1^6 THE ANCIEJsT FREE CHAPEL OF COilTOJJ. 



Chantry Act in 1 Ed. VI., whereas the order to remove stone 

 altars was issued in 1550 — three years later. As the chapels were 

 then closed for public Avorship this order did not afifect them. 

 Gorton Chapel seems, however, to have been used as a private 

 cliapel after this date. For when two years later again — namely, 

 in 6 Ed. VI., 1552, by Royal Commission, inventories Avere taken of 

 "all manner of goodes, plate, juells, vestryments, belles, and other 

 ornaments belonging to or apperteyning to any churche or 

 chappell " the whole of the ornaments then in the chapel — namely, 

 a chalice, one vestment of blue velvet, one bell, one surplice, and 

 two tableclothes — were committed to the charge of custodians for 

 the King, and nothing was left for the service of the church as 

 there would have been had the chapel then been used for public 

 worship. The custodians were Sir Thomas Waters (curate), William 

 Hebbes, and Owen Hebbes (Record Office, press mark " Q.R., 

 Church Goods, Dorset, ^"). There was, therefore, a curate, though 

 there were no public ministrations, and the presumption is that he 

 was then serving as private chaplain to the Hebbes. Of the other 

 custodians, one, Owen Hebbes, who died in 1567, was Lord of the 

 Manor and chapel. 



