215 



It must be remembered that in the middle ages every village 

 had its Guilds : everj'one belonged to some Guild, which was 

 always connected with religion, and had part of the Village Church 

 assigned to it. " Men, women and children had each their own 

 Guild, and before the image of the Patron Saint of the Guild a 

 light was kept continually bui'ning to drive away evil spirits, and 

 to invoke the aid of Almighty God and his Saints in protecting his 

 servants from the snares and frauds of the Devil. Wax for the 

 Candles Avas provided by the members of the Guild, and fines for 

 a breach of the rules were often levied in wax. Sometimes 

 members left money in their wills to support the lights."* 



The Village Guilds were of great benefit religiously and 

 socially, and amongst other things they often undertook the rejtair 

 of the Church, and the renovation of vestments, books, and other 

 things belonging to the Chuich. >fo doubt the brackets in 

 AVhorlton Church were used in connection with the Villag*^ Guilds ; 

 other brackets also were, I believe, in the Chantry Chapel on the 

 North side, which was uufortiuiately pulled down a quarter of a 

 century ago : it apjiears to have been aljout the size of the Chancel, 

 and had a squint into the Chancel for seeing the Elevation of the 

 Host. Graves gives a list of Cantarists — it was known as the D'Arcy 

 Chauntry. Tlie gable over the Chancel arch Ijears a beautiful 

 14th century Sanctus Bell-cot. 



The celelirated oak effigy in the Meynell tomb, Mr. W. H. 

 St. John Hope gives as early 14th century on account of 

 the habit, and especially the knee caps — the feet are in 

 leather socks : the supporters on the tomb are two Bishops 

 in the act of blessing — the amice can be seen round the 

 neck. This is supposed to be the monument of Sir Nicholas 

 de INleynell, and the effigy is cross-legged with hands in 

 prayer, and a dog at his feet — there are eight shields on each side 

 of the altar tomb on M-hich the effigy rests, charged with the arras 

 of the families with whom the Meynell fan)ily were connected, 

 as Graves couchules, viz. : tliose of Roos, Latimer, D'Arcy, Gray, 

 Neville, and Fitz-hugii ; the opposite side of the tomi) bears an 

 etjual number of shields, in some cases with the same arms. Torr 

 gives two Testamentary burials, Oth July, 1529, Hen. Conyers of 

 W. Lathes, in Clyveland, E.sq., to be buried in the Chapel of 

 AVhorlton before the Crucili.K. 30th January, 1577, Joh. 

 Strangwayes, of Strathonlmrge, gent., to be buried in the Parish 

 Church of Wliorleton Tliere is a farm close to Swainby known 

 as AVest Lees. The font is Norman of a severe type. 



* Ditchtield, Tlic Antiquary, Vol. Y. 



