Chicklade, Bishop’s Queries 1662 ~ 1783

From Chicklade And Pertwood, A Short Parish History by E.R. Barty, M.A., Chicklade, Old Rectory, first published December 1955:

BISHOP’S QUERIES 1662 – 1783
The Old Church suffered vicissitudes of fortune in earlier times. In a long and interesting Warden’s Presentment of 1662 we find the following requests or answers to the Bishop’s questions:-

(1) “A surplice is lacking.”

(2) “A Flagon shall be provided also a Table of Degrees.”

(3) “that the floor of the church be leveled on account of some late burials.”

(4) “It is also requested that what defect may be found in the churchyard fence may be repaired.

A desire is expressed that the church may be restored to its “former decency.”

In answer to further queries:- “There is no terrier as yet belonging to our parsonage but we are ready to perform our duties regarding enquiries concerning the matters of it.”

This Presentment is signed by
Luke Sympson, Rector.
Thomas Lucas, William Siddenham} Churchwardens.
and by two sidesmen.

Luke Sympson (the First) was appointed Rector in 1619.

From this Presentment we may infer that the Church had suffered neglect during the Civil War and/or the Cromwellian period and that the Right Rev. Humphrey, Lord Bishop of Sarum was anxious to restore the Fabric and Services of the Church.

We have already noted that the Enclosure Act was passed in 1781. Thus the common fields of Chicklade were then enclosed. The Rev. John Russ was lord of the Manor and proprietor of certain lands there. At this period Henry Edgell, John Russ, Thomas Waters jnr., Richard Randall, Nathan Wright, Esq., Thomas Hull and Martha Burnett were the principal proprietors. The Rev. John Russ, curate of Sedgehill till 1771, married Mary Frowd, 24th April, 1767 (an interesting connection with the Frowd family, which see later). William Blake was witness to their signatures. The Rev. Benjamin Blatch, Clerk, was Rector. He gives a very full and interesting account of his church and parish in answer to the Bishop’s Queries before the Visitation of 1783.

(1) The service was but once on the Lord’s Day before my residence since which (at present having no other cure) I have had it twice during the summer at 11 o’clock in the morning and three in the afternoon, the sermon alternately.

(2) There is a week-day service on Good Friday.

(3) Divine Services are performed by me as Incumbent.

(4) At present I serve no other cure.

(5) Holy Sacrament is administered four times in the year – at Christmas, Easter, Whitsunday, and Michaelmas.

(6) There are about 100 inhabitants only, including men, women and children, consequently the number of communicants is small – about 10 or 12 generally. At Easter in particular there were only 10 owing to the principal family in the parish being absent.

(7) There are no Papists.

(8) No Presbyterians, Independents, Anabaptists or Quakers in the parish.

(9) Only two or three profess to disregard religion or commonly absent themselves from all public worship.

(10) Before I resided in the parish there was no school in it, consequently but very few of the children as yet can say their catechism. As soon as they have learned it I shall take care to hear them and expound to them Archbishop Wake and Bishop Kem’s Expositions.

(11) There was no Register Book properly kept when I first came into the parish in the year 1780 – the parish have since provided one and the Births and Burials are duly registered. There is no Register against Clandestine Marriages according to Act of Parliament. (a)

(12) There is no Chapel of Ease in the Parish.

(13) This question is: – Have you a true and perfect account and Terrier of all Houses, Lands, Tythes, etc., which belong to you as Minister of the Parish?

and the answer:- The Parish has been lately enclosed by Act of Parliament, a copy of which Act was sent to the late Bishop (cf. Terrier 1783 below).

(14) There is no Free School, Alms House, Hospital or Charitable Endowment.

(15) The Churchwardens are chosen every year in the Easter week one by the Minister and the other by the parishioners.

(16) There is no Public School or Charity School.

(17) I constantly reside upon the Cure but not in the Parsonage House. The house I reside in was given me by the (b) Patron for that purpose, the Parsonage House being too small. The house I reside in about 100 yards distant from the church and is in the Parish. I never absent myself from my Cure above a month or five weeks and that for the purpose of sea bathing once a year.

(18) The Offertory is given to the Poor by the Minister and Churchwardens.

(19) There is no other matter to relate.

(20) Place of residence – Chicklade.
Nearest post town – Hindon.

Then is added a note which appears to read – “The Rev. Benjamin Blatch is studying for his L.L.B. degree – Oxford.”

Instituted to the Rectory of Chicklade, Sept. 26, 1780.
Ordained Deacon March 15, 1772.
Ordained Priest Sept. 20, 1772.

(a) Many of the brides and their grooms were illiterate and in lieu of signatures made their marks.

(b) Harry Edgell, Esq., was Patron. His land lay to the west of the Glebe lands (cf. Terrier 1783). The Rev. John Russ was lord of the Manor.