320 Recent Wiltshire Boohs, Pamphlets, and Articles. 



Kobert Hungerford in 1336, giving to the Hospital and Priory of St. 

 John the Baptist "juxta Eldebrook," near the town of Calne, 40 acres 

 in Stock, Stockley, Quemerford, and Tasworth, on condition that mass 

 was said every day except Sundays and festivals at St. Edmund's altar 



Old Chest in Calne Church. 



in the Parish Church, for the soul of his mother ; translations of the 

 original terrier setting forth the visitation of Calne by the Dean of Sarum 

 as ordinary in 1405, and of the deed of augmentation of the vicarage, 

 executed in 1375, are among the most interesting points. 



The history of Nonconformity in the place is also gone into, and in 

 this connection it is interesting to find that the Baptists still use the 

 pewter plates and cups which were given for the communion service by 

 Mr. Cue, of Compton Bassett, in 1710. It is worth while noting, too, 

 that Mr. Taylor, Baptist minister in 1776, states in his journal that the 

 Baptists, who under Charles II. were debarred from assembling at their 

 usual place of meeting, met sometimes under a white thorn bush near 

 Upper Whitley, which until 1803 — when it disappeared — was known as 

 " Gospel Bush." 1 



Some interesting extracts from the churchwardens' accounts are given 

 in the appendix. Amongst them a couple of notices of the Church plate : 

 " one Challyce all Gylte w th a cover " being mentioned in the inventory 

 of V. Ed. VI., the said chalice being apparently mentioned again in 1576, 

 thus: " Keceived of W m Goodwyne the Gouldsmy the when the Com- 

 munion Cupp was made of the old Challyce as overplus in weighte xvij s ." 

 This is the first documentary evidence that has come to light of the fact 



1 Does not this suggest that the "Gospel Oaks," &c, which have been 

 supposed by the Bishop of Bristol and others to point back to a remote period 

 when Christianity was first being introduced into England, are in many 

 cases more likely really to derive their name from the Nonconformists of 

 the 17th century ?— E.H.G. 



