Rev. Win. Procter, jun., on Doddington. 153 



early English architecture of the 13th century; and it is 

 probable that the double nave and baptistery were built at 

 the instance of Lord Richard de Vesci, who was vicar of 

 Chatton with Doddington at the time of the Ordinatio in 

 a.d. 1224. The old Saxon chapel was probably then con- 

 verted into a chancel, as had manifestly been done at a 

 very similar extension of Kirk Newton church, in the 

 same style of architecture, and therefore about the same 

 time. Churches and castles were then built on plans pro- 

 vided by the community of Free Masons, and executed under 

 their auspices, which accounts for the same style of archi- 

 tecture prevailing over Europe at the same period of time. 

 The old chancel had quite disappeared before the year 1834, 

 but men were then living who remembered its walls stand- 

 ing above the ground. In 1838 their foundations were 

 uncovered, and the present chancel built upon them, but 

 only to two-thirds of their length. In cutting out the present 

 plain arch between the nave and the new chancel, the 

 masons came upon a rounded arch, reaching about ten feet 

 above the old floor of the church, which was, unhappily, 

 quite demolished before Mr. Procter saw it. This, of course, 

 was the original communication between the nave and the 

 chancel; but as the floor was now to be raised three feet, 

 nearly to the level of the ground outside, this round arch 

 was much too low for communication with the new chancel. 



Clergy. — In May, 1775, Robert Thorpe became curate of 

 Doddington. He was the first incumbent who held Dod- 

 dington separate from Chatton. Being also vicar of Chilling- 

 ham, he never resided at Doddington. He served the parish 

 personally for two or three years, and afterwards by a resident 

 assistant-curate. In 1782, he became rector of Gateshead, 

 and soon after archdeacon of Northumberland and rector of 

 Ryton. He was senior wrangler at Cambridge in 1758, and 

 "coached" Dr Paley, who was senior wrangler in 1763. 

 Robert Thorpe was succeeded at Doddington, in 1782, by 

 Nathaniel Ellison, who died in 1798, and was succeeded by 

 William Augustus Cane ; on whose death William Procter 

 succeeded to the incumbency 1st December, 1834. Neither 

 Mr. Ellison nor Mr Cane ever resided at Doddington, so that 

 Mr. Procter is the first resident incumbent. He is also the 

 first vicar of Doddington, perpetual curacies having been 

 made vicarages, in name, though in no other respect, by a 

 very recent Act of Parliament. 



