Forest of Rossendale. 165 



Of Thomas Sanders, Incumbent of Newchurch, who died in 

 1695, the following account appears in the parochial register: 

 " Tho. Sanders presbyter, Christi Dni nostri servus humihmus, 

 honestis moribus prsditus ecclesice Anglicanas pastbr vigilantissimus, " 

 artium bonarum studiossimus, in h;ic gente rustica Rossendali^, 

 per spatium i2> annorum plus minus commoratus est. Qui per 

 varios casus longo tempore jactatus deinde in patriam suam 

 nativam Com. Cest. discessit. Et ipsa hora in qua domum suam 

 ingressus est, pacificse inter familiares expiravit. Sepultus apud 

 Mag. Budworth, 9° die Nov. 1695." 



At the time of the appointment of Mr Shorrock, a contest, 

 extending over a period of three years, for the right of the 

 patronage of this valuable living, took place between Dr Keene, 

 the Bishop of Chester ; the Archbishop of Canterbury ; and Mr. 

 Johnson, who was Vicar of Whalley at the time, and claimed the 

 right of presentation. The Decree of the Chancellor of the 

 Duchy of Lancaster, in the 4th of Edward VI., certainly confers 

 upon the Ordinary the right to nominate a minister ; but as the 

 original of this decree could not be found, after diligent search, the 

 Diocesan gave way to the paramount claims of the Vicar. 



Extracts from the correspondence which ensued are given by Dr. 

 Whitaker from the Letters left by Mr Johnson at his decease. I 

 have taken the liberty to incorporate them in these pages. The 

 letters, apart from their Local Historical value, are models of their 

 kind, and will be acceptable to many readers. 



" TO THE BISHOP OF CHESTER. 



Oct. 20/I1, JJ62. 

 "Mv Lord, — I was this morning surprised with an account of 

 Mr S. being refused a license to the Curacy of Rossendale upon 

 my nomination ; for what reason I cannot conceive, since I 

 apprehend there can be no doubt of my right. It is very 

 extraordinary that there should be no claims of this kind before 

 my time, and so many since. I cannot recollect that anything has 

 been done since I became ^'icar to prejudice the rights and 

 privileges of the Rectory of ^Vhalley, but much in support of them ; 



