By the Rev. Canon J. EB. Jackson. 235 
church of Westwood being not much more than a quarter of a mile 
off. But Rowley being an independent parish, with a Rector, it 
was probably thought right that it should have a church of its 
own. 
It appears, from the Act of Annexation to Farley, that Rowley 
Church was intended to be preserved, the parishioners of Rowley 
being, by the document, exempted from paying towards the main- 
‘tenance of the nave of Fariey Church, on condition of maintaining 
their own. Their chancel was to be kept up by the Rector of Farley. 
All the church ornaments, vestments, &c., of Rowley to remain as 
they were. Masses to be said three times in the year, viz., on St. 
Nicholas’s Day (6th Dec.), the Nativity of the B.V.M. (Sept. 8th) ; 
and on the day of the Dedication of Rowley Church. For all other 
services and offices they were to attend at Farley. <A special 
arrangement was made for observing in Farley Church the Obit of 
Lord Hungerford’s father, Sir Thomas, who had died, December 3rd, 
1398: all the expenses of which were to be borne by the Rector of 
Farley on the strength of the addition to his income by the benefice 
of Rowley. Every 2nd December, the eve of the Obit, the Rector 
was to collect seven priests and say a solemn mass for the dead. On 
the 3rd a mass by the Rector and seven other masses by the rest, 
for the souls of Lord Hungerford’s father and mother, for his own 
and his wife’s, during their lives, and likewise after their deaths. 
After which, the seven chaplains were to dine with the Rector and 
receive 4d. a-piece for their pains. Thirteen poor folk were to attend 
the masses and to receive one penny each. Two wax tapers, each 
weighing one pound, were to be kept continually burning during 
the ceremonies. Failing performance of these injunctions, the 
Rector was to pay a fine of xx shillings towards the building of 
Wells Cathedral, and to be suspended from all the emoluments of 
both churches. 
As Rowley Church was only to be made use of three times a-year, 
it was not likely to be kept up very long, but at what time it was 
entirely taken away is not known. 
The Registers of Sarum have preserved the names of six Rectors 
of Wittenham alias Rowley, viz. :— 
