ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 
the de Clares, to say nothing of the sums that must have been paid for 
the assent both of Stephen and of Henry II.’ 
The beginning of the next century brought a considerable change 
to the position of a great many of the parish churches. Since the 
Conquest nearly four-fifths of the total number had been granted to 
religious houses. Some of these had been given to monasteries outside 
the county ;* but a much larger number to the Bedfordshire monas- 
teries.” 
1 The whole story is set out in full in the Gesta Abbatum (Rolls Series), i. 113-8. Robert, Earl 
of Gloucester, wishing to put in his kinsman Gilbert de Cimmay, became much shocked at the idea of 
these churches being held by a layman. The Bishop of Lincoln (Alexander) refused however to dispossess 
William the Chamberlain without legal forms ; but after three days had been appointed for the hear- 
ing of the case, and the defendant refused to appear, he was disseised, and Gilbert de Cimmay presented. 
The disgrace of Robert of Gloucester put the manor of Luton for a time into the hands of Robert de 
Wanudari, a kinsman of the abbot of St. Alban’s, who was thus able to mediate between him and 
Gilbert de Cimmay. A serious illness of the latter, combined with the persuasions of the abbot, moved 
him to resign the benefice into the hands of the archdeacon, Nicholas of Bedford ; it was then conferred 
on the abbot’s nephew. As soon as William de Clare was restored to his father’s property, the abbot 
approached him, and obtained from him first a grant of the church for 80 marks, and a discharge of 
knight service for another 30 marks (Cott. MS. Otho, D iii. f£. 115b). This was confirmed by Stephen 
(ibid, f. 116), so its date must be between 1151 and 1154 ; and afterwards by Henry II. 
There is another point of interest in this case, bearing on the tradition of Offa’s connection with 
Luton. At the first trial of the matter, when William the Chamberlain was disseised, the jury declared ° 
that § hides of land had belonged to the church from the time of its first foundation ; but at the 
beginning of Henry II.’s reign some were found ready to swear that the church was built ‘super domin- 
icum regni fiscum,’ which was equally true in reference to the eleventh century (see also for all this 
Cobbe’s Luton Church). 
? Bolnhurst to Thorney Abbey ; finally in 1151 (Dugdale’s Mon. ii. 602). 
Dunton to Haliwell Priory, before 1189 (ibid. iv. 393). 
Eyworth to St. Helen’s, London ; before 1225 (Linc. Epis. Reg., 16 Hugh de Wells). 
Potton to St. Andrew’s, Northampton ; about 1094 by Simon de Senliz (Dugdale, Mon. v. 191). 
Sharnbrook to St. Mary de Pré, Leicester ; before 1162 by W. Tricket (ibid. vi. 468). 
Tillsworth to St. Giles in the Wood. 
Podington and Thurleigh to Canons Ashby. 
Meppershall and Felmersham to Lenton ; confirmed 1205 (Cal. of Pap. Letters, i. 18). 
Edworth, Knotting, Tempsford and Turvey to St. Neot’s (Gorham, History of St. Neor’s, II. cxii. 
cxiii. cxiv. cxv.). (Knotting in 1176 was a chapel appendant to Melchbourne church; in that year 
the Bishop of Exeter as arbitrator assigned the church to the Hospitallers and the chapel to St. Neot’s. 
Turvey church is named in the charters of Newnham Priory, but the Lincoln Registers show that the 
advowson certainly belonged to St. Neot’s.) 
Eaton Bray, Whipsnade, Upper Stondon, Milton Bryant to Merton (Dugdale, Mon. vi. 247). 
Luton, Houghton, Potsgrave to St. Alban’s (Potsgrave by W. de Blancfront, Cotton MS. Otho, 
D iii. f. 120b). 
Toddington to the abbey of Couture, Le Mans. 
Langford and Little Stoughton to the Templars (Cotton MS. Nero, E vi. f. 137). (Where no 
reference is given, the evidence of the earliest institutions in the Lincoln Episcopal Registers may be 
assumed.) 
3 To Elstow: Elstow, Wilshampstead, Maulden, Flitton with Silsoe chapel, Kempston and 
Westoning. 
To Dunstable: Dunstable, Chalgrave, Harlington, Studham, Husborne Crawley, Pulloxhill, 
Segenhoe, Totternhoe, Steppingley with St. Cuthbert, St. Mary and St. Peter Dunstable at Bedford. 
To Newnham : St. Paul’s and All Saints’, Bedford ; Ravensden, Renhold, Great Barford, Willing- 
ton, Cardington, Goldington, Southill, Hatley, Wootton, Stagsden, Aspley, Lower Gravenhurst, Salford, 
Wrestlingworth and Hulcote. 
To Caldwell: Bromham, Roxton and Sandy, Oakley with the chapel of Clapham. 
To Chicksand : Chicksand, Haynes, Cople, Keysoe and Stotfold with the chapel of Astwick. 
To Beaulieu : Millbrook, Clophill and Ampthill, Campton and Milton Ernest. 
To Harrold : Harrold and Stevington. 
To Markyate Priory : Sundon, Streatley and Higham Gobion. 
To Melchbourne Preceptory : Dean, Eaton Socon, Risley, Eversholt and Melchbourne. 
Most of these churches may be found in the foundation charters of the religious houses ; the 
rest may be gathered from the early institutions in the Lincoln Registers. 
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