1 2 THE CHURCH OF ST. HELEN S, DARLEY DALE. 



this attempt of the Crown was successfully resisted by pleading 

 the length of time that had elapsed since the claim was made. 

 A similar statement as to the pension, and as to the church 

 or rectory being divided into three portions, is also made in 

 like inventories drawn up in 1429, in the reign of Henry VI. 



The early episcopal registers at Lichfield afford many in- 

 stances of institution to the three different parts into which this 

 rectory was divided, all made on the presentation of the Dean 

 of Lincoln. The first instance occurs in January, 1301, when 

 John de Brentingham was instituted to a third portion of 

 Darley in the room of Walter de Fotheringye, who had 

 accepted the rectory of Matlock, which was also in the gift 

 of the Dean of Lincoln. In 1369 one of the three rectors of 

 Darley effected an exchange of benefices with a prebend of 

 All Saints', Derby. But in the year 1393 we find from the 

 same registers that the Bishop's consent and that of the Dean 

 of Lincoln were obtained to the amalgamation of the three 

 portions into two. This was effected when one of the three 

 portions was vacant through death, and the other two rectors 

 pledged themselves to the due payment of the whole of the 

 pension. 



The reason given in the Episcopal Registers for the consolida- 

 tion of the three medieties of Darley rector}' into two, which 

 was effected on March 29th, 1393, was because of the deteriora- 

 tion of property, " propter pestilencias et stcrilitates successivas 

 et insolitas," to which the parish had been subjected, so that 

 the three rectors were scarcely able to keep life within their 

 bodies, to say nothing of the accustomed duties of their position, 

 which were always supposed to involve alms-giving to their 

 poor parishioners. 



The Parliamentary Commissioners of 1650 report of Darley 

 that it was in two medieties, and that it " constantly had two 

 parsons to officiate, each a distinct dwelling. South Mediety 

 ,£70, Mr. Edward Payne, a hopeful minister, officiates. North 

 Mediety ^80, Mr. John Pott, incumbent." 



