WEST DERBY HUNDRED 



It will be noticed that most of the pre- Reformation 

 vicars were canons of Burscough Priory. In 1366 

 the parishioners subscribed the stipend of a chaplain 

 to minister at the parish church at the altar of Our 

 Lady. 10 In 1541-2 besides the vicar and the three 

 regular chantry priests there were six others stationed 

 in the parish, one paid by the vicar ; two by Peter 

 Stanley of Bickerstaffe ; one by James Stanley of 

 Cross Hall ; and two by the earl of Derby. Some of 



these would be domestic chaplains, and others would 

 celebrate at the parish church." In 1554 there was 

 a nominal staff of eleven priests, including the vicar, 

 his curate, and three who had been chantry priests." 

 At the visitations of 1563 and 1565 none of them 

 put in an appearance except the vicar ; his curate, 

 the only other name recorded, was Hugh Brekell." The 

 old staff of ten or eleven priests had quickly been 

 reduced to two. At the visitation of 1592 there 



