ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



A dispute arising between the rector and vicar of Lancing as to the 

 division of the tithes, the bishop re-ordained 80 the vicarage there in 1334. 

 Vicarages were appointed at Felpham" in 1345, Rustington M 1354, and Mid 

 Lavant M in 1358. In 1360 the bishop, finding that although perpetual 

 vicars had been presented for a long time previous to the church of East 

 Grinstead, appropriated to Lewes Priory, no fixed endowment appeared to be 

 on record, appointed a manse, land, and certain tithes and dues to the vicar's 

 use. 64 Portions were also appointed to vicars upon the appropriation of the 

 churches of Rye" 1363, Alfriston and Fletching" 1398, Up Marden and 

 Compton 87 1414. The changed conditions due to the Black Death, the 

 scarcity of labour and increased cost of living, made many of the old endow- 

 ments inadequate ; consequently vicarages were re-appointed or augmented 

 by a money payment at Goring M 1424; Walberton, Barnham, Hampnett, 6 ' 

 and Eastbourne 70 1440; Bishopstone 7l 1486; Alciston and Lullington 72 1520; 

 Slinfold 75 1521; Eartham 7 * 1522; Ifield, Udimore and Amberley 75 1524; 

 and finally at Wilmington 78 in 1541. 



In two cases during Bishop Praty's episcopate it was found necessary to 

 re-unite poorly endowed vicarages with their rectories, these being Sullington 77 

 in 1441, and Storrington 78 in 1443. About the same time the archbishop's 

 peculiar of Cliffe, which had always been accounted a vicarage, was converted 

 into a rectory." 



Returning now to the general history of the diocese during the thirteenth 

 century, we find SefFrid II succeeded in 1204 by Simon, archdeacon of Wells, 

 who died in 1207. Next year the interdict was declared by the papal com- 

 missioners, and for six years the churches throughout the county remained 

 closed. It has been asserted 80 that the see of Chichester remained vacant 

 during this period, but there is little doubt that the chronicles of Dunstaple 

 and Osney are correct in recording the election of Nicholas of L'Aigle in 

 1209," in which year the pope ordered the chapter to elect a bishop in spite 

 of the king's prohibition. 83 Nicholas was dean of Chichester and a member 

 of one of the leading Sussex families, his nephew being at this time lord of 

 Pevensey ; he is spoken of as bishop in the instrument of ordination of Hen- 

 field vicarage in 1209, but how long he held the see is not known ; it was, 

 however, vacant in 1214 when the interdict was removed, and it is possible 

 that he had resigned his bishopric and retired abroad, as he appears in 1220 

 as dean of Avranches. 83 



Richard Poore, who was appointed bishop in January, 1215, is best 

 known as the founder of the glorious cathedral of Salisbury, to which see he 

 was translated in 1217. Nor does Ranulph of Wareham call for more than 

 passing notice; but in Ralph de Neville, who held the see from 1224 to 1244, 

 the diocese had a distinguished and worthy head. A man of good family and 



60 Chich. Epis. Reg. Sherborn, fbl. 74. " Dallaway, Hist, of West Suss, ii (i), 7. 



" Ibid. 24. " Chich. Epis. Reg. Sherborn, fbl. 68. 



M Ibid. fol. 78. *> Ibid. fbl. 76. " Ibid. fol. 70. 



67 Ibid. Reade, fol. 61. " Ibid. Praty, fol. 86. 69 Ibid. fol. 88. 



70 Ibid. fol. 99. " Ibid. Story, fol. 78. " Ibid. Sherborn, fol. 83. 



75 Ibid. fol. 92. " Ibid. " Ibid. pt. ii, fol. 86. 



76 Suss. Arch. Coll. iv, 58. " Chich. Epis. Reg. Praty, fol. 97^. " Ibid. fol. 93. 



79 Suss. Arch. Coll. xxvi, 24. " Stephens, Mem. ofSte of Chich. 72. 



81 Ann. Man. (Rolls Ser.), iii, 31 ; iv, 54. * Cat. Pap. Let. i, 32. 



88 Muniments of Magd. Coll. Oxf. box ' Thakeham,' No. 2. 



2 9 2 



