The Rectors and Vicars of Wrotham

The information has been taken first from a framed list hanging on the wall of St George’s Church, Wrotham, which appears to date from the mid 1890’s. 

Secondly, it has been “augmented” with information obtained by Clive Thomas, Chairman of the Wrotham Historical Society, during a visit to the  Archives of Canterbury Cathedral in May 2002.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines a “Rector” as a “Parson of a Parish whose tithes are not impropriate ie in lay hands”,

whereas a Vicar is defined as “Priest of a Parish, the tithes of which belong to Chapter of Religious House or Layman”.

The Records are not explicit and it is logical to assume that the definition has altered, albeit slightly, over the 800 or so years covered.

Therefore the actual title by which the Incumbents were known to their parishioners are not shown.

An overlap or duplications of office can be explained by the incumbent being installed as Rector or Vicar.

ANSELM c1220

Witness to a Deed by which Robert de Eldeham (Yaldham) granted to the Priory of Cumbwell a rent charge of 2s, payable yearly at Michaelmas, at his house at Eldeham. 

Another witness was Bartholomew capellano ejusdem loci, who, it has been  suggested was probably Priest of one of the Chantries, of which there still remain evidences in the structure of Wrotham Church.

The Deed mentioned above is one of a lot relating to Cumbwell Priory, among the archives if the College of Arms (Arch Cant v 194).

William, Archdeacon of Vienne in 1239.  

It seems probable that Archdeacon William was Rector of Wrotham, but actual proof is wanting. In November 1241 the Vicar was enjoined to pay him eighteen marks for the year 1239, and sixty marks for the year 1240, due to him from the church. Half a century later the rectory was valued at £53 6s 8d, and the vicarage  at £13 6s 8d.

In the year 1252 Master Stephen, a successor of William, obtained a dispensation to hold one benefice with cure of souls in the province of Canterbury, besides the archdeaconries of Canterbury and Vienne, and permission to reside in which ever of the two archdeaconries he might prefer.

GWIDO de RUSSILUN 1243 -    

Presented by King Henry III, with whom he was evidently a favourite and at whose hands he received much valuable preferment, the See of Canterbury being vacant.  His letters of presentation were dated at “Burdigala” ( Bordeaux), as well as  the mandate for his institution by proxy, which was directed to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Simon Langton, brother of Archbishop Stephen Langton.  He died at Bordeaux towards the end of the year 1254.

PETER ALBI BLANCI 1277-1298

He was a Savoyard and had been collated to the livings of Wrotham and Lyminge by his countryman, Archbishop Boniface, who occupied the See of Canterbury 145-70. He was executor to the will of his patron; and was also Chaplain to Boniface’s niece Margaret, Queen of France.  He was non-resident and the destitute condition of his parishioners may be imagined by an extract from the letter of remonstrance written to him by Archbishop Peckham, dated Mortlake 18 May 1284 :-

“Lately making a progress through your churches aforesaid, we found the cure of souls in them altogether neglected as far as pertains to your office and the poor parishioners, from want of a good steward, afflicted with hunger and - that we may sum up in a few words - defrauded of all temporal and spiritual consolation. Wherefore we have given injunction to our Proctor, Master Poncius, for alleviating the want of the parishioners, whom you are bound to aid both temporally and spiritually, to distribute among the poor parishioners of Lyminge’ one hundred shillings sterling and then to make a like distribution at Wrotham. For there has been so great a scarcity at this time, that there is hardly one of them who has enough of his own to live upon; nor, as far as we have heard, has there been anyone in your name to help the parishioners in their necessities during the whole time you have held those churches”.

He is mentioned as Rector of Wrotham in the year 1298 and probably held the living at the time of Bernard Peleti, a Vicar having long since been appointed

BERNARD de PELETI

First mentioned in Registers 1310, also mentioned as Rector 24 February 1313-4.

JOHN de BOREFORD or BURFORD 1314

Collated 16 November 1314.  Witness to a Deed by which Henry de Schornes acknowledged himself bound to Peckham in the sum of 80 marks to be paid by instalments, in virtue of a marriage contracted between the latter and his daughter Margery.  Another was Sir William, Vicar of East Malling and Dean of Schorham.

The year after he accepted this benefice, Archbishop Reynolds obtained the grant of an annual Fair to be held there on the vigil, the day and the morrow of St George the Martyr.

RICHARD de BEDYNTON in 1314

Mentioned as custodian of the sequestrated fruits of the Rectory, 27 April 1314. In June 1324 he was instituted Rector of Southchurch, Essex.

RICHARD de STEYNTON 1324-7

He had been a Chaplain, or Chantry Priest and was instituted to the Vicarage on the presentation of the Rector John de Burford.  On 19 April 1327 he was instituted Rector of Gingrave or Ingrave, Essex. which he held until 1332.

JOHN de LEE 1327

He doubtless effected an exchange with Richard de Steynton as, before coming to Wrotham, he was Rector of Gingrave or Ingrave. He is the earliest perpetual Vicar mentioned at Wrotham

JOHN de stratton

Possibly this may not be Stratton’s proper position.  No date has been found to mark his tenure of the Rectory.  Indeed the only record of him seems to be in the account which Thorpe gives of his Monumental Inscription in Registrum Roffense p836, which, however, was gone when he wrote his work.  A Roger de Stretton STP, was Chancellor of Oxford in 1329, at which time the office was held only a year.

JOHN de ECCLESHALE  1336/7-1361/2

The registers of Archbishops Meopham, Stratford and Bradwardine, covering the period 1329 -49, are unfortunately lost and there is no record of the institution of this Rector but he was confirmed in his position as “Parson” of Wrotham, with the Chapel of Stansted annexed thereto, “by King Edward III on 8 March 1336-7.

William de ISLEP 1361/2 -1366

In the time of the Rector and about the year 1364, the vicarage of Wrotham was re-ordained and the patronage thereto in the Rector’s hands were vested in the Archbishop. On 16th September 1362 the Archbishop obtained leave to remove the materials of the Manor House at Wrotham to Maidstone, for repairing and rebuilding his manor house there.

WILLIAM de ISLEP JUN 1366-1379

Previously Rector of Frothyngham or Fordingham in the Lincoln Diocese.  After less than nineteen months tenure of Wrotham, he exchanged with Robert de Ffaryngton, Rector of St Dunstan’s in the East – one of the Archbishops’ Peculiars.  Islep died in 1382 and was buried in St Dunstan’s Church.  He owned considerable property in Wrotham, Plaxtol and Nepicar, which his kinsman and heir, William Herberd, conveyed to his successor, Robert de Ffaryngton in 1386.

Robert de Ffaryngton 1379-1396

On 14th July 1381, he was again admitted Rector, the King, Richard II being Patron, consequent upon the living being void through the murder of Archbishop Sudbury*.

*Simon of Sudbury (born Sudbury, Suffolk, died 14 June 1381 in London).  Original name Simon Tybald, Thebaud or Theobald.  Archbishop of Canterbury from 1375 and chancellor of England from 1380 who lost his life in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381.

Simon served for 12 years as an auditor (judge) of the Rota at the papal Curia, and, in 1359, Pope Innocent VI employed him in an attempt to persuade King Edward III of England to open peace negotiations with France. As a reward for his services, Simon was appointed Bishop of London by Innocent VI in 1361. Sent to Canterbury in May 1375, Simon, in his role as primate, avoided conflict with the State but dealt firmly with his suffragans.  John Wycliffe appeared before him in February 1378 to answer charges of heresy.  Simon crowned King Richard II on 16 July 1377.

In January 1380 he was appointed Chancellor.  In the spring of 1381, Kentish rebels under Wat Tyler marched on London; they held Simon and the Lord Treasurer, Sir Robert Hales, responsible for the oppressive poll tax.  When the Tower of London was surrendered to Tyler's insurgents, Simon, Hales and two other men were beheaded on Tower Hill.

JOHN SUNDERESSCHE 1396-1426

Previously Rector of Dodyngton in the Diocese of Ely, to which he was instituted 15 September 1388, on the presentation by the King, the See being vacant. On 7 January 1402-3 Archbishop Arundel, while staying at Otford, settled some disputes which had arisen between the Rector and Vicar and Wrotham about their respective tithes, a long account of which appears in the Archbishop’s Register.

In the following year when the Primate visited the Parish, the rectory house was reported as found in good repair, but it stated that the Vicar had no residence except what he had himself provided.  Sunderessche held the living nearly thirty years.  He died 12 May 1426 and was buried in the Chancel of the Church.  His Brass was loose in the Vestry when Thorpe visited Wrotham in 1768, it was unfortunately lost. An engraving of it, representing a priest in the usual Eucharistic vestments, is given on page 128 of Thorpe’s “Custumale Roffense”. By his will dated 21 February 1425-6 and proved 29 June following, he left for distribution among the poor at the time of his funeral £10, for eight torches at the same time to be held by eight poor parishioners “ clothed in blanket or russette”, £4. The torches were afterwards to be disposed of in this way, two were to be given to the Church of Sundridge, two to that of Sevenoaks, two to Stansted and the remaining two were to remain at Wrotham.

For repairing the Rectory House of Wrotham and Stansted, he left £8 13s 4d and, if the whole of that sum was not required, the remainder was to be distributed in linen and other necessaries among poor parishioners.  One of his Executors was the Vicar, Richard Dyker, and the “Overseer” was Roger Peckham to whom he bequeathed a Silver Gilt Cup with Cover.

Two or three wills of parishioners, who died while Sunderssche was Rector, are interesting – some throwing light upon church matters.  James Peckham by will, dated 12 March 1400, left for his tithes forgotten 13s 4d; to the fabric of the Church, 26s 8d; to the light of the Blessed Mary, two cows, to the Sacrist 3s 4d; and to each of the two Clerks 3s 4d.

Reginald Peckham, by his will dated 13 October 1407, left to the “fabric” of the church the large sum of £10.  He also left 40s to be divided between the Rector and the Vicar.  He appointed the former one of his executors.

Alice Widow of the above by her will dated 18 November 1407, left to the “fabric of the Church and especially repairing the “botterasses” around it, the sum of 10 Marks.  Also to every light within the Church, 3s 4d.  Also, to John Sunderessche, whom she appointed one of her executors, a silver gilt cup with cover.  These three wills serve to show that church restoration was in progress in the early years of the 15th Century.

THOMAS WARD 1433- 1444

This Rector may have come next after Sunderessche, but the entry of his institution does not appear in Archbishop Chichester’s Register. He is mentioned as Parson of Wrotham, in a list of Gentlemen of Kent in the year 1433 and again in 1443 and 1444.

THOMAS GAUGE 1460-1470

The date for his institution does not appear but, on 7 July 1461, he instituted proceedings against John Martyn Jr of Horton near Dartford, the Escheator (person who deals with the lapsing of property to the crown or lord of the manor on owner’s dying intestate without heirs) for Kent, for having wrongfully seized certain of his goods at the Rectory on 21 June 1460, whereby, as he alleged, he had sustained injury to the extent of £20.  After numerous adjournments the jury fond for the plaintiff and assessed his damage at £12 13s 4d.  This was confirmed by the Barons of the Exchequer.  The Rectorial wardrobe is partly displayed to view by the list of articles seized which were:- A vestment of crimson, a gown of green, a gown of crimson, two gowns of the colour called “medley”, a coverlet of worsted for a bed, two and a half pairs of blankets, two pairs of sheets, four bolsters, two saddles, two bridles, a pair of top boots, a pair of spurs, 2 quarters of corn, 2 quarters of malt, a cloth called an “outer cloth”, a portmanteau, three bags, a sword, another coverlet of red worsted for a bed, a torch, three napkins, two towels and 24 arrows, amounting in all to the value of £13 6s 8d.

Hasted, speaking for the alterations made by Archbishop Arundel in the endowment of the Vicarage in 1402-3 adds “from this time the Rectory became a sinecure, and the Vicar performed the whole service of the cure”. But the extract given above as well as Sunderessches’ will imply that the Rectors of Wrotham had not yet become non-resident.  Guage’s death seems to have been sudden as his will is extremely short and is dated the day of his decease 22 October 1470.  Among other bequests are the following:- “my body to be buried in the Chauncell of Saint George, in Wrotham.  Also I biqueath a peece of land to fynde a lampe to brenne before Saint George for ever, lyyng to a pece of land called the Rede”.

By his monumental inscription, which is given in Throe's Registrum Roffense, p 836, it appears that he was a Doctor of Divinity and Chancellor of York.  Le Neve mentions him as Prebendary of Tockerington in York Minster under date 22 April 1451 and as holding the Saint Pancras prebend in Saint Paul's at the time of his death.

JOHN BOURGCHIER 1471-79

He was instituted by proxy and resigned the living after holding it rather less than eight years.  A namesake or possibly the same person was installed Archdeacon of Buckingham 2 April 1474 and died 6 November 1495.

WILLIAM PYKENHAM 1479-97

He was also Archdeacon of Suffolk to which he was collated 2 March 1471-2 and Rector of St Mary’s Hadleigh, in which town he built twelve alms houses for twenty-four poor and aged persons, men and women, together with a Chapel in which they must attend Divine Service.  By his will, dated 6 April 1497 and proved 8 May following, he left, among various other bequests, the sum of 13s 4d to be distributed among poor householders at Wrotham; to the perpetual Vicar there for a commemorative service and for tolling the bells, 10s and 10s to the fabric of the Church.  To the churchwardens of St Michael, East Peckham he left an “antiphonary” (Antiphon; verse or psalm etc, intoned or sung responsively by alternating choirs during divine office before or after psalm) of the use of Sarum or 8 Marks at the direction of his executors.

THO MADDEYS 1497

It does not appear how long he held the Rectory or whether Hawardyn was his immediate predecessor, but his name occurs with eight others, apparently trustees in a charter of the Peckham family, under the date 14 March 1499-1500.

HUMPHREY HAWARDYN - 1515

He was collated to the prebend of Whittington, in Lichfield 6 June 1482.  He succeeded to that of Gaia Major, in the same church, 31 October 1483 and retained it about eighteen months.  In 1481 he was for some time one of the Commissioners of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.  He was admitted to the prebend of Eccleshall in Lichfield 18 January 1488-9 but quitted that for that of Tervin in the same church 18 March 1489-90.  He had been instituted to the Rectory of Shoreham with Otford 4 March 1487-8, but resigned in September 1500, which perhaps marks the time of his collation to Wrotham.  On 20 October 1493, he was collated to the Rectory of St Mary’s Aldermary, one of the Archbishop’s Peculiars.  In 1502 he was Dean of Shoreham and in 1503-4 he was an Official of the Arches and Dean of the Peculiars.

THomas Perte (PESTS) 1515-27

Two wills of the Peckham family, the chief residents in Wrotham for many generations, contain references to the church. When Perte was Rector, Thomas Peckham, by his will dated 28 April 1515 and proved 15 May following, after giving directions for his body to be buried “in the Church of St George at Wroteham bifor the Rode”, left the sum of 6s to the high “Aulter”. Reynolds Peckham Snr, by his will dated 12 July 1523 and proved 27 March following, left, among other bequests, to the “High Awter” 10s; for the reparation of the church, 20s; and for a commemorative service for a year after his death, £6-13-4.  “Also I will that myn executors shall provide a faire stone with the picture of a man and of a woman and of children therein sett of latyn and to be laide over and upon my grave, within the space six week next immediately after my decesse” -Reynolde Peckham’s brass still remains to mark the spot where he is burried.

WILL WAREHAM 1527-32

On Perte’s death William Wareham, Archdeacon of Canterbury, was collated to the Rectory by his Uncle, the Archbishop.  Stow, in his annuals, states that at his instance the Archbishop founded a perpetual vicarage in this Church and therebye converted the Rectory into a rich sinecure.  A perpetual vicarage had been founded here a long time before but it is improbable that from this time the Rectors were, for the most part, non-resident until the date of Thomas Curteis being collated in 1715.  Among Archdeacon Wareham’s other preferments were the prebend of Brownswood in St Paul's Cathedral, the Rectory of Hayes and the Provostship of Wingham College.  After the death of the Archbishop, which took place while he was staying with him at St Stephen's near Canterbury, he resigned his preferments and retired on an annual pension of £60, issuing from the Archdeaconry and £20 for the College of Wingham.

THO BEDILL 1532-37

On Wareham’s resignation Thomas Bedill was collated to the Rectory by Archbishop Warham, whom he served as Secretary from 1520 to the time of his death in August 1532.  He was Clerk of the Privy Council and, within a month of his patron’s death, King Henry VIII took him into his service as one of the royal chaplains.  Archbishop Warham speaks of his appointment “fidelity and virtue” He afterwards rose high in the favour of Thomas Cromwell and Archbishop Cramner, whose views on ecclesiastical policy he thoroughly adopted.

Amongst other preferments, Bedill held the Rectory of Halton, Bucks, in 1512; Sandhurst, Kent 1516; East Peckham 1517; the Archdeaconry of Cleveland 1533; the Archdeaconry of London 1533-4; the Archdeaconry of Cornwall 1534-5; the Rector of Bishopsbourne; and the prebends of Hampstead in Chichester Cathedral and Mapesbury in St Paul’s.  In Bedill’s time James Peckham, left by his will dated 2 August 1532, the sum of 20s “to the reparacions of the body of the parishe churche of Wroteham”.

John Barbour 1537-46

Another of the eminent legal ecclesiastics who held Wrotham, he proceeded to the Degree of DCL at Oxford and became a member of the College of Advocates in 1532.  He was one of Archbishop Cramner’s Chaplains and official of his Court at Canterbury; but his special vocation was to advise the Archbishop on Civil Law matters.  In 1537 he was consulted by Cramner on behalf of Henry VIII on a subtle point touching on the dower of the Duchess of Richmond and in 1538 the Archbishop, in a letter to Cromwell, requests that “Dr Barbour his Chaplain”, may be one of a Royal Commission “to try and examine whether the blood of St Thomas of Canterbury was not a feigned thing and made of some red ochre or such like matter”. The Archbishop speaks of him as “an honest and meet man”. In the year 1542 a loan was made to the King by the Gentlemen of Kent, to which Barbour contributed £10.  He retained the Rectory until his death and was buried at Wrotham.

JOHN de LETCHE 1346

On 10 November 1346, he obtained from the King a confirmation of the position which he held here - presumably as Vicar - on the Archbishop’s collation, as well as of the prebends of Torleton at Salisbury and Interbarrow at Hereford.  In 1351 he was Rector of Harrow, which he then exchanged for the living of Crondal, in the Diocese of Winchester, wherein he was confirmed by the King 15 March 1352-3.

JOHN HASELDEN 1362

Previously of the Sarum Diocese, on 26 May 1370 he was appointed Dean of Shoreham by Archbishop Wittleesey, agreeing to pay out of the revenues of that office the sum of £10 annually to the Archbishop’s domestic chaplain, John Dybill, until the latter should obtain other preferment.  In January 1381-2 the same office was conferred on him by Archbishop Courteney.

HUGH WOTTON 1394 & 1396

Mentioned as directed to induct John Colyn into the Rectory of Ightham, 30 July 1394, and William Cok into the same, 19 August 1396.  On 17 June 1398 he appears to have been instituted Rector of St Albans, Wood Street which he held for two years.

RALPH MELCHBOURNE 1403-04

His name is mentioned in Archbishop Arundel’s settlement of the dispute about tithes, at the beginning of the year 1403.  By his will dated 21 June 1404 and proved a week later at Maidstone, he left a number of legacies, among which may be mentioned 9 Marks as stipend for a Chaplain to pray for his soul in Wrotham Church for one year; 6s 8d for a pyx to hang in the same Church and 6s 8d for a canopy for it (a pyx was a casket or vessel in which the consecrated Host was reserved for the use of the sick.  It was placed upon the Altar under a tabernacle or canopy, within which it was sometime suspended, as was the case here); 50 Chrisoms to make three surplices for the boys serving in Church (a chissom was the white veil placed on the head of an infant at Baptism. If the Child died within a month the chissom was buried with it; otherwise it was customary to present it to the Priest); and 2s to every maiden in the Parish, 15 years old or upwards, on her marriage, if her father was unable to give her a dowry.  To Sir Richard Dyker, Chaplain, he left a gown lined with justian and a hood thereto.  To Sir John, Chaplain of Stansted he left his best gown lined with fur and, to Sir John Robyh, his next best furred gown.  He also left 6s 8d for a picture of St George and 4 marks towards the purchase of Bells.  The last bequest, coupled with the fact that Archbishop Arundel was a great encourager of Church Bells, may indicate that some addition was made to the Wrotham Peal in the early years of the 15th Century.

RICHARD DYKER 1404-28

He had previously been a capellanus, or Chantry Priest, at this Church.  He continued Vicar for nearly a quarter of a century.

John Gorsych 1428-35

On resigning Wrotham, he went to Horton near Faversham, but soon returned to the neighbourhood, being instituted to the Vicarage of Kemsing with Seal 20 October 1438.

JOHN BULNES 1435-36?

Previously Rector of Horton, on 10 September 1422 he had been instituted to the Vicarage of West Malling.  After holding Wrotham little more than a year, he exchanged for the Rectory of Grendon-under-Bernewood, in the Lincoln Diocese.

DAVID MYCHELL 1436

Previously Rector of Grendon, his institution to Wrotham took place in the Archbishop’s Castle of “Saltwoode”.

JOHN CROSSEBY

He exchanged for the Rectory at Exton, in the Winchester Diocese, with Tysshbourne, whose tenure of Wrotham was speedily terminated by death.

WILLIAM TYSSHBORNE 1448

Exchanged with the last on 9 July 1448.

WILLIAM HEBBENCE 1448-

Collated 13 November 1448, he was Vicar of Lydd from June 1435 to November 1441, when he resigned in favour of Prosper Colonna.  In later life he held, at different times, several livings in the Diocese of London and appears to have died about November 1466.

THOMAS SKELTON

William Beverley

Collated 26 August 1461 on resignation of the last.

Edward Mryner 1495

(Will of ?John Goodewyn, PCC 29 Vox)

ROBERT GYBSON or TAILLOUR 1504

He was also Rector of Luddesdown.  On 12 November 1504 he entered into a bond in £30 to Achbishop Warham to reside for three parts of the year at Wrotham and for the remainder at Luddesdown.

JOHN BAYLY 1525-44

Collated on 26 August 1525, he was charged with the payment of an annual pension of £10 to his predecessor.

JOHN BESTE 1544- 49

He compounded (his rates were paid by his landlord and included in his rent) for “First Fruits” in respect of Hadlow Vicarage on 17 April 1546.

JOHN APPULBY 1549-54

One of the married Clergy deprived on the accession of Queen Mary.  Being interrogated in the Sacristy at Rochester, on Thursday 15 March 1554, before William Dalby LLD, Vicar General and others, he deposed that he entered the Order of Saint Benedict in the Monastery of at Westminster and remained there until the 24th year of his age.  He then changed his habit by Royal Dispensation and retired from the Monastery having previously taken Priest’s Orders.  About sixteen years later he married Margaret Coveney in the Chapel of St Bartholomew the Less and had ever since lived a married life.  He held the Vicarage of Wrotham for the space of five years.  Ordered to come up for judgement the same afternoon in the Cathedral, between the Choir and the Sacristy, the sentence of deprivation was pronounced and an order was given for all the emoluments of his Vicarage to be sequestrated.  Many of the deprived clerks were restored to their benefices on Elizabeth’s accession.  Appulby did not come back to this Vicarage, but he obtained other preferment, his name being found in connection with the livings of Horton, Sundridge and Dartford.

JOHN YARDELEY 1554-

Presented by Queen Mary, the See of Canterbury being vacant, he had been instituted to the Rectory of Kingsdown in November 1552.

THOMAS PENTLAND

He was domestic Chaplain to Archbishop Pole and was collated by him to the Rectory of Sundridge 21 May 1557.

WILLIAM PETWOSE 1557-58

Collated 24 March 1557-8, he resigned after holding the vicarage about seven weeks.  He was also collated to the Rectory of Sundridge on Pentland’s decease.

WILLIAM THURBANE 1558

Collated 21 May 1558.  Also collated to Sundridge on Petwose’s resignation.

WILL CANCELLAR 1563-68

After being Vicar for more than five years, he was for some reason, not specified cited to appear in St Paul’s on 14 August 1568, to show cause why Henry Becher, lately instituted to the perpetual Vicarage of Wrotham, should not be inducted into possession of the same.

HENRY BECHER 1568-72

Collated 5 August 1568.  His marriage is entered in the Register Book under 1567-8 and his burial under 4 November 1572.  His is the first name of a Wrotham incumbent in the earliest Register, which begins in November 1558.

WILL STERE  1577-95

Collated 28 January 1576-7.  His name often appears in the early Register Books in connection with “domestic occurrences”.  Two of his children were christened Abner and Benonie.

CHARLES HUTCHISON 1595-1546

Collated 16 August 1595. His tenure of office - amounting to exactly 51 years - surpassed that of any other Wrotham Incumbent, before or since.

RICHARD THORN-EDEN 1546- 57

Originally a Monk of the order of St Benedict at Christ Church, Canterbury.  At the dissolution  he was appointed by the Charter of Incorporation in April 1542 to the first Prebendary Stall in the Cathedral, which he held throughout the reign of Edward VI.  In 1541 the Chapter elected him to be their Proctor in Convocation. He was consecrated Bishop Suffragan of Dover about the year 1546 and among other preferments in the County he held Tenterden, Lydd, Geat Chart, Adisham and Bishopsbourne, at which last he died from the effects of a paralytic stroke in 1557.  To the King’s Loan in 1542 he contributed £20.

THO CHETHAM 1557-58

He was a Canon of the Order of St Augustine and is said to have been Prior of Leeds in this County.  He became Suffragan to Bonner, Bishop of London, under the title of Bishop of Sidon and on 15 October 1553 was collated to the Penitentiaryship of St Paul’s, with the annexed Prebend of St Pancras.  On 8 March 1557-8, a fortnight before being collated to Wrotham, he received a commission from Cardinal Pole to be his Suffragan  for the Diocese of Canterbury.  His death, which took place either at Greenwich or Lambeth was occasioned by his falling down stairs just after he had received the Cardinal’s blessing.

HENRY COLE 1558-9

On the death of the Bishop of Sidon, Cardinal Pole collated to the Rectory Dr Cole, the last of a series of legal ecclesiastics.  His career was a remarkable one and to enumerate all the offices he filled and preferments he obtained would occupy too much space.  He was educated at Winchester and New College, of which he was elected a Fellow in 1521 and subsequently Warden.  After his Oxford career he travelled on the continent, studying at Padua and Paris.

In 1540 he was admitted advocate of the Arches; in September of the same year he was collated to the Rectory of Chelmsford and in the following year Prebendary of Holborn in St Paul’s.  On 25 March 1542 he was ordained Deacon on the title of his Church at Chelmsford.  In 1553 he was installed Archdeacon of Ely and his name occurs in the commissions under which Tunstall and Bonner were restored to their Bishoprics of Durham and London.

In April 1554 he was one of the disputants against Cranmer, Ridley and Latimer and, about the same time, he was installed Canon of Westminster.  In July 1554 he was made Provost of Eton and, in the same month, the University of Oxford conferred on him the Degree of BD and DD without the usual exercises.  On 21 March 1555-6 he was commanded by Queen Mary to preach at the burning of Cranmer at Oxford and, in the following July, Cardinal Pole appointed him one of his delegates for visiting the University.  About the end of 1556 he resigned the Archdeaconry of Ely and was installed Dean of St Paul’s.

In February 1556-7 his name occurs in the special commission against Heresy and, in the course of the same year, he was appointed Vicar-General in Spirituals, Official of the Court of the Arches, Dean of the Peculiars and Judge of the Episcopal Court of Audience.  Soon after his collation to Wrotham he was sent to Ireland with a Commission for the Suppression of Heresy.  On his journey he stayed at Chester, where he was entertained by the Mayor.  The Mayor’s wife, suspecting his errand, opened the box containing his Commission, which she abstracted, substituting for it a  package of similar bulk and weight.  Cole landed at Dublin 7 October 1558 and announced the object of his mission at a meeting of the Privy Council, whereupon Lord Fitzwalter, the Lord Deputy, handed the box to the Secretary, who opened it; expecting of course to find the Commission enclosed.  Great was the consternation when it was discovered that it contained only a pack of cards, with the knave of clubs uppermost.  The Lord Deputy exclaimed, “Let us have another Commission and we will meanwhile shuffle the cards”.  Cole hurried back to England and obtained another Commission but he was detained by stress of weather and the Queen died before he could again reach Dublin.  This singular anecdote is related on the authority of Archbishop Usher.

On 20 May 1560 Cole was committed to the Tower, although he afterwards regained his liberty.  It is said that he died in December 1579 at an advanced age but his later history is involved in much obscurity.  Leland the Antiquary speaks of him in terms of high praise.  Roger Ascham also commends him.  Cardinal Pole appointed him one of the “overseers” of his will.

ANDREW PEERSON 1559-94

Presented by Queen Elizabeth, in the vacancy of the See of Canterbury.  In 1550 he held the office of Proctor in the University of Cambridge, where in 1551 he took the Degree of BD.  He was Chaplain and Almoner to Archbishop Parker and was appointed by him to preach at the Consecration of five Bishops in January 1559-60.  In 1562-3 he was Proctor in the Convocation for the Diocese of Llandaff and on 30 November 1563 he was instituted to the eleventh Prebend in Canterbury Cathedral.

Amongst other preferment's in this County he held the livings of Brasted, Chiddingstone and Harbaldowne.  His patron Archbishop Parker, as mark of  friendship, bequeathed to him his gilt cup with cover, which had been a present from Queen Elizabeth and was valued at £10-14-8d and also made him one of his executors.  By his will, which is in the Consistory Court of Canterbury, dated 24 March 1593-4 and proved 15 November following, Dr Peerson left, among a great variety of other legacies, the sum of 40s “to the poore at Wroteham” and 20s to the poor in the Parish of St Michael, Harbrldowne.

He is believed to have revised the books of Leviticus, Numbers, Job and Proverbs in the Bishop’s Bible. By an Indenture dated 27 March 1564, Peerson exchanged the Old Rectory House, which lay on the east side of the Churchyard and 24½ acres of glebeland, for a house called Courtlodge on the west side of the Churchyard with the same quantity of land adjoining.  The Exchange was effected with Robert Byng Esq lessee of the Rectory and owner of the Courtlodge. The reason given was the “dilapidated condition of the former, which is described as “being at this present vereay olde and ruynous and so sore in dacay... that by the comon indgement and oppinion of men skilfull in that behalf, the some of two or three hundred pounds will not thoroughly and sufficiently in every pointe repaier the same”.  In addition to this, the position of the glebeland was the cause of much inconvenience - “and besides the most parte of the glebelandes thereof so dispersed and being intangled cumbersomely amongst other menns landes, by peeces and small percelles farre distant, every peece thereof fro the other, and the said person being owner of the same or the Fermour for the tyme being, cannot conveniently take the profitte thereof without offence to other, besides greate losse and unquietness to hymself from tyme to tyme”.  The Courtlodge on the other hand was “ newlie built and in far better case … with a like quantite of lande of bettre value next to the same house adjoyning, lieing together and not intremyngles with any other mannes landes.”

The present Rectory no doubt stands on the site of the Courtlodge; while the old building eastward of the Church may perhaps be the original Rectory, though it had been supposed to be the remains of the Manor, which Archbishop Islip obtained leave to pull down and remove to Maidstone.  In the latter part of the year 1571 the Church of Woodlands was annexed to Wrotham, on the petition of some of the chief inhabitants and continued so until 1846. 

RICHARD BANCROFTE 1594-97

Born at Farnworth, Lancashire in 1545 and educated at Cambridge, where he graduated BA in 1567, he was appointed Chaplain to Richard Cox, Bishop of Ely and was collated by him to the Rectory of Teversham, near Cambridge.  In April 1585 he was made Treasurer of St Paul’s.  In 1587 he was installed a Canon of Westminster and on 25 February 1589-90 he was collated to the Prebend of  Bromesbury in St Paul’s.  In 1592 he was appointed Chaplain to Archbishop Whitgift and in this capacity took a prominent part against Barrow, Cartwright and others of the Puritan leaders.  After holding Wrotham two years and a half he resigned the living on being promoted to the Bishopric of London 21 April 1597. He was now, if we may credit Fuller, virtually primate, for Archbishop Whitgift’s increasing infirmities rendered him unable to discharge the duties of his office and his former chaplain had gained his entire confidence.  On 17 November 1604, Bancroft was chosen Archbishop of Canterbury.  The scheme of a new translation of the Bible, which he had formerly opposed, now found in him a ready supporter and it is due to him to recognise the fact that much of the success which ultimately  attended the great undertaking was due to his zealous co-operation.

It seems probable that, on Bancroft’s collation to Wrotham, extensive Church restoration took place , as in the British Museum is an interesting document (Add. MS 25215.f 108) dated 1594 entitled “An Order and Direction sett downe by Dr Binge, Dr Lewyn, Dr Howne, Dr Steward and divers other doctors, to the number of xiii in all assembled in their common dining hall at Doctor’s Commons in London touchinge observacions by the assessors in the taxacon of the Church and walls of the Churchyard, of Wrotham, in Kent and to be observed gen’allie upon like occasions in all places wheresoever”.  Then follows very minute and exact regulations for the proper execution of the work, the whole being intended to serve as a guide in all cases of Church Restoration.

CHAs SONIBANCK  1597-1638

A native of Shropshire and educated at Christ Church, Oxford where he proceeded to the degree of DD in July 1607.  He was installed a Canon of Windsor 8 April 1598.  He also held the living of Hasely in Oxfordshire, which was annexed to his Canoncy.

He died 12 October 1638 and was buried in the Chancel of his Church at Hassle.  He appears to have held the living of Mersham in Surrey, with Wrotham, being admitted to that Rectory 3 November 1598.

EDW Layfield 1638-77

Of St John’s College, Oxford.  He was collated to the Prebend of Harleton in St Paul’s 2 March 1631-2 and was installed Archdeacon of Essex 5 February 1633-4.  In 1635 May 4, he was admitted Vicar of Allhallows, Barking, where he continued until the Rebellion broke out in 1642.  He was then, for his loyalty and for his being favoured by Dr Laud, pursecuted, imprisoned in Ely House and in the ships sequestrated, plundered and forced to fly; but upon King Charles’ II Restoration enjoyed all his preferments.

The House of Commons, 25 November 1640, ordered him to be sent for on charges of ceremonialism, even though a member of a Convocation, then sitting. He was refused Bail on 4 December, although on 19 January. 1641, admitted him to bail of £2,000.  On 25 August 1642, he was ordered, with his Curate, Nash, to allow the congregation choice of lecturers.  The Congregation confirmed their choice on 2 December of G Cokayn.  The House of Lords, 3 February 1643, admitted T Clendon, vice Layfield, sequestrated for pluralism, for employing successively 3 very scandalous curates, two voted so by Congregation for Scandalous Ministers and one for 4 months' absence with Royal Army.  House of Commons, 19 July 1643, ordered him and W Middletori to be imprisoned in Southwark Compter.  Petition on his behalf to House of Commons from 'Vestrymen and chief inhabitants 1644.  Restored 1660-80, Layfield was the son of Archbishop Laud's half-sister Bridget.  He was named in articles against Laud as one of his clergy, which no doubt was a factor in Parliament's enmity against him.

In his time Edward Dodge, by his will dated 18 December 1597, bequeathed amongst other things to the poor of the parish the sum of £5 to be paid annually, issuable out of his lands called Great Comp.  After Hutchinson’s death, which took place in troublesome times, it does not appear who became Vicar.  Stansted was cut off on the North side and made a distinct parish with its own incumbent; and Plaxtol was severed on the opposite side, where a Church was built (1648-9) and a Resident Rector settled.  By Act of Parliament in August 1653, new officials called “Parish Registers” were created, whose duty it was to keep the Register Books, publish Banns of Marriage etc, etc.

These Officers were chosen by the householders of the Parish and entered upon their duties after being duly sworn before a Justice of the Peace.

The choice of the people of Wrotham fell on George Boxer as appears by the following entry, made on one of the blank pages at the end on the oldest Register Book “George Boxer beinge by ye Parishioners chosen Register for ye sayd Parish did accordinge to ye Act take his Oath before me for ye execution of ye sayd Office : July 3rd 1654. W. James”.  George Boxer exercised the duties of his office during almost the whole of the remainder of the Commonwealth period. The entry of his burial is given thus: “George Boxer of ye Parish was buried ye 6th day of March 1658-9”.  Under the dates 7 December 1656, 2 March 1657-8, and 3 September 1558, mention is made of John Stacey Clarke and on 23 December 1656 and 29 November 1658 mention is made of William Marketman Clarke, who on the former of these dates had a son christened “Seraphim”!  It does not appear whether either of theses was a Cleric, but Wrotham can scarcely have required three Parish Clerks at the same time.  Petition of William Parker, Clerk, Master of Arts and Preacher of God’s Word.  Dr Layfield having been voted incapable of all ecclesiastical preferment, all his preferments were disposed of, except the small Rectory of Wrotham, Kent.  Petitioner prays the House to confer it upon him, as he had been long in the service of the Parliament as Chaplain to Lord Willoughby of Parham and as he had been plundered, driven from his living by the King’s Army. LJ VIII 426, Annexed - 1 Draft Order for appointment of Parker to the Rectory of Wrotham (Hist Mss. Comm. Report: VI64a).

WILLIAM PARKER. 1660-1662

His signature occurs about twenty times at the end of the old Registry between the dates 23 September 1660 and 29 June 1662. Generally signed as “Incumbent”, but seven times as “Rector”.  That he did not occupy the latter position de jure is evident from the statement in Charles Layfield’s letters of institution, that he was collated to the Rectory on its voidance by the resignation of Edward Layfield, who had held it from November 1638.

JOHN WILLIAMS 1662-80

Admitted to the Vicarage on the Archbishop’s collation 11 July 1662.  Shortly afterwards he petitioned the King for a corroboration of his title “To ye King’s most Excellent Ma’stie ye Humble Petition of Joh, Williams, Clerk. Humbly sheweth That whereas ye Masties Petition hath with ye hazard of his life & ye utter ruine of his fortune in ye Church of St Peter Paul's Wharfe Lond’ asserted ye Right of Yr Mat’ie & defended ye Liturgie of a then clouded Church & now since Yr Ma’ties restitution is collated to ye Vicaridge of Wrotham in ye County of Kent by my Lard of Canterbury his Grace fearing YT Ye SDI living may be lapsed into Yr. Mat's hands to Ernest: Ye Pore Petitioner humbly implore yr. Mat's broad seal for ye Corroboration of Ye Title & Yr. Petitioner as in duty bound shall ever pray” (Domestic State Papers, ChII vol 5q.m.8).

His petition was granted 26 September 1662 (Pat.14 ChII pt.2. no.59); and he was instituted 3 October following (Bps Certif).   Speaking of St Peter, Paul's Wharf, Newcourt says, ”Tho this Church was but small and inconsiderable, yet let me add something of my own knowledge to the Glory of it, which is this. It was very famous some years before the Restoration of King Charles II by reason the Common Prayer was much used therein and the Holy Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper duly administered to the Liturgy of the Church of England, which brought a great concourse and resort to it, both of the Nobility and Gentry” (Reperitorium i,527). In the year 1678 a collection was made from house to house in Wrotham, towards rebuilding St Paul’s Cathedral, destroyed in the Great Fire. About thirty -six householders of Wrotham and a dozen in Stansted responded to the appeal, which was made in pursuance of royal letters patent.  Mr Williams was the largest contributor.  The entry of Mr William’s burial occurs under the date 10 June 1680.

PHILIP SANDFORD 1680-1714

During Mr Sandford’s tenure of Office, more than 200 collections upon briefs were made, either in the Church or from house to house.  Among other objects are mentioned: Indigent Housekeepers in London, in the hard frost of 1683-4; French and Irish Protestants 1686-90; Tunbridge Wells 1692; Sufferers by fire at Lambeth 1693; Redemption of slaves from Algiers 1693; The Vaudois 1699; The Slaves at Machanes 1701; St Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey and Ely Cathedral 1701; Chester Cathedral; The widows and children of seamen drowned in the Great Storm 1705; Building a church at Oberarmen in the Duchy of Berg 1708; and the poor Palatins 1709. The largest collection was for the French Protestants, May 6th 1686 and amounted to £9-9-0d, In 1685-6 Mr Sandford gave certificate to three young people to be touched for the King’s Evil and it is to be added that they were touched.  The entry for Mr Sandford’s burial occurs under 5 October 1714.  On 8 December 1711 licence was granted to the Inhabitants of Plaxtol for the celebration of the Holy Communion in their own Church.  From this resigned the living of Wrotham about three years and a half  before his death, which occurred in August 1714, on the 10th of which month he was buried in the chancel of Allhallows Church.

CHAS LAYFIELD 1677-1715

Son of the previous Rector.  Educated at St John’s College, Oxford, he was collated to the Second Prebendary Stall at Winchester 22 December 1687. By his will, dated 10 February 1710, he bequeathed the fourth part of what remained after discharging his debts and other legacies to the poor of Winchester, Chilbolton, Wrotham, Croston and Trewin.

After proceedings in the Court of Chancery, an order was made that, of the sum of £1,389-7-0d, one-fourth should be given to Winchester, one-fourth to Wrotham one-fourth to Croston, and one-eighth to each of the other parishes mentioned.  The amount appropriated to these Charities was invested in the purchase of £1,667-2-6d Old South Sea Annuities.  (The proceeds of this Charity as far as Wrotham was concerned were divided among the Parishes which were formed from Wrotham in the first part of the 19th Century.  As far as Wrotham was concerned this charity provided “tools of trade” to deserving young on their being indentured as apprentices.  It continued until 1998 when, as a result of diminishing returns on investment and increasing cost in providing tools, the Charity, with the authority of the Charity Commissioners, was wound up.)

THOS CURTEIS 1715-47

About six months after his collation to the Vicarage, the Rectory fell vacant by Dr Layfield’s death, whereupon Archbishop Tenison conferred it upon Mr Curteis, since which time these preferments have been held by the same person.  Mr Curteis appears to have been the first resident Rector at Wrotham since the mediaeval period and was evidently most zealous in discharging the duties of a Parish Priest.  His answer to the “Inquiries” sent by Archbishop Wake to the incumbents of his Peculiars, in 1717, give a clear view of church matters in the Parish at that date.  He estimated the number of families throughout his parish to be about 280, of which only three or four did not belong to the Established Church, but were Anabaptists.  Educational efforts were confined to the keeping of “six poor children at school under the care of a very religious poor woman, who has taught ‘em to read well and be perfect in the Church Catechism.” This was done at Mr Curtis' own expense.

In addition to a Resident Rector, Wrotham had three curates; of whom one lived in the town and had a stipend of £40 per annum, with the surplice fees when the Rector happened to be absent; the remaining two officiated at the Chapel of ease.  Plaxtol and Stansted.  There were two full services with Sermon every Sunday in the Parish Church, except during the short days of winter, when there was catechising in the afternoon in lieu of a Sermon.  In answer to the Archbishop’s question respecting the times of celebrating the Holy Communion and the number of communicants, Mr Curteis says, ”Besides the three dated times in the year, I have, from near the time of my first induction, prevailed with a competent number to join in a monthly Sacrament, which I propose by God’s assistance to continue.  At that monthly turn we have rarely so many as 20; commonly not above 10 or 12.  Last Easter, at the mother church and chapells we did not exceed 70 or 75, to the best of my remembrance and information.

“The inhabitants of this Parish have long been accustomed to a shameful neglect, especially the men, and still continue to be so, not withstanding admonitions from the Pulpit and in private conference.  I heartily wish your Grace could think of some better expedient for removing this evil.  I think we cannot have less than 500 of sufficient age to communicate.” (Lambeth MS 1115)  Mr Curteis held the sinecure Rectory of Sevenoaks from September 1716 to the time of his death. His burial, which took place at Wrotham, is entered under the date of 3 February 1746-7.

JOHN POTTER 1747-70

Eldest son of Archbishop Potter, he was born in 1713 and was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, where he proceeded to the degree of MA in 1734.  After taking Holy Orders his first preferment was the Vicarage of Blackburn, Lancashire.  In 1739 he obtained the valuable sinecure of Elme cum Emneth in the Isle of Ely.  In 1742 his father presented him to the Archdeaconry of Oxford.  In the following year he was collated to the Vicarage of Lydd, with which he held by dispensation the Rectory of Chiddingstone.  On 25 September 1745 he was instituted to the twelfth Prebendary Stall at Canterbury and in 1766 he was advanced to the Deanery, on which he resigned the Archdeaconry of Oxford.  He died at Wrotham on 20 September 1770 at the age of 57 and was buried in the Dean’s Chapel at Canterbury.  He was Chaplain in ordinary both to George II and George III.  The Chancel of Wrotham Church was restored by him, the floor being extensively reaped and the Windows reglazed.  The present ring of eight bells points to the same period, the date 1754 being inscribed on them.  The names of the subscribers with the amounts they gave are recorded on the north wall of the Belfry.  Dr Potter also greatly improved the Rectory House, upon which he expended more then £2,000.

Hon JAMES CORNWALLIS 1770-81

He was the third son of Charles, fifth Lord and first Earl Cornwallis and was born 25 February 1742-3.  He was educated at Eton and Merton College, Oxford, of which he was elected a fellow.  After taking Holy Orders he was appointed Chaplain to the Marquess Townshend, at that time Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.  His first preferment was the living of Wrotham, to which he was collated by his Uncle the Archbishop on 25 October 1770.  He was appointed a prebendary of Westminster and in 1775 was preferred to the Deanery of Canterbury in which he was installed 29 April.  In 1781 he was consecrated Bishop of Lichfield, upon which he resigned Wrotham.  In 1791, on the translation of Bishop Douglas of Salisbury he was appointed by patent Dean of Windsor, which office he exchanged for that of Durham.  He succeeded to the Earldom of Cornwallis on the death of his nephew, the last Marquess in 1823 in his 81st year.

GEORGE STINTON 1781-83

On the promotion of the Hon James Cornwallis to the See of Lichfield, the King presented Dr Stinton to the living of Wrotham.  He was of Exeter College, Oxford, where he took the degree of DD in 1765.  In the same year Archbishop Secker, who had appointed him his Chaplain, collated him to the Rectory of Wittersham in Kent, which, after he had held it two years, he ceded for the Vicarage of Allhallows, Barking.  On 15 November 1766 he was installed Chancellor of Lincoln.  In 1770 Archbishop, to whom he was Chaplain, collated him to the Rectory of Halsted and in the following year to that of Newington, Oxon.  In 1776 he was collated to the Third Prebendal Stall at Peterborough, on the resignation of Beilby Porteus.  Dr Stinton held Wrotham only eighteen months and died 30 April 1783 at the comparatively early age of 53 and when, in the opinion of his friends, he was within the near prospect of a Bishopric.  Among his published works are “A Sermon preached before the House of Commons 30 January 1768” and “A Sermon on the Consecration of Bishop Barrington, at Lambeth 4 October 1769”.

CHARLES TARRANT 1783-91

Educated at Balliol College, Oxford, where he took the degree of MA.  On 23 August 1755 he was installed Sub-Dean of Salisbury and on 17 July 1759 he was collated to the prebend of Yatesbury in the same Cathedral.  In 1757 he obtained the Chancellor’s living of North Tidworth, Wilts and two years later the Rectory of St Mary le Strand.  In April 1760 he had a dispensation to hold the Vicarage of Staines with Laleham and Ashford attached, with St Mary le Strand. On 26 January 1761 he was admitted to the sixth prebend of Bristol and, in the following April, obtained the Rectory of St George, Bloomsbury, upon which he resigned St Mary le Strand.  In 1764 he was installed Dean of Carlisle, but he resigned after a few months, on being appointed to the Deanery of Peterborough in July that year. On 6 January 1776 he was admitted to the third prebend at Rochester and soon after became Vicar of Lamberhurst, a living which belonged to his prebend.  On the appointment of Lord Northington to be Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Dr Tarrant was to have accompanied him as Chaplain; but Dr Cornwallis, Archbishop of Canterbury, died about this time and before his successor, Dr Moore, received the temporalities, Wrotham fell vacant and the King, who claimed the presentation for this turn as his prerogative, presented him to the living.  He obtained a dispensation to hold Wrotham with St George’s, Bloomsbury.

It is said that, on his appointment to the Deanery of Peterborough, he found the Cathedral in a very dilapidated condition and the revenues had been so neglected that they were insufficient for needful repairs.  He looked into them and found that the Church had a right to a large quantity of timber on an estate in Huntingdonshire, leased to Sir Robert Bernard.  The Dean had it surveyed and then offered it to Sir Robert at less than its valuation; he however refused to buy it, insisting that the Church had no right to it and forebode it to be touched.  The Dean persisted, carried his point and completed a thorough restoration of the Cathedral.  He divided his residence between his Deanery, Bloomsbury and Wrotham.  Bloomsbury was one of the new Churches taken out of the parish of St Giles in the Fields and was finished about the year 1730.  Dr Tarrant was the second incumbent and it is said, during the thirty years he held it, he never had a single dispute with his parishioners.

He died at his residence in Hart Street, Bloomsbury, 22 February 1791 and was buried at Wrotham on 1 March.  A memorial tablet was affixed to the North Wall of the Chancel but it fell down a few years since and is now placed on the opposite wall, within the altar rails.  The entry of the burial of “Reginald Tervey, aged 61, Master of Ye Sunday School, 23 April 1788” is interesting, as showing the adoption of the Sunday School system at Wrotham soon after its origination at Gloucester by the Rev Thomas Stock and Robert Raikes, in the year 1780.

Richard Levett, MA

Collated 9 May 1791, on death of the last.

George Moore, MA

Collated 2 September 1800, on resignation of the last.  He was installed Canon in the sixth Prebend of Canterbury 10 February 1795.  In 1801-2 he rebuilt the rectory, from designs by Samuel Wyatt.  In 1843 the church of St Mary, Platt, was erected.

Charles Lane, MA

Collated 20 December 1845, on death of the last.  Previously Rector of Deal, he was for three years Rural Dean of Sandwich, and after his collation to Wrotham held a similar position in the Shoreham Deanery.  In 1869 he was appointed Hon Canon of Canterbury.  In the year 1861 Mr Lane carried out a very complete restoration of his church.

WilLLIAM fredERICK Erskine Knollys, MA

Collated 24 June 1879, on death of the last.  Previously Rector of Saltwood and Rural Dean of Eltham, he was Chaplain to Dr Tait as Bishop of London and subsequently as Archbishop.

In 1876 he was appointed Hon Canon of Canterbury.  During his tenure of office many great improvements have been  effected in and about the church, in addition to the building, an excellent organ, the adoption of a new system of  heating, and the acquisition of a  piece of land as an additional burial ground.

Leslie Ellis Goodwin

Installed 1 September 1898 on resignation of the last.

Walter Henry Trelawney Ashton Gwatkin

Collated 4 October 1902, on resignation of last.  Chaplain to the Bishop of Rochester 1905, Rural Dean of Shoreham 1909.

On 11 August 1905 Wrotham ceased to be in Canterbury Diocese, following an Order in Council, published in the London Gazette, transferring the parish to Rochester Diocese.

Sir Charles John Monson Shaw Bart

Instituted 9 May 1913 on resignation of last.  Rural Dean of Shoreham 1913.

Canon Arthur Percival Pascoe

Instituted 28 July 1921, on resignation of the last, after previously being Curate 1906-1914, Canon of Rochester Cathedral 1936-1945, becoming Canon Emeritus in 1945.  Rural Dean of Shoreham 1938-1945.

William Henry Bass MA, BD

Instituted 22 September 1945, on resignation of the last.  Vicar of University of Manchester 1912.  Home Superintendent British and Foreign Bible Society 1929-1934.  During his incumbency, restoration work was carried out on the North Aisle and Tower.

The Venerable Edward Ernest Maples Earle MA

Instituted 5 November 1952, on resignation of the last.  Chaplain to Bishop of Rochester, 1942-1944.  Secretary to the Rochester Diocesan Re-organisation Committee, 1944-1953.  Archdeacon of Tonbridge, 1952.  Honorary Canon of Rochester.

In 1958 the West Window of the City of London Church of St Albans, confirmed by the National Buildings Record to be Sir Christopher Wren's work, was taken down when that Church was part demolished and re-erected as the East Window at a total cost of £2,447.

Canon George William Limbert

Canon of Rochester Cathedral, 1956.  Instituted 16 January 1960, on resignation of the last.  In 1960 an oil-fired central heating system was installed at a cost of £1,100.  In 1962 the North Wall of the Nave was excavated and a damp course installed at a cost of £634.

Victor George Nickless, BA

Honorary Canon of Rochester from 1970.  Rural Dean of Shoreham from 1975. Instituted 27 April 1963, on resignation of the last.  In 1965 the Porch Turret, which was in danger of collapsing, was completely rebuilt by local stonemasons at a cost of £903.  In 1966 repairs were carried out to the stonework of the Vestry buttresses and the porch at a cost of £400.  In 1973 the interior of the Church was decorated and repairs carried out to the flooring in the Chancel and Nave at a cost of £3,407.40.

Tony Smith

Instituted 2 June 1978, on resignation of last.  During his incumbency extensive alteration was carried out in the Sanctuary and Chancel.  The existing Riddel screen was removed and the curtain arranged along the east wall, making it possible to celebrate Holy Communion westward facing.  Old and dilapidated choir stalls and seating were replaced and access made to the small door in the south wall.  A communion rail was installed in the Lady Chapel.  Much of this work was done by the Rector himself.  Other repairs and alterations in his eleven years included the total repair of the south aisle floor, the repair to the font cover support, and extensive repair to the roof after the storm of September 1987. Much greater use of the north aisle for exhibitions was inaugurated in his term, as well as the beginning of the Garden of Remembrance in the north area of the churchyard.  During the last eight years of his incumbency he served as Rural Dean of Shoreham.

Gilbert Alan Robson, MA

Instituted 13 July 1989, on resignation of last.  During Alan Robson’s incumbency, the Pews in the North Aisle were found to be badly infested.  These were removed and chairs replaced them in part.  The balance of the space previously occupied by the pews became an area where the very young members of the congregation could be busied during Service.  A new communion table, lectern and prayer desk were made from the ninety year old altar that formerly stood in the North Aisle by the previous incumbent and consecrated as such.  Just before the completion of this incumbency, a large wooden crucifix was installed on the East Wall of the North Aisle by the Bishop of Tonbridge.

Heather Winifred Turner 1995-2002

Instituted 30 October 1995.  Licensed as Priest-in-Charge, on resignation of last.  Heather Turner was the first person not to hold the position of either Rector or Vicar.  Her duties as Parish Priest, which were intended to occupy half of her time, were combined with her Chaplaincy to the Deaf for the Diocese of Rochester.  During her incumbency substantial repairs and additions were made to the Church’s electrical and heating systems.  The Floor Brasses were also repaired and reset by a conservator.  She was instrumental in raising funds for grills to protect the stained windows on the North and East sides of the Church, which had become the targets of Vandals.

BRENDA HURD 2002 - 2012