CLIFTON HUNDRED 



SHILLINGTON 



it is a fifteenth-century insertion, and cuto partly into 

 the south-east buttress of the tower. 



The only detail now remaining of the mediaeval 

 tower is the tower arch of three orders with moulded 

 capitals and bases of the same style as those in the 

 nave ; the jambs have a half-octagonal inner order 

 and a half-round outer order, with a hollow chamfer 

 between. Above the arch is a plain square-headed 

 opening from the second stage of the tower. 



The tower itself, built in 1750, as recorded on a 

 slab in the south wall, is of red brick and absolutely 

 plain, with an unbroken parapet and round-headed 

 belfry windows, entirely unworthy of the church to 

 which it is attached. It has a round-headed west 

 window on the ground stage, into which modern 

 gothic tracery has been inserted. 



The roofs of the nave and aisles retain some of their 

 old timbers, but have been reconstructed. In the east 

 bay of the nave are a number of modern painted shields, 

 with the emblems of the Passion and heraldry. 



The inclosing screens of the chancel remain com- 

 plete, though in part of modern work — the old work 

 being of the fifteenth century with open lights and 

 pierced tracery in the heads, and solid lower panels, 

 the whole effect being exceedingly good. 



The rood screen has lost its loft, but otherwise 

 remains in a very perfect state, with its central doors ; 

 a line of cresting is set as a finish to it. On each 

 side of the central opening are six tall lights with 

 tracery in the heads ; another band of tracery was 

 formerly inserted half-way up the lights, but is now 

 removed. 



The side screens, which fill the two western bays 

 of the chancel arcades, and have doors at the east, are 

 complete but for their cornices ; they are less in 

 height than the rood screen, and have narrower bays 

 with traceried heads, which differ slightly in design 

 on the two screens, the northern having cinquefoiled 

 heads with tracery over, in two alternating patterns, 

 while the southern has trefoiled heads and tracery 

 of uniform type in each opening. There are also 

 screens of much the same character inclosing the east 

 bay of the south chapel, and in the western arches of 

 the chapels ; the lower part of the screen in the 

 north chapel has three of the original traceried panels 

 in situ, a fourth one introduced there, and the rest 

 new ; the corresponding screen in the south chapel 

 has only one old panel complete. 



To the west of the northern screen is a pew front 

 made up with five bays of old panelling from the 

 screens, and a few of the other pews have old wood- 

 work in them. 



In the north chapel is the fine brass of a priest, 

 with part of a marginal inscription, and the indents 

 of two shields above the figure. It commemorates 

 Matthew Asscheton, canon of York and Lincoln, and 

 rector of Shillington, 1400. 



Next to it is a small brass of a priest, said to be 

 that of Thomas Partington, rector and treasurer of 

 York, 1485 ; over it is a shield with arms of three 

 martlets on a bend. There is also a brass plate with 



an inscription to Peter Ashton, priest, 1538, and 

 later floor slabs to the wife of Andrew Alston, of Bed- 

 ford, 1650 ; to James Hanscombe, 1660 ; and to 

 Thomas Sherwin, 1756. 



There are five bells : the treble by Robert Old- 

 field, of Nottingham, 1638 ; the second, 1602, by 

 Hugh Watts ; third, 1603, by Newcombe ; and the 

 fourth and tenor of 1 624, by Toby Norris of Stam- 

 ford ; while the priest's bell, by the same founder, 

 dates from 1626. 



The plate comprises a silver communion cup of 

 1702, inscribed ' Shitlington Church, 1702,' a second 

 copied from it, with the Birmingham date letter for 

 1888 ; a standing paten without date letter, but in- 

 scribed ' Shitlington Parish Plate, Dec""- 24, 77 ' (i.e. 

 1677) ; and a plated two-handled covered cup, used 

 as a flagon. 



The registers date from 1 544, the first book con- 

 taining baptisms, marriages, and burials to 1754 ; the 

 second, baptisms and burials, 1754 to 1812; and the 

 third, marriages, 1754 to 1812. 



There is no mention of a church 

 JDFOWSON in Shillington at Domesday, but the 

 rectory and advowson belonged to 

 the abbey from the earliest times." When Ramsey 

 Abbey was dissolved they became crown property, and 

 were granted for a short term to Lord Wriothesley.'* 

 In 1547 Trinity College, Cambridge, obtained a 

 grant of the rectory and advowson and holds them at 

 the present day.'' 



In 1 5 14 John Oxenbrigge received licence to found 

 a chantry with one chaplain to celebrate in the parish 

 church of Shillington.^* He also received a licence to 

 grant any lands to the value of ^^ 10, not held in chief, 

 to the said chantry." In 1547 the chantry, then 

 worth 27/. 6\d., had fallen into decay. No incum- 

 bent was kept, and no poor people relieved.'' 

 Rowland Bolton received a twenty-one years' lease 

 of the Brotherhood House in 1578 at a yearly rent 

 of 31/. 2</." 



Westnynge Chantry possessed land in Shillington 

 to the value of 23/. 6d. to provide obits in the parish 

 church.'"" 



Shillington also contains a Union Chapel for the 

 use of Congregationalists and Baptists, and a Wesleyan 

 chapel erected in 1872. At Bury End there is 

 a Primitive Methodist chapel, and at Pegsdon a 

 Wesleyan. 



Charity of Edward Pilsworth. — A 

 CHARITIES sum of £12 14/. is received an- 

 nually from the Clothworkers Com- 

 pany, London, and is applied as to ^^lo 8/. in 

 money generally among fifty parishioners, ^l to the 

 vicar, \6s. for repair of church, and 10/. to the 

 churchwardens. 



In 1796 Samuel Whitbread, esq., by will, left 

 j^io 10/. a year, charged on the manor of Carding- 

 ton, for providing clothing for the inmates of the four 

 almshouses situated in the churchyard. In 1897 the 

 annuity was redeemed by the transfer to the official 

 trustees of ^^350 India £'^ per cent, stock. 



93 Cart. Rameiei. (Rolls Sen), ii, 175. 

 The right of the Abbot Walter was con- 

 firmed by Hugh bishop of Lincoln between 

 1 146 and 1 161, whilst Bishop Hugh 

 (1189-95) acknowledged the abbot's right 

 to the tithes of Shillington Church. 



^ Pat. 36 Hen. VIII, pt. 22 ; 37 Hen. 

 VIII, pt. I i ibid. pt. 2, No. 31. 



95 Ibid. 38 Hen. VIII, pt. 6; Inst. Bks. 

 (P.R.O.). The grant confirms to Trinity 

 College the right of presentation to Shil- 

 lington Church of a perpetual vicar who 



is to be in the place of and perform the 

 duties of a rector. 



96 Pat. 5 Hen. VIII, pt. 2, m. 20. 



W Ibid. 98 Chant. Cert. Beds. 2, No. 8. 



99 Pat. 21 Eliz. pt. 8. 



"9 Chant. Cert. Beds, i, No. 47. 



299 



