ralph Fitzherbert, by will dated 20th December, 1483, left 

 his body to be buried in " the church of St. Barlac of Norbury." 

 Elizabeth, his widow, by will dated 20th October, 1490, desired 

 that her body might be buried " in the Church of seint Barloke 

 byfore the ymage of seint Nicholas by syde the body of Rauffe 

 Fitzherbert late my husband."' 



I used to suppose that this " church " of St. Barloke, before 

 I knew the real phraseology of the wills, was the name of the 

 small south chapel of the nave to the east of the tower ; but 

 that idea must now be abandoned. This notitm seemed con- 

 firmed by the presence in the centre light of the south window 

 of this chapel of a figure with a pastoral staff in left hand, and 

 a book in right, with the words Sanctus Burlok Abbas below ; 

 but it has been jjointed out by Mr. Fitzherbert that the windows 



* Unfortunately I cannot now lay my hands on the reference or references 

 to this appointment ; but I know that I olrtained it from some authoritative 

 source. 



