IN LAMBETH PALACE LIBRARY. 89 



HEARING OF CAUSES BY THE TRUSTEES FOR THE 

 UNION OR DIVISION OF PARISHES. 



No 53. Vol. 991 



p. 1 GILLINGHAM & MOTCOMBE 



21 May 1655 



Upon the humble petition of the parishioners of Motcombe, 

 co. Dorset, the Trustees have taken into consideration the 

 state of the said Town and convenience of dividing the same 

 from the parish church of Gillingham in said county, And 

 find that 3rd December 1646 the Committee for the county 

 of Dorset taking notice that the said Parish of Motcombe 

 had within it all kind of officers properly belonging to a 

 parish church and that time out of mind it hath had a parish 

 church with all church officers and rites belonging to a parish 

 church with sufficient Vicarage profitts for support of a 

 Minister there within itself, Ordered the Vicarage of Motcombe 

 to stand distinct and divided from Gillingham aforesaid 

 and the profitts of the Vicarage thereof to goe to ye mainten- 

 ance of the Vicar of Motcombe only for the time being and 

 not to the Vicar of Gillingham, Since when upon return made 

 by Com'rs for Survey of the values of Livings by virtue of 

 a Com'n issued under ye Great Seale of England bearing 

 date the 3rd April 1650, in pursuance of an Act of Parliament 

 for providing maintenance for Preaching Ministers and 

 other pious uses, It is certyfied that the church of Motcombe 

 is a reputed Chappell of Gillingham belonging to ye church 

 of Gillingham called ye Mother Church, And that the said 

 churches are two miles distant from each other, And that 

 the tithes of Motcomb belonging to the said Church are 

 worth about One hundred pounds a year, there being a 

 Vicarage house and curtilage belonging to the said church or 

 chappell of Motcombe, And that the said chappell of 

 Motcombe hath time out of mind had and used all parochiall 

 rites and customs and all church and civil officers belonging 

 to the same, distinct from Gillingham, and all parish duties 

 and payments for the service of the Commonwealth distinct 

 from any other place, And that Mr. Thomas Andre wes a 



