THE PRE-REFORMATION RECTORS AND VICARS OF KIRKBY-IN-KENDALE.
1190 (fn. 1)
Achard, parson.
He was a witness to the confirmation by Benedict de Penington to
the Hospital of St. Mary of Conishead, of the church of Muncaster and
the Chapel of St. Aldeburg. Farrer, Lancashire Pipe Rolls, 360.
1210–28. Nicholas Fitz Robert, rector.
Gilbert Fitz Reinfrid and Helwise his wife confirmed to the monks
of St. Mary, York, inter alia the Church of the Holy Trinity of Kirkeby
in Kendale, circa 1210, Nicholas being one of the witnesses. (Mon.
Anglic, iii, 566.) In May, 1228, he occurs as "Nicholao filio Roberti
rectore ecclesiae de Kirkeby Kendall" when witnessing the grant of
abbot Robert and the convent of Furness to Archbishop Gray of the
moiety of the church of Millom and the church of Kirkby Ireleth with
its chapels. Arch. Gray's Register, Surtees Socy., vol. 56, p. 161.
1245–56. Roger Pepyn, rector.
In 1245 he received an indulgence to hold one benefice besides the
church of Kirkby in Kendale. (Cal. of Papal Registers, i, 221). On
5 November, 1246, as rector of the mediety of the church of Kirkbiein-Kendale he received a grant of land from Ranulf d'Aincurt in
Natland. (Dods. MSS., 149, fol. 142; also Records of Kendale, i, 167).
Indult granted by the Pope in 1256 to Master Roger, called Pepin,
sub-dean of York, to hold his subdeanery and prebend, together with
the church of Kirkeby-in-Kendale. Papal Letters, i, 338.
He died in 1266. On 10 February, 1266/7, archbishop Giffard
notified the dean and chapter of York of the appointment of Sir G. de
Salisbury to the subdeanery, in the place of Master Roger Pepin,
deceased. Archbp. Giffard's Register, Surtees Socy., vol. 109, p. 152.
1267–72 Adam de Northfouk, or Norfolk.
Letter undated from Archbishop Giffard to the Masters of Arts of
the University of Cambridge. We would gladly serve the University
in which we were brought up. We gave the living of Kirkeby-in
Kendal to Adam de Northfouk' according to papal provision; to
this your chancellor, John de Asgarby, objects. We are ready to
hear what he has to say without fear or favour, and are astonished at
your letter about these matters. (Archbishop Giffard's Register,
Surtees Socy., vol. 109, p. 201.) In 1272 there are letters of protection
for Master Adam de Norfolk, parson of the church of Kirkby-inKendale. Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1272, p. 639.
1285–90 Alan de Easingwold.
The relations between the Archbishops of York and their suffragans
at Durham were seldom harmonious. Anthony Bek, the bishop of
Durham, a wealthy and ambitious prelate, rendered little obedience to
his metropolitan, while his official, Alan de Easingwold, appears to
have done all that he could to foment the enmity. In 1285 Alan
nominated himself as rector of the church of Kirkeby-in-Kendale,
whereupon the archbishop, John le Romeyn, promptly expelled him.
Legally the rectorship remained vacant for several years, and, as
according to the Lateran Council the collation to a benefice, after a
certain lapse of time, devolved upon the Apostolic See, the archbishop
applied for and received as a special privilege from Pope Nicholas IV
the right to collate Sir Walter de Maidstone. This he accordingly
did on 11 January, 1289/90, and on the 25th he issued a second
injunction to the archdeacon's official to induct Sir Walter into a
mediety of the church. (Archbishop Romeyn's Register, Surtees Socy.,
vol. 123, pp. 341, 343). But Alan supported by many friends
continued to usurp the rectorship, receiving all the tithes and preventing Sir Walter from entering in upon his duties. Whereupon the
archbishop after issuing a third injunction (9 March, 1290/1) appealed
to the King for assistance. On 8 June, following a mandate was issued
to the dean of Lonsdale and Kendale and to William de Lancaster,
rector of Grasmere, to proceed against those who had disturbed
Sir Walter in his possession of the church, (ibid., 347). The archbishop then instructed bishop Bek to denounce Alan de Easingwold
as excommunicate and make it known that he could not act any
longer in his official capacity. Bek, however, refused to take any
notice of this order and deliberately retained Alan in his office, whereupon a mandate was issued on 24 August, 1291, demanding the
bishop to give satisfaction within eight days and to appear at York on
Friday after Michaelmas. Ibid. pt. ii, xxvi, 96.
Again on 31 October, 1291, another mandate was issued to the
dean of Lonsdale and Kendale and to William de Lancaster, rector
of Grasmere, to go to the church of Kirkeby in Kendal in company
with two or three of the neighbouring rectors or vicars, and warn
Lady Margaret de Ros, Sir Ingram de Gynes, William de Wyndesour,
Gilbert de Brunolvesheved, Roland de Thornburgh, and the other
parishioners of the said church, to pay within 15 days all the oblations,
obventions and tithes, both great and small, belonging to the mediety
of that church to Sir Walter de Maidstone, the rector, from the time
of his collation. Likewise a monition to Gilbert de Brunolvesheved,
sheriff of Westmorland, to remove Master Alan de Easingwold's men
who were intruded into the mediety belonging to Sir Walter, and to
restore to Sir Walter all tithes, etc. Ibid., 348.
On 3 March, 1293/4, the dean of Lonsdale and Kendal was informed
of the absolution of Alan Kaboche, John son of Benedict Gernet and
Roger Wyppe, from a sentence of excommunication for intruding into
the church in the name of Master Alan de Easingwold. And on 9
April, 1294, a commission was issued to Sir Walter de Maydenstan,
rector of a mediety of the church of Kirkby in Kendale, and William
de Kendale, rector of the chapel of Gressemer, to absolve those others
excommunicated for intruding and to impose suitable penances.
Ibid, i, 350, 351.
On 16 February, 1294/5, the secular power was invoked to give
effect to the collation of Sir Walter to the church of Kendal when a
mandate was issued to the priests, clerks, and parishioners of Kendal
to obey Sir Walter as their rector and not Master Alan de Easingwold
who had been excommunicated. Ibid. i, 351, 352.
It may be that we get the final points of this story, first in a commission, issued in 1295, to certain persons to try those who broke the
houses and carried away the goods of Walter de Maydenestane,
parson of a mediety of the church at Kirkeby-in-Kendale, while he
was on the King's service in Wales, and secondly in a plea made by
Master Alan against Richard le Orffevre and others for assaulting him
at Kyrkeby in Kendale. Records of Kendal, vol. i, p. 12.
1290–1297 William de Hamelton, archdeacon.
For a long period the rectory had been divided into two medieties,
the one being held by some high official in the abbey and the other by
someone more resident. So here we find William, as an absentee,
holding one mediety and Walter de Maidstone, as resident, the other.
See the Antiq. Taxatio of Pope Nicholas IV, quoted hereafter under
Kirkby Kendale.
On 5 December, 1288, William was installed as archdeacon of York.
(Archbishop Romeyn's Reg. Surtees Socy., vol. 123, p. 81). An indulgence was granted to him in 1290, at the request of the king whom he
served in the chancery, to retain the archdeaconry of York in addition
to the churches of Embledon, Micheldever and Sawbridgeworth and
the moiety of Kirkeby-in-Kendale. Cal. Papal Registers, i, 517.
William de Hamelton, archdeacon of York, and others, executors
of the will of Hugh de Kendale, in 1297, impleaded Ingram de Gynes
that he render to them£24 which he has unjustly detained. (De Banco
Roll, Easter, 118, m. 186). He died at Fountains Abbey on 15 April,
1305, but apparently he had resigned the mediety previously as on
4 April, 1301, Mr. John de Roderham was collated to the mediety.
1301– John de Rotherham.
On 7 April, 1301, a mandate was issued to the official of the archdeacon of Richmond to induct Mr. John de Roderham, clerk, into the
mediety of the church of Kirkeby-in-Kendale. Records of Kendale,
i, 128.
1290–1306 Walter de Maydenstan or Maidstone.
On 26 October, 1293, a mandate from the archbishop in obedience
to a royal letter of the 19th inst., ordering his official to compel those
in arrears to pay the arrears of the tenth to the prior of Nostell, who
had been originally appointed collector of this tenth in the archdeaconry of York, but had been superseded by Walter de Maydenestan, the king's clerk, who had not levied the arrears, and was in his
turn superseded by the prior. Archbishop John le Romeyn's Register,
Surtees Socy., vol. 123, 39.
On 30 March, 1294, Gilbert de Sancta Cruce was appointed perpetual vicar of Kendal, as penitencer in the archdeaconry of Richmond. Ibid. p. 351.
Reference is made to Maidstone in the Pat. Rolls, 23 Edward 1
(1295) where he is described as "parson of a moiety of the church of
K. Kendale." In August, 1301, the archbishop, John le Romeyn,
sent three letters to the king denouncing Walter de Maydenestan
and others as excommunicate and praying the king to remove him
from the church of Kirkeby-in-Kendale. Records of Kendale, i, 128.
In 1306 he was elected canon and prebend of York and was licensed
to hold the mediety of K. Kendale and other benefices in England and
France, he not being in priests' orders. (Cal. Pap. Registers, ii, 6, 12,
13.) He probably resigned soon after this and before the chapter of
York finally consented on 25 September, 1307, to the appropriation
of the church, to the consolidation of the two medieties and the
institution of a Vicarage. Records of Kendale, vol. i, 129.
On 7 October, 1313, he became bishop of Worcester and died on
28 March, 1317.
1302–20 Roger de Kernetteby.
He apparently commenced with a mediety of the Rectory but
ultimately became the first vicar. On 18 October, 1302, notice is
sent to Roger that the bishop of Carlisle would reconcile the churchyard of Kirkeby-in-Kendale polluted by the shedding of blood.
Records of Kendale, i, 129.
In 1309 a commission of "oyer and terminer" was issued to certain
persons, on the complaint of the Abbot of St. Mary's, that Walter de
Strikeland and others assaulted his servants, sent to carry the
tithe corn and hay of his church, and also Roger de Kerneteby the
vicar, and the other chaplains and clerks appointed to celebrate
divine service in that church, hindered them in the discharge of the
same, trampled down and consumed his corn and hay and took away
the horses from his wagons and impounded them. Cal. Pat. Rolls,
1309, 129.
In 1312 he was a witness to an exchange of lands at Natland,
(Records of Kendale, i, 169), and in 1315 to a settlement of a suit
between Sir Walter de Stirkeland and Sir Matthew de Redmain.
Ibid. ii, 121.
In 1316 we find a confirmation of a grant to Roger de Kernetteby,
vicar of the church of K. in Kendale, of the custody during the
minority of the heir, of two parts of the lands late of William de Ros,
together with the Knights' fees, advowsons of the churches, etc., to
hold until the full age of the heir together with the marriage of the
heir. (Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1316, 452.) In the same year there is a grant
to Roger "de Kendale," king's clerk, of the custody of the hospital
of St. Leonard without Kirkeby, in the king's gift by reason of his
custody of the land and heir of William de Ros of Kendale, decd.
(ibid. 551). In 1320 William de Thweng demised to farm to Roger de
Kerneteby, vicar of the church of Kirkeby-in-Kendale, the manor of
Helsington with the park, to hold for 13 years from Martinmas, 1320,
for seven marks for the first six years and eight marks for the last
seven years. Records of Kendale, 1, 141.
In 1323 he was presented to the church of Dufton, Cal. Pal. Rolls, 132
1323, p. 343; also Bishop Halton's Register, ii, 209.
1344 William de Slaytburn, vicar.
Presentation of William de Slaytburn on 12 March, 1344, to the
vicarage of the church of Kirkeby Kendale. (Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1344,
p. 217.) On 30 March following there is a notification to Robert de
Woodhouse, archdeacon of Richmond, that the king has revoked his
presentation of William de Swyneflete, king's clerk, to the vicarage of
the church of K. Kendale, as void by the death of William de Slaytebourn, because the latter is alive and well. (Ibid., 220).
1344– John de Bokham, vicar.
On 25 May, 1344, was issued a Commission to the Bishop of
Bisaccia (fn. 2) to ordain Master John de Bokham to be perpetual vicar of
the parish church of Kirkeby-in-Kendale. (Richard d' Aungerville of
Bury Register, Surtees Socy., vol. 119, p. 62.) In 1345 the king issued
a ratification of the estate of John de Bokham, as vicar of the church
of Kirkeby-in-Kendale. Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1345, p. 467.
1352–93 Thomas Squier de Seynesbury, or Saintbury, vicar.
In 1352 he received an indulgence, as vicar of Kyrkeby-in-Kendale,
to pursue his studies for five years at an University or whilst
residing at the Roman Court. Cal. of Papal Registers, iii, 464.
In 1366 Thomas de Stirkeland, Knt., enfeoffed Thomas de Seynesbury, vicar of the church of Kirkeby-in-Kendale, and others, with
certain lands, and by deed dated on Thursday next after Easter,
40 Edward III, the feoffees granted the premises to Sir Thomas for
life with remainder, etc., etc. Records of Kendale, vol. i, pp. 206, 215,
224.
On 25 April, 1371, we find a pardon to Thomas, vicar of the church
of Kirkeby-in-Kendale, of his outlawry in the co. of York, for not
appearing before the justices of the Bench to account with the abbot
of St. Mary's, York, for 100 marks which he received of the abbot's
money, he having now surrendered to the Fleet prison. Cal. Pat.
Rolls, 1371, p. 66.
In 1384 the presentation of Thomas Squier of Seynesbury to the
vicarage was renewed by reason of the temporalities of St. Mary's
Abbey, lately void, being in the king's gift. Ibid., 1384, p. 436.
In 1393 William de Blenkansopp and others enfeoffed Thomas
Swyer of Seynesbury, perpetual vicar of the church of Kirkeby-inKendale, and others, to hold certain lands and tenements in Bannisdale in performance of the will of John de Ros, etc. Deed at Levens
as printed in Records of Kendale, i, 234.
1407 William Clynt, or Clinton, vicar. (fn. 3)
"Magistrum Willielmum Clynt vicarium de Kyrkeby," was an
executor of the will of Sir Richard Burgh, dated 1407.
1418 Nicholas De Preston, vicar.
Presentation of Nicholas de Preston to the vicarage of the church
of Kirkeby-in-Kendale. (Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1418, p. 169.) In 1421 he
was perpetual vicar of K. Stephen, bachelor of canon law, and had
dispensation, being of noble birth, to hold for life one other benefice.
In 1422 as priest of the diocese of York he had an indulgence for a
portable altar. Cal. Papal Registers, vii, 216, 224, 325.
–1421 Thomas Greenwood, vicar.
On 20 June, 1396, archbishop Scrope gave Greenwood, then only
an acolyt, letters dismissory that he might be ordained. (Scrope
Reg.) He was presented by the Crown to Heysharn on 29 March,
1396, (fn. 4) (Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1391–6, 712); was instituted 5 April following
(Harl. MS., 6978, p. 171) and had ratification of his estate therein on
3 October, 1397. (Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1396-9, p. 199). On 5 February,
1409/10, he was instituted to the Rectory of St. Michael's, Ousebridge, this he relinquished in 1413, when he became vicar of K.
Stephen. On 5 March, 1415, he was made Vicar-general to Henry
Bowet, Archdeacon of Richmond (Bowet Reg.). Greenwood held in
succession three stalls at York; obtained the prebend in St. Sepulchre's chapel, Bishop Norton, Thockrington, Grindale and succeeded Scrope in Knaresborough on 7 September, 1418, which he
held together with his 3 prebend in Lincoln and the vicarage of K.
Kendale till his death on 2 May, 1421. (Harl. MS., 6978, fol. 18).
He was buried in the south aisle of the choir of York Minster. His
Will is printed in Surtees Socy., vol. 45, p. 61.
1421-1439 Richard De Garsdale, vicar.
On 1 June, 1421, Master Richard de Garesdale was instituted to the
vicarage of Kirkby-in-Kendale on the death of Thomas Greenwood.
(Harl. MS., 6978, fol. 18.) In 1431 Thomas Stirkland, Knt., enfeoffs
Richard Garsdale, vicar of the church of Kirkby-in-Kendale, and
others of his manor of Sizergh. Dated 10 June, 9 Henry VI. (Records
of Kendale, vol. i, pp. 42, 148.) On 10 November, 1437, we find him,
as vicar of the Church a feoffee with others, see ibid., ii, 194.
1439– Thomas Bryan.
He resigned the vicarage of Beetham and on 15 July, 1439, was
presented to the vicarage of Kirkby-Kendale by the abbot and convent
of St. Mary's, on the death of Richard Garsdale. Bryan died in
1449. Mem. Ripon, Suttees Socy., vol. 78, 231.
–1451 George Neville.
Son of Richard Earl of Salisbury and brother of Richard Earl of
Warwick. The king presented him to the Rectory of Warton on
5 June, 1451, when he resigned the vicarage of Kirkby Kendal
Chetham Soc., vol. 60, p. 225.
1520-1550 Thomas Maynes.
In the Valor Ecclesiasticus, 1535, Thomas Magnus is incumbent of
Kendall Vicarage. In the Act Book of the Bishop of Chester, we
find the presentation of James Pilkington to the vicarage of Kendal
vacant by the death of Thomas Magnus, 26 January, 4 Edward VI.
During his vicariate we find the names of several of the chantry
priests, as:—
1530
Sir John Nourdall, Sir William Walker and Sir Miles Harrison,
priests. "Sir Miles Herryson to have the serues or chantre in my
(Strickland) quere in Kendall Kyrk, after the death of Syr John
Bourdall." Among the witnesses, "Syr William Walker my
gostly Father and parish prest of Kyrkby-in-Kendale." Records
of Kendale, i, 153.
1537
Sir Robert Applegarth and Sir Walter Browne, priests. On 9
February, 1537, Sir James Leyburne writing to Cromwell says. On
Sunday last past sundry persons of no substance and the parish
priest of Kendal Church, Sir Walter Browne, being second curate
there, did bid the beads in the church and prayed for the bishop of
Rome as Pope against the will of the 24 appointed for the weal of
the church. About a month before, the said misruled persons,
about 300 in number, did cry all at once and bade cast the other
parish priest, Sir Robert Applegarth, and the 24 into the water for
refusing to name the bishop of Rome to be Pope, etc. Records of
Kendale, i, 73, 75, 81.
1542
Sir Henry Halled, a chantry priest at Our Lady Chapel within the
parish Church of Kirkbie-in-Kendall, made his Will on 9 February.
1542, which see hereafter under Kendal.
1546
In 1546 Sir John Garnet was incumbent of the chantry of St.
Christopher; Sir Edward Strykland of the chantry of St. William;
Sir Robert Byrse of the chantry of St. Anthony; Sir Robert
Wilson of the Guild of the Trinity; Sir Alan Shepherd of the
foundation of Thomas Ros, Knt" and Sir Adam Shepherd was
incumbent of the chantry called St. Mary in the parish church of
Kendall. Ibid, 85-87.