WESSEX MINSTERS. 67 



In conclusion mention may be made of certain uses of the 

 name about which no direct evidence seems to be available. 

 What is the meaning of Minster as attached to Lytchett ? 

 As far as records go back this Church is in the position of a 

 Chapelry to Sturminster Marshall, and no trace of a Monastic 

 house of any kind is forthcoming, nor even that land there 

 belonged to any Monastery which is in some cases an 

 explanation. May the suggestion be made that it was 

 known as the Lytchett attached to Sturminster to distinguish 

 it from Lytchett that belonged to the Mattr avers, and so 

 came to be known in common talk as " Lytchett of the 

 Minster ? " 



Minsterton or Misterton near Crewkerne and Minsterley 

 in Salop appear never to have been in any case Mother- 

 churches, and possibly the name in these cases may indicate 

 a later use of the word as an offshoot from a Parish Church. 

 Or the name may be simply accounted for by the fact that 

 some Monastic House owned an estate in that locality, 

 which appears to give a reason for the name of Upminster 

 in Essex, Minster Lovell in Oxfordshire and Minsterworth 

 in Gloucestershire. The places that bear the name of 

 Minster simply, e.g., Minster in Thanet, Minster in Sheppey, 

 and Minster in Cornwall, indicate obviously an early Religious 

 House and the land attached to it. They do not suggest a 

 Christian Station to serve for a large district as the River- 

 Minsters appear to do. Perhaps some further information 

 on these points may reach the writer of this paper from those 

 who may kindly be moved to send it to him. It will be 

 gratefully received and much valued. 



