ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



been one hundred and fifty churches standing before the death of William I. 

 As the total number in the diocese in 1291 was only about two hundred and 

 sixty-seven it follows that more than half had been built at this early date. Not 

 content with erecting new churches where required the Normans also 

 enlarged and improved those that existed ; thus William de Warenne replaced 

 the wooden church of St. Pancras at Lewes with one of stone," destined itself 

 in later years to give place to the magnificent priory church whose measure- 

 ments alone now remain to testify to its former glories. 



It is probable that every church possessed a certain portion of glebe 

 land, but its amount is not usually stated in the Domesday Survey. At 

 Filsham one virgate of land went with the church, at Playden three virgates, 

 and at Walberton two ; the churches of Compton and Mundham had half a 

 hide each, those of Aldingbourne and Elsted one hide, Stoughton a hide and 

 a half, and Amberley as much as three hides. Probably from thirty to a 

 hundred acres would constitute the average endowment. Two cases of the 

 foundation of a church at a somewhat later date may be introduced here as 

 bearing upon this point. In the first of these William de Warenne (II ?) 

 confirms the gift of one acre of land in Kingston-by-Lewes made by Peter 

 the sheriff for the erection of a church there and orders Hugh the sheriff (of 

 Lewes) to cause the church to be built. 26 The other instance concerns the 

 church of Hellingly, and is as follows : 



I Nicholas de Brade, when Bishop Seffrid (1180-1204) consecrated the church of Helling, 

 endowed it with twelve denariates of land . . . because there was not anyone else who 

 would endow it, and the bishop earnestly sought for an endowment for the church lest so 

 excellent a work should in any way be hindered. 



Richard de Helling further gave a croft near the church and six perches of 

 moorland to enlarge the churchyard." 



Stigand, the first bishop of Chichester, died in 1087, and the identity of 

 his immediate successor is involved in considerable mystery. According to 

 Bishop William Reade's list Willelmus Primus followed Stigand, 28 and William 

 of Malmesbury also says of Stigand, huic successit Willelmus. A charter 

 already printed in the article on the Sussex Domesday S9 would prove the 

 existence of Bishop William if it could be relied upon, and another charter of 

 Bishop Ralph refers to his predecessors, Bishops Stigand and William. 80 On 

 the other hand, Godfrey is said by several good authorities to have been 

 consecrated by Lanfranc in 1087, and to have died in 1088, and his body 

 was found and identified in iSag. 31 It would seem, therefore, that William 

 was Stigand's successor, but that he died the same year that he was appointed, 

 and that his place was at once filled by Godfrey. A further element of 

 confusion is introduced by the latter being called in Bishop Reade's list 

 Lelaugbt, and in the series of bishops painted in Chichester Cathedral in the 

 sixteenth century Leluaught. This appears to admit of no explanation, 

 though it was probably a nickname. 8 * 



William Rufus, caring less for the spiritual welfare of the Church than 

 for its temporal wealth, kept the see of Chichester vacant for three years 



* Dugdale, Mm. v, i. * Lewes Chartul.; Cott. MSS. Vesp. F. xv, fol. 20. 



" Salzmann, Hist. ofHatlskam, 103, from chartul. of Bayham Abbey. 



Sun. Arch. Coll. xrviii, 15. " r.C.H.Sust. i, 372. 



M Cott. MS. Vitel. E, x. " Suss. Arch. Cell, xxviii, 15. Ibid. 



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