WEST DERBY HUNDRED prescot 



Date Name Patron Cause of Vacancy 



8 May, 1700 . Francis Bere, M. A.' King's College . . . res. T. Bryan 



28 July, 1722 . Benjamin Clarke, M.A.' .... „ . . . d. F. Bere 



18 Sept. 1730 . Augustine Gwyn, M.A.» .... „ ... d. B. Clarke 



II July, 1776 . Samuel Sewell, M. A.* „ ... d. A. Gwyn 



II July, 181 5 . Charles George Thomas Driffield, 



M.A.' „ . . . d. S. Sewell 



9 Dec. 1848 . Charles Chapman, M. A. ' . ... „ ... d. C. G. T. Driffield 

 28 July, 1849 . Lewis William Sampson, M.A. ' . . „ ... d. C. Chapman 



24 Jan. 1883 . Henry Alexander Macnaghten,M. A.* „ ... d. L. W. Sampson 



2 Feb. 1887 . Harry Mitchell, M.A." .... „ ... res. H. A. Macnaghten 



The rectors were usually prominent men ; as, after 1562 showing the vicar and three assistants at Prescot, 



the patronage came into the possession of the dukes and a curate at Farnworth." Next year showed a 



of Lancaster and the kings, the benefice was bestowed decline ; the vicar was absent in London, but the 



as a reward of public service. These busy officials curate and the schoolmaster appeared ; as also those 



probably never visited Prescot, discharging their of Farnworth." The minimum seems to have been 



duties by a resident curate.'" Hence the bestowal reached in 1565, when neither the vicar nor the 



of the rectory on King's College was no loss to the curate of Farnworth appeared, the curate of Prescot 



parish, though the new vicars, sometimes men of being the only representative.'* 



importance in the university and holding other In 1590 the vicar was described as a preacher; 



benefices, were probably not seen much oftener by there was also a preacher at Rainford, but the chapels 



their parishioners than the old rectors. The first at St. Helens and Farnworth had only readers." Two 



account of the resident clergy of the parish is sup- years later it was alleged that the vicar and curate did 



plied by the Clergy List of 1 541—2." The vicar not catechize the youth; Mr. Mead 'appeared and 



of that time is known to have resided at least stated that every Sunday and holiday he did interpret 



occasionally ; he paid a curate. There were three upon some parcel of Scripture both before and after 



chantry priests ; also chaplains or curates at Rainford noon,' but he was ordered to catechize also. The 



and Farnworth. Two priests were paid by John churchwardens were ordered to provide ' a decent 



Eccleston, three lived ' de stipite,' and one, Ralph communion table ' before Christmas, also a * fair linen 



Richardson, by the profits of lands. There was thus cloth ' for it ; to use the perambulations and to make 



a staff of thirteen clergy serving the parish church, a presentment of oiFenders.'* No change is revealed 



the four chapels and three chantries, and private by a report made about 1610, but the vicar was the 



oratories. Eleven, including the vicar, appeared at only ' preacher ' in the parish.'^ 



the visitation of 1548 ; two of them had been The parliamentary authorities temporarily expelled 



chantry priests, but four of the names were firesh, so Mr. Day. Articles were presented against him in 



that three or four of those living herein 1 541 had 1645, but he did not appear, having 'deserted' 



disappeared, by death or migration. Three others the place, and it was next year ordered that the 



are named under Farnworth." ' rectory ' should stand sequestered to the use of some 



The effect of the changes made under Edward VI godly and orthodox divine until the vicar should 



becomes manifest in the visitation list of 1554; the submit. It appeared that he had some scruples of 



vicar and his curate alone remained at Prescot, and conscience as to taking the Solemn League and Cove- 



the curate at Farnworth, the staff of thirteen having nant."" Afterwards he was able to satisfy the authorities 



been reduced to three.'' Very little improvement and was restored to the full enjoyment of the vicarage."' 



was effected by Bishops Cotes and Scott, the list of His successor, John Withins, conformed in 1662. 



' Educated at King's Coll.; M.A. 1692. and in 1886 was appointed rector of appeared, did not subscribe. The curate 



' Admitted to King's Coll. 1696; M.A. Tankersley in Yorks. of Rainford's name is not entered; pos- 



1704; became senior fellow. At Pres- ^01 Emmanuel Coll. Camb. ; M.A. sibly he had relinquished his post. In 



cot he built the vicarage house. He is 1886. Mr. Mitchell was vicar of Peak '559 Robert Nelson, curate, had refused 



said to have been 'one of the Suffolk Forest from 1875 till 1881, when he was to appear at the visitation ; Gee, Eliza- 



curates for many years.' presented to St. John's, Pemberton. He bethan Clergy. 



' Educated at King's Coll.; M.A. 1723; was made rural dean of Prescot, 1890, and " Visit. List. There was also a blank, 



fellow. His son William became principal canon of Liverpool, 1893. with the words ' cur. de Raynforth' follow- 



of Brasenose Coll. Oxford, in 1770, but 10 William Brinklow, rector of Mancet- ing; so thatwhilc the services were supposed 



died shortly afterwards ; Foster, Alumni ter, was appointed to hear the confessions to be maintained no one was in charge. 



Oxon. of the parishioners in 1395 ; Lich. Epis. '' Ibid. 



* Educated at King's Coll.; M.A. 1762 ; Reg. vi, fol. 132A. '' Gibson's Lydiate Hall, p. 248 (quoting 

 senior fellow. There is a monument in i^ Printed by the Rec. Soc. of Lanes, and S. P. Dom. Eliz. ccxxxv, b. 4). 



the church recording his benefactions to Ches. 15. ^ Tram. Hist. Soc. (New Scr.), x, 189. 



Prescot, Liverpool, and Windsor. ^^ visit. List at Chester. The offences named are adultery and like 



' Educatedat King'sColl.; M.A. 1798; For the church ornaments at this time »ms ; marriage without banns ; playing 



fellow. He was also vicar of Little Maple- seeCh.GJs, 1552 (Chet. Soc), ii, 80 ; and cards 'on the Sabbath day' at home at 



stead in Essex. Raines, Chantries (Chet. Soc), 270, 279. the time of evening prayer ; and having a 



' Of King's CoIL ; M.A. 1834 ; fellow. 18 List at the Chester diocesan registry. child baptized by some missionary priest. 



He committed suicide shortly after being In his decree as to Farnworth, Bishop " Kenyan MSS. 13. 



presented and never resided. Cotes said of Prescot church : ' There is "» Plund. Mins. Accts. (Rec. Soc. Lanes. 



^Admitted to King's Coll.; M.A. so great ruins and deformities and dilapi- and Ches.), i, 11, &c. From 1644 to 



1834; fellow. He lived in London dations in the roofs, ornaments, walls, and 1647 he lived as a fellow commoner at 



until the bishop compelled him to reside ; windows that unless speedy remedy be Trinity Hall, Camb. ; Hall's Catalogue 



the parishioners held a mock funeral, by taken the said church is in a short time in King's Coll. 



way of showing their resentment at his likely to fall down to the ground.' '' Plund. Mins. Accts. i, 47, 55-8. The 



absence. " Ibid. The vicar, William Whitlock, committee of the county of Cambridge 



* Of King's Coll. ; M.A. 1875. He appeared and subscribed, as did Robert had in 1643 certified that Mr. Day was 

 was vicar of Wentworth, 1877 to 1882, Nelson; but Ralph Richardson who ' of a pious life and no way delinquent 



3 345 44 



