ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



Fifteen chapelries obtain distinct mention in the Pope Nicholas Taxation. 



The number of portions or pensions paid from the rectories to religious 

 houses materially increased between 1256 and 1291. In some parishes these 

 pensions were exceptionally numerous. Thus the church of Sibton, whose 

 advowson was in the hands of the abbot of Sibton, found pensions for the 

 three priories of St. Faith's, Romburgh, and Eye ; whilst the church of Pos- 

 lingworth, in the gift of the prior of Dunmow, contributed to the priories of 

 Chipley, Stoke, and Tunbridge. 



The spiritualities of the two archdeaconries were at this time worth 

 6,825 9-r. lod. a year; whilst the temporalities pertaining to various 

 religious houses attained to the annual value of 3,487 8s. 3J*/. 1 



It may be well here to follow up the question of the appropriation of so 

 many rectories to the religious houses. A small proportion of the churches 

 of England were in the hands of the monasteries as early as the twelfth 

 century. As a rule such churches adjoined the religious house, or were 

 within a reasonable walking distance. Monks were strictly prohibited from 

 serving a parochial cure, save under a rarely-granted dispensation. There was 

 a little more laxity with regard to Austin canons, but they could only officiate 

 as vicars by the distinct permission of the bishop. The Premonstratensian 

 canons were the only religious order who possessed the privilege of serving 

 their own churches, and then only as duly instituted vicars, and under special 

 responsibilities to their own chapter. Occasionally the previously existing 

 parish church became, so far as the quire was concerned, the conventual 

 church of a religious foundation, the nave being reserved for parochial 

 purposes. This was the case with the small Austin priory of Bricett, founded 

 in 1 1 10, when the church of Great Bricett became absorbed in the foundation 

 and continued in that position, being served by the canons. In other cases 

 where the parish church was within reasonable distance of the monastery to 

 which it had been appropriated, part of the arrangement for a vicar was that 

 he should have a corrody in the house, sometimes of board only, and at other 

 times of both board and lodging, although the vicar was not himself under 

 vows. Thus at Sibton, in this county, the custom prevailed down to the 

 Dissolution, of both the vicar and the parochial chaplain being provided with 

 food and lodging at the Cistercian abbey, which was but a few hundred yards 

 distant from the parish church. 



The evil habit, however, began to prevail during the twelfth century of 

 monasteries providing poorly paid chaplains, removable at will, to serve the 



1 The remarkable way in which so large a part of Suffolk was distributed among religious foundations comes 

 out very clearly in this taxation. An exceptionally large number of monasteries whose head quarters were out- 

 side the county drew a more or less considerable part of their annual revenues from Suffolk. Of these the 

 following is a list, the figures in brackets giving the number of the different parishes wherein they held 

 property : St. Albans abbey (l), Amberge abbey, Normandy (z), Anglesey priory (i), Aumerle abbey, Nor- 

 mandy (3), Barnwell priory (2), Beeston priory (3), Beaulieu abbey (l), Boxley abbey (i), Broomhill 

 priory (2), Bromholm priory (16), Buckenham priory (l), Burton Lazars hospital (l), Canterbury priory (6), 

 Carrow priory (2), Castleacre priory (2), Chatteris abbey (l), Coggeshall abbey (i), Colchester abbey (10), 

 Colchester priory (2), Colne priory (3), Dereham abbey (3), Dunmow priory (3), Ely priory (27), Fordham 

 priory (3), Hatfield priory (2), Hockesley priory (i), Horsham priory (3), Holme abbey (l), Ickling 

 priory (5), Langley abbey (13), Leighs priory (14), Lesnes priory (2), Mailing abbey (i), Mencheneleye (2), 

 Missenden abbey (i), St. Neots priory (l), Norwich priory (13), St. Osyth abbey (14), Pentney priory (l), 

 Pritdewell priory (i), Ramsey abbey (2), Rochester priory (l), Royston priory (3), Spinney priory (l), Thet- 

 ford Cluniac priory (14), Thetford Austin priory (5), Titley abbey (6), Tunbridge priory (i), Walsingham 

 priory (i), Wardon abbey (4), Wickes priory (6), Woburn abbey (l), Wormegay priory (2), Wymondham 

 priory (i). 



