By the Rev. Canon J. E. Jackson. 



235 



church of Westwood being not much more than a quarter of a mile 

 off. But Rowley being an independent parish, with a Rector, it 

 was probably thought right that it should have a church of its 

 own. 



It appears, from the Act of Annexation to Farley, that Rowley 

 Church was intended to be preserved, the parishioners of Rowley 

 being, by the document, exempted from paying towards the main- 

 tenance of the nave of Farley Church, on condition of maintaining 

 their own. Their chancel was to be kept up by the Rector of Farley. 

 All the church ornaments, vestments, &c, of Rowley to remain as 

 they were. Masses to be said three times in the year, viz., on St. 

 Nicholas's Day (6th Dec), the Nativity of the B.V.M. (Sept. 8th); 

 and on the day of the Dedication of Rowley Church. For all other 

 services and offices they were to attend at Farley. A special 

 arrangement was made for observing in Farley Church the Obit of 

 Lord Hungerford's father, Sir Thomas, who had died, December 3rd, 

 1398 : all the expenses of which were to be borne by the Rector of 

 Farley on the strength of the addition to his income by the benefice 

 of Rowley. Every 2nd December, the eve of the Obit, the Rector 

 was to collect seven priests and say a solemn mass for the dead. On 

 the 3rd a mass by the Rector and seven other masses by the rest, 

 for the souls of Lord Hungerford's father and mother, for his own 

 and his wife's, during their lives, and likewise after their deaths. 

 After which, the seven chaplains were to dine with the Rector and 

 receive 4d. a-piece for their pains. Thirteen poor folk were to attend 

 the masses and to receive one penny each. Two wax tapers, each 

 weighing one pound, were to be kept continually burning during 

 the ceremonies. Failing performance of these injunctions, the 

 Rector was to pay a fine of xx shillings towards the building of 

 "Wells Cathedral, and to be suspended from all the emoluments of 

 both churches. 



As Rowley Church was only to be made use of three times a-year, 

 it was not likely to be kept up very long, but at what time it was 

 entirely taken away is not known. 



The Registers of Sarum have preserved the names of six Rec tors 

 of Wittenham alias Rowley, viz. : — 



