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BUBWITH:
The History of Bubwith Church

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The church of
All Saints
Bubwith



OF the great antiquity of tile parish of Bubwith, the following extracts from acknowledged authorities, furnish satisfactory proof:-
[Domesday Book,* A.D., 1086.] " In Bubwid (Bubwith) Alwin had six carucates of land and two oxgangs to be taxed. There is land to nine ploughs. In the same village Chetel had two carucates and two oxgangs, the soke of which belongs to Bricstune (Breighton). There is land to one plough and a half. Richard, a vassal of Gislebert's, has now there half a plough, and five villanes with one plough, wood pasture half a mile long, and two quarenteens broad. Value in King Edward's time twenty shillings, now twelve shillings." Gilbert Tyson,† standard bearer to the Conqueror, gave two carucates of land at Bubwith, to Selby Monastery.

* William the Conqueror ordered a survey of the whole kingdom A.D. 1083, to ascertain the value of the landed property, that he might tax it at discretion. This volume was put together at Winchester, and entitled "The Roll of Winchester ;" though from dislike to the measure it was called the "The Domesday Book."

† The frequent mention of the name of Tyson in documents of the date of the Conquest would lead us to the conclusion that they formed a family of importance, and we repeatedly meet with the name in connection with works of piety and devotion. Thus a person of the name was founder of the Abbey of Bridlington, as the following document shows : "Iste Gisbrighton Tison fuit Dominus de Bridlington, Walton, Melton, et Alnewike: Et ut a quibusdam Scriptis invenitur fuit fnndator Abbathiarum de Bridlington, de Walton, de Malton, de Alnewike. Sed verius mihi videtur, et arbitror, quod successores ejus fundaverunt proedicta monasteria pro anima ejus dictus est eorumfundator, non ejus facto sed successorum devotione ut imferius manifestabitur. Iste autem Gisbrightus genuit Wm. Tyson et Ricardum Tison. Wm. Tison, corruit in bello contra Haraldum Angliae invasorem." Richard Tyson was founder of Gisborough Priory.


" In A.D. 1262, Thomas de Mulgate, the Archbishop's officer, ordered John de Giveldale to take and enjoy, for his life, the half of fifty marks of money, and the half of the minute tythes of the demesnes of Thomas de Gunneby, as rector of a mediety of the Church of Bubwith; and after his death, the property to be disposed of by the Abbot and Church of Bubwith. King Edward granted the Abbot free warren in his demesne lands of Gunneby, if not within the forest."

In A.D. 1294, 22. Edward I. William de Thorntoft gave all his lands in Gunneby and Brichton, which he had of the gift of Sir Thomas de Gunneby. Oliver de Gunneby gave land to find lights, and all the tithe of Ralph de Gunneby, and of all other smaller tithes of the said Ralph de Gunneby, except the tithe that the Church of Bubwith had in his father's time, of the moor of Stalbayn.

In A.D. 1321. 14. Edward II. William, son of John de Tadcaster, of Bubwith, gave fifteen acres in Gunneby.

Oliver de Gunneby, for the support of a Chaplain to minister at the altar of St. Mary, in Bubwith, for the good of his soul, and that of Petronill, his wife, &c., gave three acres in Bubwitli, arid two acres and a half in Gunneby field, and ten acres nearer to the boundaries of Brichton, within the living of Gunby, and six perches of land and meadow of the length and breadth of Fimor, and near to the river Derwent. He also gave half a mark rent charge, and five shillings per annum out of a carucate of land at Brichton, and Thomas Hisson confirmed it."

Abbreviatio Rotulorum Originalium p. 212. Edwd. III, Grossi Fines. Ebor, R. P. quadraginta libr' concessit Johi's de Flet de Bubwith qd ipe manium de Waxham cum ptin et unu messuagiu tria tofta et duodecim bovatus tra cum ptin in Preston in Holdernesse q de R tenent' ut de honore Albe Marie p s'vicium militare et faciend sectam ad wapentachiam. R. de Holdernesse de tribz sept' in tres sept' dare possit, et assignare priori et conventui de Wartre trend' &c. Ro. 43.

" On the 17th of Nov., A.D. 1372, the Chapter of York granted leave to William de Feriby, farmer of the farm of Bubwith, to give and assign to the Vicar of the Church one place out of his rectory, or mansion-house of the rectory, against the church, to be erected by the Vicar, and by him and his successors held for ever." (Lawton.)

From Burton's Monasticon we learn that the Abbey of Byland held lands in Bubwith. " John de Mowbray, Lord of the Isle of Axholme, in A.D. 1349. 22. Edward III. by the King's license gave one mediety of this rectory for the good of the soul of Joan his wife, buried before the great altar in this church."

Pope Innocent VI. in the 3rd year of his pontificate, A.D. 1355, wrote to John Thoresby, Archbishop of York, to grant an annual pension of twenty marks to this Abbey out of his mediety, which was appropriated to the use of the monks, and a vicarage ordained therein, the Vicar to be presented by the Abbot, &c., and personally to reside in this parochial church and chapel of Willoughtoft (Willitoft,) who shall have the oblations, mortuaries, small tythes of feeding cattle, and of other things ; two tofts in Bubwith, two oxgangs of land in Willoughtoft, with all other fruits, rents, and profits, belonging to the said mediety, except two oxgangs in Bubwith, and tythes of corn and hay, which shall belong to the monks, who shall find for the Vicar a mansion, and he shall pay archidiaconal procurations, and shall find bread, wine, and lights. Dated A.D. 1365."

" In Spaldington, in this parish, Peter Lord Manley, held three carucates, and one oxgang and a half in fee, all which Russell Walter Bethell, and the heirs of John del Haym held of German le Hay, who held the same of the said Lord Manley."

The above extracts clearly set forth the antiquity of the parish of Bubwith. From equally authentic sources we are enabled to derive information relative to the church.

This Church was a Rectory consisting of two medieties, each of which had a vicarage ordained there in A.D. 1365. The one mediety belonged to the Dean and Chapter of York, being given to them by Guaism de Bubwith, temp. Hen. II., upon the appropriation thereof to their common a vicarage was settled, but where does not appear. Of this mediety, the Dean and Chapter are patrons. The other was by John De Mowbray, A.D. 1369, given to the Abbey of Byland, to which it was appropriated, and on the Dissolution, the patronage of this mediety came to the crown. The incumbents of Bubwith were Rectors until the vacancy caused by Wm. fil Alex de Skamerton, circa A.D. 1400 ; from that time they have been styled Vicars.

The Value of this church is thus given in Pope Nicholas's Taxation, A.D. 1292. Firma i' Ecclia Ebor. Bubwick £8. Os. 0d. There is no mention of it in the Nonarum Inquisitiones, A.D. 1341. In the valor Ecclesiasticus, Temp. Hen. VIII., 1535, we find the following :


£.s.d.
Bubwythe Medietas vicarie valor per annumvij.ij.iiij.
Decima inde xiiij.iij.
Bubwyth altare medietas vicarie valet clare per annviij.-iiij.
Decima inde xvj. 


From " Lawton's Collectio Rerum"* we learn that though the Crown had the right of presentation to one mediety, that right was but seldom exercised. It presented Robert Blakey, in A.D. 1689. In 1713, Robert Taylor was Vicar of one mediety, and curate of the other. In A.D. 1729, John Burton was collated by the Dean and chapter, George Ion by the same, and John Wilkinson by the same. In the Parliamentary Survey,† vol. xvii., p. 367, and vol. xviii. pp. 111-126, it is stated, " Vicarage worth £13. Gs. 8d. Spaldington and Willitoft to be united and made a parish, and Willitoft to be the parish church." In a late Parliamentary return it is valued at £ 112. 17s. 11d.

* This work we desire cordially to recommend to all persons interested in the history of the Church in the diocese of York and Ripon.


THE COMMONWEALTH SURVEYS OF THE CHURCH LANDS.-" The surveys of the possessions of bishops, deans, and chapters, and other benefices, were made in pursuance of various ordinances of Parliament during the Commonwealth, by surveyors appointed for that purpose, acting on oath, under instructions given to them, as may be seen in Scobell's Acts and Ordinances, A.D. 1649, p. 19, &c. The original surveys were returned to a registrar appointed by the ordinances, and duplicates or transcripts of them were transmitted to the trustees or commissioners nominated for the sale of the possessions, who held their meetings in a house in Broad-street, in the city, where these documents remained until after the Restoration. On the 6th of August, 1660, the House of Commons having received information that William Ayloffe and - Ayloffe, had come into the public-office in Broad-street, where the records, books, and surveys relating to the bishops' and deans' and chapters' lands were kept for his Majesty's service and the public, putting the officers out of possession, sealing up the doors, breaking open the locks of several rooms where the records were, and possessing themselves of the key of the door belonging to the treasury, and daily ransacking among them, to the great prejudice of thousands concerned therein, and by transferring and misplacing thereof, a perfect account to his Majesty and to this house, touching the same, will be disabled. It was ordered that the said William Ayloffe and - Ayloffe, should forthwith return back all books, writings, and evidences found by them in the public office, relating to the sale of bishops' and deans' and chapters' lands, in Broad-street, with the office itself, to the hands and custody of the officers who formerly had the same in charge; and that the sergeant-at-arms attending this house do see the same be done accordingly.'-Coin-mons' Journal, vol. 8, p. 112. It was also ordered, 13th May, 1662, "That Mr. Michael Mallett and Mr. William Ayloffe do deliver all such surveys and other records and writings concerning the archbishopricks, bishopricks, and deans and chapters, which are in their hands, unto the most Reverend Father in God the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, who is desired to take care for the preservation thereof, and to dispose of the same to the respective bishops, deans, and chapters who are therein concerned, if he shall think fit. In consequence of this order those valuable records were delivered to Archbishop Juxon, and were deposited in this library. They are numbered in the preceding catalogue 902, 922. Some of them were afterwards sent by his grace to the bishops and deans and chapters to which they belonged, in pursuance of the said order, so that the collection in Lambeth library is not perfect and complete. What remains are bound up in twenty-one large folio volumes, in alphabetical order, of the different dioceses or counties to which they relate. A minute index to the whole in one folio volume, exhibits the name of every place surveyed. Mr. Topham has stated that the returns preserved are not the original papers signed by the surveyors, but are transcripts made at the time, and are probably the duplicates which were directed by the ordinance of Parliament to be sent to the trustees for sale of the possessions. There are exceptions to this statement; the original signatures and seals of the surveyors or commissioners being affixed to some of these rolls and papers. And they are all, by a decree of the Court of Exchequer, admitted in evidence as original records Besides the above, there arc surveys of the possessions of the see of Canterbury and of peculiars belonging to it, kept separate from the possessions of the other sees, deans, and chapters, &c., with indexes in alphabetical order, which are bound in three volumes. Of these, the second contains original surveys as far as folio lxxiii. From thence to the end are copies, of which there are in this library no originals ; with some few of those of which the originals here remain. The third volume contains only copies or duplicates of the surveys."-From the Catalogue of the Lambeth MSS.

In the NOTITIA PAROCHIALIS, A.D. 1708, it is recorded that "Eight towns and hamlets, all impropriated, except Gunby, pays no tithes, only pays 5s. 6d. per annum to the Vicar of Bubwith, in lieu of all tithes. The vicarage is endowed with Easter dues and all small tithes, and half the wool and lamb, and an augmentation of £10 per annum from the Dean and Chapter, to whom half of the impropriated tithes belong. All the impropriators receive the tithes alternately. Bubwith is a mediety." Signed, " Timothy Smith, Vic." No. 1041.

The parish of Bubwith consists of the following townships or hamlets :-Breighton including Gunby, Foggathorpe, Gribthorpe, Willitoft, Harlthorpe, and Spaldington. Gunby was given by William the Conqueror to his standard-bearer, Gilbert Tison, it afterwards gave surname to the family from it called De Guneby, which resided here for many generations. The old mansion house was taken about half a century ago. At Foggathorpe, called in Domesday, Fulcarthorpe, was the residence of the Akroyd's, which was moated on three sides. It is now destroyed. This was also one of the manors given by the Conqueror to Gilbert Tison. Willitoft Hall, formerly the dwelling place of the ancient family of Vavasour, in the reign of Charles I., is now a farm-house. At Spaldington also was a mansion of the Vavasour family.

The Church of Bubwith* dedicated to All Saints, is a discharged Vicarage, in the Wapentake of Harthill, and in the Archdeaconry of the East Riding of the County of York. The parish contains 10,460 acres. The population in 1841 consisted of 1352, viz.:-


Bubwith 519
Brighton and Gunby 210
Foggathorpe 96
Gribthorpe 61
Willitoft 53
Harlthorpe 100
Spaldington 313
Total1352


* Bubwith is 6 miles N. by W. from Howden.


In Bubwith was born Nicholas de Bubwith Bishop of Bath and Wells, one of the English Prelates that attended the Council of Constance, when John Huss and Jerome of Prague, were condemned to the flames, A.D. 1415. The poor of the parish have 6 acres of land left by James Turner, A.D. 1714, out of the rent of which ten shillings is paid for a sermon on Low Sunday. The poor of Bubwith township have 11 acres, left by one of the Hotham family, and an annuity of 3s. 4d. from Wood's Charity.

The CHARITIES connected with the Parish of Bubwith, are the following :-
James Turner's Charity, in A.D. 1714. Six acres of land, left at the time of the Report, for £8. 8s. per annum, which rent (with the exception of 10s. 6d. to the minister for a sermon on Low Sunday,) is distributed on S. Thomas' day among poor widows, and other industrious poor of the whole parish. - Hotham's Charity Land. Eleven acres. The rents are distri buted at Christmas and Whitsuntide, amongst widows and other poor of the township, in sums of 1s. to 10s. at their discretion, - Wood's Dole. This was by will dated in A.D. 1568. Rent charge of £10 per annum, distributed in various proportions amongst the poor of 44 neighbouring parishes and townships. The sum to this parish is 3s. 4d. per annum. Lost Charity. 6s. 8d. per annum to the poor. No account of the receipt of the money since 1754.


RECTORS AND VICARS OF BUBWITH IN COM EBOR FROM TORRE'S MS.S.
Temp. Instit.Rectores.Patronii.Vac per
3 Ida Ap. 1282Jac de Moun.Dno Agnes de Vesey 
16 Kal Mar. 1287 Jno. Bassel.
6 Kal Ap. 1310 Adam de Osgoteby.
6 Kal Oct. 1310 Richard de Osgodby.
2 Kal Feb. 1316 Rich. de Osgotby.
Kal Oct. 1322.Thomas de Sunnebrey.  
7 Ids Nov. 1322 Rich. de Bretteby.
6 Aug. 1328Nich. de Welleburn.  
7 Feb 1340Jno. Noble.  
3 July 1364Wm. de Wyrkesworthe.  
27 Mar. 1367Wm. ill Alex. de Skamerton.  



A CLOSE CATALOGUE OF THE VICARS OF BUBWITH.
Temp. Instit.Vicars.Patron.Vac per
Robt. Thormotby.  
7 Mar. 1422Rich. Marton.  
Ult. Maij. 1440William Croft.  
15 Nov. 1466Rich. Appleton.  
26 Oct. 1486Robt. Holtby.  
17 Oct. 1506Thomas Taillour.  
13 Maij 1515Jno. Browne.  
15 Mar. 1517Tho. Jefferson.  
1520Jno. Shacklock.  
4 Nov. 1521Thomas Dixon.  
7 Sept. 1537Thomas Caldbeck.  
9 Sept. 1573Robt. Maynard, clk.  
21 June 1586William Purret.  
22 June 1620Jno. Bayles.  
Jan. 1343dno John Staynegate.Dec. & cap. Ebor. 
Maij 1358dno Hen. de Birkenscagh.  
4 July 1359dno Adam de Esington.  
Feb. 1364dno Steven de Bubwith.  
8 Feb. 1365dno Adam de Laxton.  
8 Mar. 1374dno Wm. Paulyne.  
dno Wm. Burton. Resig.
Nov. 1398dno Tho. Hesyle.  
Mar. 1390dno Jno. Wall.  
1 Aug. 1391dno Robt. fil Ric de Hemyngburgh.  
12 Mar. 1408dno John Langetoft.  
dno Wm. Rikall.  
dno Wm. Walton.  
19 Feb. 1437dno Robert Broune.  
1 Oct. 1442dno Jno. Spencer.  
3 Jan. 1452dno Jon. Walker.  
7 Feb. 1487dno Wm. Kexby  
24 Sept. 1499dno Rich. Savage.  
26 Aug. 1526dno Rich. Hawclyffe.  
4 Junij 1558dno Jno. Clowdersdale.  
7 July 1573dno Wm. Parret, clk.  
28 Nov. 1586dno Jno. Lambe.  
20 Maij 1617dno Wm. Squire.  
10 Mar. 1646dno Robt. Brooke.  
23 Mar. 1660dno Rowland Greenwood.  
2 July 1663dno J. Dyson.  
22 Mar. 1665dno Rich. Basset.  
19 Maij 1688dno Guili. Calvert.  


Church Plan

The Church.



This Church is dedicated* to All Saints, and consists of a Tower, Nave with N. and S. aisles, and Chancel with a Chantry on the N. side. Of these the Chancel Arch, and a portion of the S. wall of the Chancel, and Nave arches and piers, probably form the original structure, the remaining portions being of much later date.

* ANCIENT FORM OF DEDICATION.-" The following particulars are extracted and condensed from Martene's invaluable work : and as his account is not easily accessible, and somewhat long, it has been thought well to subjoin them here.
Churches were often, in the primitive ages, dedicated by more than one Bishop. Constantine having completed a magnificent church at Jerusalem, invited the Prelates, then assembled in Council at Tyre, to assist in its consecration. -Euseb. Vit. Const. iv, 43. SOZOMEN. 1, 40.
Constantius his son, having finished a church erected by his father at Antioch, Eusebius of Nicomedia, the intruding Patriarch of Constantinople, summoned a Council under pretence of consecrating the church, however much in reality to decide against the Catholick Doctrine of Consubstantiality. Ninety-seven Bishops were present.-SOZOMEN. iii, 5.
So it was also in the western Church. This is proved by the Preface to the 4th Council of Arles, holden in 524: which begins, When the Priests of the Loan had assembled in the Will of GOD to the Dedication of the church of S. Mary at Arles.
In the time of S. Louis, Pope Pascal I. consecrated the church of S. Vincent, with the Sacred College of Bishops and Cardinals. About the year 1015, the Crypt of the monastery of S. Michael was consecrated by S. Bernard of Hildersheilm, and two other Bishops; and three years afterwards, the church being finished, it was consecrated by the same S. Bernard with three other Bishops. Viti. S. Bernardi. cap. xxxix, xl.
All these Bishops took an actual part in the service. In the consecration of the church of Mans, in 1120, the High Altar was consecrated by Gilbert, Archbishop of Mans : S. Julians by Galfred of Rouen : Hildebert of Mans, consecrated S. Mary's; Reginald of Angiers, that of the Holy Cross. There is a fine passage to the same point in Sugerius's book on the Dedication of the church of S. Denis : "Right early in the morning," saith he, "Archbishops and Bishops, Archdeacons and Abbats, and other venerable persons, who had lived of their proper expense, bore themselves right bishopfully; and took their places on the platform raised for the consecration of the water, and placed between the sepulchres of the Holy Martyrs and S. Saviour's Altar. Then might ye have seen, and they who stood by saw, and that with great devotion, such a band of so venerable Bishops, arrayed in their white robes, sparkling in their pontifical robes and precious orfreys, grasp their Pastoral Staves, call on God in Holy Exorcism, pace around the consecrated enclosure, and perform the Nuptials of the Great King with such care, that it seemed as though the ceremony were performed by a chorus of angels, not a band of men. The crowd, in overwhelming magnitude, rolled around to the door : and while the aforesaid Episcopal band were sprinkling the walls with hyssop, the King and his nobles drive them back, repress them, guard the portals."
Yet the principal actor on the occasion was the Bishop of the Diocese. The thirty-sixth Canon of the second Council of Arles decrees, If a Bishop be minded to build a church in another Diocese, let its dedication be reserved for the Diocesan. S. Columbanus, being only a Priest, dedicated the church of S. Aurelia. Walfrid. Strabo. Vita. S. Gallo, cap. vi.
The preceding night was spent either in the church, or in neighbouring churches in a solemn Vigil. S. Ambrose testifies that this was done on occasions of the Dedication of the Ambrosian church. Epist. 22, ad Marcellina. So S. Gregory of Mans, in his Dedication of the church of S. Julian, removed the relics of that Saint into the church of S. Martin, and there kept Vigil. De Glor. Mart. ii. 34.
Relics were considered indispensably necessary : so S. Paulinus (Epist. xxxii, ad Sever.) This church was dedicated in the name of CHRIST, the SAINT of Saints, the MARTYR of Martyrs, the LORD of Lords, and was honoured with the relics of the Blessed Apostles. See also the beautiful epistle of S. Ambrose, translated in the church of the Fathers. The phrase was,Consecrare ecelesiam de reliquiis Beati n.
Yet some churches were consecrated without relics. The second Nicene Council, decreed that in this case they should be supplied. Those portions of the Consecrated Elements were placed with these : to which perhaps that expression of S. Chrysostom is to be referred -What is the Altar by Nature but a stone ? But it is made holy, when it bath once received the Body of Christ.
These relics occupied different positions. In the Church of S. Benedict, consecrated by Pope Alexander II., there were relics in the Chapel-apse of S. John, in the bases of the Piers, in the four angles of the bell tower, in the cross on the western gable, in the cross of the tower. Chron. Cass. iii, 30.
Ashes were sprinkled on the floor, and the Bishop with his Pastoral Staff wrote on them the Alphabet, sometimes in Latin alone, sometimes in Greek also.
The whole ceremony concluded with the endowment of the church: or, as it was termed, presenting its dowry."-From " Durandus on the Symbolism of Churches and Church Ornaments, edited by the Rev. J. M. Neale and the Rev. B. Webb, (Rivingtons, London). A work which we cannot too highly recommend to all who take an interest in Ecclesiastical Architecture and Antiquities.


Exterior.



The Tower at the West end is of two stories square, supported with four buttresses of three stages which die away in the wall under the cornice and placed at the West end, two at right angles at each corner. The basement moulding and sets off of the buttresses are of bold design and execution, and characteristic of the style to which the architecture of the Tower belongs. In the lower story is a West window, perpendicular of three lights, cinque-foiled, the subsidiary ones tre-foiled ; with exterior label. The upper story which is separated from the lower by a string course, contains four two light windows cinque-foiled, with a quatrefoil in the head. These also have exterior labels. The Tower is embattled of five, from the corner of which rise small crocketed pinnacles.

Church Exterior The Nave is lighted by four clerestory windows on either side, square headed, consisting of three lights each, cinque-foiled, without labels. The parapets of the Nave are embattled, and from them spring crocketed pinnacles -the faces of the pinnacles on the South side have shields with the following armorial bearings :- On a chief two mullets ; barry of four ; a fess lozengy; quarterly, over all a bend. On the West buttress is a shield of arms, on a bend, three cinquefoils. There are no shields on the North side.

The Aisles of the Nave are lighted by three windows each. Those on the South and the West one on the North are Perpendicular of three lights square headed, which, together with the subsidiary lights are trefoiled. The two remaining windows in the North Aisle are square headed of three lights, trefoiled, with the mullions running up into ogee heads. At the East end of the South Aisle is a perpendicular window of three lights, under an equilateral arch, the lower and subsidiary lights being trefoiled with a quatrefoil in the head. It has no exterior label. The Aisles are supported by massive staged buttresses which die away in the wall. The parapets of the Aisles are plain, and without pinnacles.

Little need be said respecting the doorways. Their arches are acutely pointed and mouldings continuous. That on the South is of larger dimensions than the one on the North ; and both have doors of very common and unecclesiastical character. The South doorway has not long since been thrown open by the removal of a porch.

The Chancel has three windows on the South, but none at present on the North, the only one which ever existed being blocked up by that most barbarous erection, (the school) to be noticed hereafter. The narrow one light window, West of the Priest's door, is probably the most ancient in the Church, and erected at a time nearly coeval with the Chancel Arch, to be described in due course. This window is Early English. The two, West of the said door are probably insertions. The East window of' the Chancel deserves attention. It is perpendicular of five lights under a drop arch, the mullions of the central light intersecting : the lower lights cinquefoiled, the upper trefoiled, with a quatrefoil in the head. The Chancel is supported by buttresses of two stages, each dying in the wall, and at its Eastern extremity are square set. The parapet is plain, and the Eastern gable surmounted with a portion of a Cross. There is a Priests' Door on the South side, which leads by steps into the Chancel.

It is not possible to pass on without remarking upon the gross violation of architectural propriety in the brick building erected on the North side of the Chancel for a School. We hope ere long to hear of its entire removal, and the restoration of the two windows, which now, in consequence of that building are blocked up.

The Roofs of the Nave, Aisles, and Chancel are low and covered with lead. That of the Nave has, in all probability been of higher pitch, before the present clerestory was carried up. That the clerestory has been an addition to the original structure may be fairly gathered, both from the difference of style between it and the piers and arches below, and also from the wall which diminishes at the very point where such an addition would commence.

Interior.



Church Interior The proportions of the Chancel are extremely good, but the general effect is much injured by the modern screen work which divides it into two equal parts. The lower portion of the wall within the screen is covered with wood panelling in the style of Carpenter's Gothic, the removal of which would add much to the beauty of the whole. The date of this work is A.D. 1781. On the South side, the Chancel is entered by a low Priests' door, the height of which has evidently been contracted by the surface of the external ground being raised, so as to make the floor of the Chancel lower than that of the adjacent Churchyard. The North window has been blocked by the erection of a School-house as also the East window of the North Chantry. The removal of such School, and the restoration of these windows is a work earnestly to be desired. The roof is of good oaken panelling; the principal beams resting upon plain corbels, and the cornice embattled. On the walls are some helmets and mantlings, belonging to the Vavasours of Melbourn.

On the North side is a Chantry Chapel entered by a plain arch, and separated from the Chancel by a parclose of very humble pretensions. At the South East corner is a piscina under a trefoiled arch, 1ft. 8in. by 1ft. 6in. There is no trace of the Altar Stone. This portion of the Church is now used as a Vestry. Within the Chancel is some very good carved pewing with this inscription, 1621, H. A., the execution of which exhibits in no favourable light the meagre screen work already alluded to.

Arch Base The most interesting feature in this Church is its Chancel Arch, which is Norman work. It consists of three concentric receding semicircular arches resting on as many shafts, with enriched capitals. The two outer pairs standing in the angles of square edged jambs, the last attached to the inner surface of the arch. The capitals are of different designs, but in each case the under side of the abacus is enriched with the pellet moulding. The arch is composed of a series of roll-mouldings, and is finished with an arcade.

Capital The beauty of this portion of the Church has been, until lately much concealed from view, by the pulpit and reading pew being placed under it, and some of the ornamental work on the South side had been cut away in order to make room for the former. We are happy to find that these eye-sores are now removed, and placed at the North West corner of the Chancel Arch, thereby opening out the whole length of the Church, and permitting the minister to be seen and heard when officiating at the Communion Table.

The Nave is separated from the Aisles by four pointed arches resting upon round piers, with the exception of the West pair, which are octagonal. These are probably Early English, and as such form part of the original building. The ceiling or roof of the Nave and Aisles is plaster and modern. The removal of this, and the opening out the old roof which is supposed to bear some resemblance to that of the Chancel would be a decided advantage to the Church. At present it is out of character with the rest of the edifice.

At the East end of the South Aisle there has been a Chantry. The piscina which is very small still remains, but partly concealed by a pew. There is no trace of altar or parclose. Near it in the Aisle is a flat stone, with a cross flory, and an inscription sculptured upon it. This is so far concealed by a pew as to render it a difficult matter to decipher it.

The Tower has been at some period open to the Church by a lofty arch, which now appears in the Tower, but which is lost to view in the Nave.

Nothing can be more shameful than the adoption of an apothecary's mortar for a font, which is attached to a pillar supporting the West gallery. Bad as this is, it is rendered worse by the fact that the base of the original font now serves the purpose of supporting a sundial in the Churchyard, and the basin is in the possession of an antiquarian not far distant. The probable recovery of these to their proper place and use, is a subject which we cannot but rejoice to mention.

There are but very few remnants of Stained Glass. These are to be found in the windows of the North Aisle, as also the East window of the Chancel. Allen, in his " History of Yorkshire," says, In one of the windows of the Nave are the ancient arms of Roos : gules, three water-bougets argent."

There were formerly five Bells, now there are only three.

This Church was augmented in A.D. 1760, with £200 (first Mediety,) and in A.D. 1792, with £200, (second Mediety) both by lot. -A mortgage under Gilbert's Act of £300, ceased in A.D. 1836. -Inclosure Acts were passed 2nd and 3rd Wm. IV. -On March 11, 1790, a faculty was obtained for repewing the Church.-On May 5th, 1798, confirmation of allotment of pews. The Register Book commence A.D. 1623.


The proportions of the Church are as follows :-
Tower,16ft. by 16ft.
Nave,57ft. loin. by 25ft. 6in.
North and South Aisles of Nave, each57ft. 10in. by 8ft. 2in.
Chancel,44ft. by 16ft. 3in.
North Chantry,17ft. by 11ft.
Total length of Church,101ft. 10in.
Total breadth,41ft. 10in.
These are all interior admeasurements.


Works containing references to Bubwith :-Torre's MS. (Peculiars) p. 999. Archbishop Sharp's MS. Vol. ii., pp. 17-25. Bawdwer's Domesday Book (Bubwid) p. 192. (Briston) p. 192. (Fulcartorp) pp. 77, 185, 191, 192. (Spellenton) p. 77. (Gripetorp) pp. 185, 192. Wilgetot, pp. 77, 85, 192. Burton's Monasticon, pp. 261, 331, 392. Wood's Bodleian, MSS. No. 5101.
Data transcribed by
Colin Hinson © 2019
from
The Churches of Yorkshire
by W H Hatton, 1880
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