ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



The elaborate Presbyterian system, with its classis organization, 

 which existed on paper for the whole country, took firm hold for a time 

 in certain shires. Hampshire was one of those counties that was the 

 least affected by it. Evidence is forthcoming of ordination by presbyters 

 at Newport, Isle of Wight, and at Bishopstoke, near Southampton, so 

 there may have been a classis in the Isle of Wight and another on the 

 mainland. 1 Independency had the upper hand in Hampshire from 1646 

 to 1660. 



In 1650 an important survey of the whole of the benefices of 

 England was undertaken by the Commonwealth, most of the returns 

 being now at Lambeth Library. The report on Southampton was drawn 

 up on 20 June, when evidence was given before the mayor (Christopher 

 Walleston), aldermen and burgesses. The value of St. Mary (with St. 

 Paul) was declared at 3- Of this sum 170 went out of the 

 parish, Roger Turner of Jesus Chapel having 40, the residue being 

 equally divided among the ministers of the town 'for there paynes in 

 preachinge by turne in the Parishe Church.' The balance went to 

 Walter Bright, who is described as the parson of St. Mary. All Saints 

 was returned as a rectory worth 22, and without a minister ; St. 

 Lawrence, a vicarage, 31, Nathaniel Robinson, minister ; St. Michael, 

 a vicarage, 18, John Toms; and St. John, a vicarage, 7, and no 

 minister. The chapel of God's House was used by the French congre- 

 gation, who paid their minister, Daniel Savage. The commissioners 

 recommended that St. Mary and All Saints, St. Cross and St. Lawrence, 

 and St. Michael and St. John should be respectively united so as to form 

 three parishes instead of six. 2 



Occasionally these returns present special points of interest, of 

 which the following will serve as an example : 



The returne for the parishe of Yarmouth in the Isle of Wight concerning the 

 inquiry to be made for preachinge ministers and mayntenance for them &c. There 

 is a small Parsonage here only belonginge to this Towne. The said Parsonage is not 

 worth above twenty markes per annum, one yeare with another at utmost. There is 

 one Master Richard Faulkener, a feeble old man who was onley a Reader here for 

 neare thirtie yeares till he was putt out by order sixe or seaven yeares since for his 

 debility and insufficiency and hath and doth receive the profittes of our Parsonage for 

 his livelyhood, having noe other meanes to mayntain him. Wee have noe preaching 

 minister here at all, neither have had a long tyme albeit there are about foure hundred 

 soules in our Towne and all the howses compact neere together, and noe other 

 Church within a myle of us, and that is a very small one twoe, and if the tide be up 

 it is above twoe miles thither. Wee have onely one Church in our Towne which is 

 large enough and well fitted for all our congregation, onely wee want a godlie preaching 

 minister which is rare, and the Towne's humble desire may be speedily obtayned for 

 the glory of God and the comfort of our poore soules. Thomas Byles. William 

 Prickett. John Griar. William Hide. 



The differences between Presbyterians and Independents brought 

 about an agitation for the abolition of tithes, which came to a head 

 in 1653. 



1 Shaw's Hist, of the English Church during the Commonwealth, ii. 30, 393. 

 8 Commonwealth Surveys, Lambeth, xv. 476-95. 



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