ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



The first half of the I3th century witnessed the singular vigour and 

 systematic discharge of duty so unceasingly displayed by Walter de Gray 

 during the forty years (121555) l ^ at he presided over the see of York. Of 

 this most distinguished of York's archbishops, it has been well said that he 

 was ' cautious and wise as a statesman, pious and munificent as a prelate . . . 

 He found the province to which he was translated a barren wilderness, he 

 left it a fruitful garden.' His register, the most ancient and perfect of its 

 kind in the kingdom, yields evidence of the energy of his rule in the arch- 

 deaconry of Nottingham as well as over the rest of his great diocese. This 

 register was transcribed and worthily edited by Canon Raine for the Surtees 

 Society in 1870. 



Archbishop Gray was a strenuous advocate for the erection of and 

 encouragement of chapels in order to secure a better supply of the means of 

 grace in the large parishes. On this subject he was strengthened in 1233 by 

 a rescript from Pope Gregory IX advising the building of chapels and 

 oratories in a diocese where many of the parishes were so widespread 

 (diffuse] that the more distant inhabitants were not able to assemble for 

 worship without great inconvenience, and not infrequently passed away in 

 illness without the opportunity of receiving the last sacraments or making 

 their confession. 9 



The archbishop's register contains various references to such chapels or 

 oratories in Nottinghamshire. In 1227 licence was granted to Gilbert de 

 Cancia, rector of Tuxford, to build and hold service in a chapel in curia sua 

 at Tuxford on account of the distance of his house from the church and the 

 badness of the road in winter. 10 Two years later Robert de Lexington was 

 licensed to build a chapel and to have a chaplain ministering at Laxton. 11 



In 1231 an ordinance was promulgated as to the chantry chapel of 

 Barnstone in the parish of Langar, where the men of Barnstone had been in 

 the habit of hearing mass celebrated three times a week. In order to secure 

 full service with a chaplain and clerk resident in Barnstone the inhabitants 

 covenanted to allow Robert the rector of Langar and his successors, in 

 addition to the two bovatcs of land pertaining to the chapel, 7 quarters of corn 

 payable on the vigil of All Saints, and 3 quarters of barley payable on the 

 vigil of the Purification. The Barnstone parishioners also undertook to 

 sustain the fabric repairs of the chapel, the lights and all ornaments, except 

 books, wine, and hosts, which were to be supplied by the rector. All divine 

 offices were to be performed in the chapel with the exception of funerals ; 

 but all parishioners were to visit the mother church at Easter, Michaelmas, 

 and Purification. 12 



The archbishop granted in 1235 to Alexander de Vilers and his heirs a 

 chantry in his chapel at Newbold in the parish of Kinoulton, for himself, 

 his family, guests, and household ; but the mother church was to be attended 

 at the principal feasts. 13 About the same time Robert de Lexington obtained a 

 similar licence for a chapel at his manor-house of Marnham in Marnham 

 parish. 14 In 1239. the archbishop confirmed to Robert le Vavasour the grant 

 of a chapel at Hempshill, made to him by the patron and rector of the 

 church of Greasley. 15 Again, in 1254, a grant was made to Sir Simon de 



Add. MS. 15353, fol- 173. 10 ArMp. Gray Reg. (Surtees Sjc.), Ivi, 16. " Ibid. 27. 



Ibid. 43-4. " Ibid. 69-70. " Ibid. 71. " Ibid. 84. 



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