218 Steeple Ashton, Semington, and Whaddon Churches. 



The following notes by the Rev. E. P. Knubley were also read 

 on the visit of the Society to the Church : — 



When the Vicarage of Steeple Ashton was settled in A.D. 1252 

 it was ordered that the Vicar should " have two chaplains with 

 him to serve the Church at his own expense." One of these was 

 probably intended to serve Rood, or Chapel, Ashton, which was 

 made a separate benefice in 1846, the new Church being dedicated 

 to S. John ; and the other to serve the chapel of S. George, at 

 Semington. But notwithstanding this order in 1470 Vicar Waget 

 denied his liability to serve Semington, whereupon the inhabitants 

 appealed to Bishop Beauchamp, who at a court held at Bromham 

 the 28th of May that year, decreed : — 



" That Thomas Waget and his successors either themselves or by a sufficient 

 chaplain should provide for the celebration of mass and evensong in the s''. 

 chapel on all Sundays and holy days and provide for all other ' saora et 

 sacramentalia ecclesiastica ' including burial of the inhabitants of Semyngton 

 and that the inhabitants should in addition to tithes, oblations and obventions 

 due by custom pay the Vicar 20*. a year by half yearly payments at the feast 

 of S. John the Baptist and at Christmas, and in default of payment the Vicar 

 or Chaplain might discontinue the services until all sums due and arrears 

 were paid up, and that the inhabitants should supply all things necessary 

 except bread and wine." 



Henry Long, of Wraxhall, by will in 1490, bequeathed 20s. to 

 the chapel for vestments. A further sum of 20s. a year is paid to 

 the Vicar of Steeple Ashton by the owner of a field called 

 " Hempsells," to provide for the preaching of a sermon on Good 

 Friday. There is one bell of pre-Reformation date. Tradition 

 says that it came from a Church which no longer exists, at 

 Bulkington. The principal landowners are the Duke of Somerset, 

 Mr. J. C. Gaisford, Mr. W. Bruges, and the Rt. Hon. W.H.Long, M.P., 

 who also owns the rectorial tithes. 



Whaddon Chukch. 



The dedication of this Church seems doubtful, but the Blessed 

 Virgin Mary is the generally-accepted patron saint. The Church 

 now consists of nave and chancel imder a continuous roof, and 

 without any division ; a porch on the south of the former, and a 



