The History Of All Saints' Stansfield
The Rectors of Stansfield
Note:- "Liber Capella S. Joh. Bapt. Infra manerium Galfridi de
Waldingfeld in Stansfeld" 1306 Jan 20 Rad. fil. Nich. De Waldingfeld
inst. "Ad praes Gualteri de Waldinfeld"
[this refers to Purton or Prediton Green which at the time of the
Domesday book may have been a separate parish but which was later
included with Stansfield]
Over the centuries Stansfield has had some unusual Rectors and
Curates. In the Doomsday book the right to appoint Rectors belonged
to St Edmund's Abbey at Bury, but in 1221 Peter de Nerford gave
the right to appoint to Mountjoy Priory, Haverland, Norfolk. By
the beginning of the 14th century the right to appoint had passed
to the Lords of Clare and the tithe to Clare Priory from whom it
passed to the Crown. The right to appoint a Rector was a valuable
asset because of the right to the tithe that went with it. Most
appointees appointed a vicar to take the services, at a small salary,
and pocketed the difference.
Rectors of Stansfield
| Rectors |
| Thomas de Wycheford - 1303 |
| ad praes Rad: de Monte Hermeri |
| Richard de Stanes - 1306 |
| ad praes. Comitis. Gloucest. Et Hereford |
| Thomas de Brecham - 1334 |
| ad praes dnae Eliz.De Burgh, dnae le Clare |
| Peter de Eriswell -1341 |
| - |
| Robert de Walsham - 1349 |
| - |
| William de Walesham - 1358 |
| - |
| William Aylmer - 1360 |
| ad praes.Dnae Eliz De Burgh |
| John Leef - 1383 |
| ad praes. Dni Regis raone minoris aetatis Comitis
|
| Wm, Wifere - 1384 |
| Marchiae |
| Thomas Cockill - 1384 |
| permut cum Brokland, Cant. Ad pr. Rs. |
| John Bradelegh - 1401 |
| permut cum Heryngswelle. |
| Thomas Westhorp - 1426 |
| ad pr. Dni. H. Rs. |
| John Snele - 1464 |
| ad pr. Ceciliae matris Rs., Ed.iv |
| William King - 1496 |
| ad pr. Regis. |
| John Parker - 1521 |
| ad pr. Katerinae Reginae Angliae |
| Henry Hamylton - 1547 |
| ad pr. Dni Regis |
| Roger Petman - 1554 |
| ad pr. Reginae |
| Edmund Leyes - 1555 |
| ad pr. Reginae. Buried in Stansfield Church,
April 23rd, 1563 |
| Robert Shaw - 1563 |
ad praes. Reginae; also Rector of Hawkedon.
By his will made 18th of May, 1575, Robert Shaw directed that
his body be buried in the chancel of Stansfield Church. He bequeathed
40 shillings to the poor of Stansfield and Hawkedon, 5 shillings
to the poor of Denston and the same to Somerton.
Item. His tenement called Erles in Stansfield in a street called
Hebelsforth End to the Parson and churchwardens of Stansfield
in trust for the poor for ever. (On this site the village school
was eventually built.)*
Item To Joane Evered, widow and Ambrose her son, £14, which
Joane owes him, and 5 combs 2 bushells of oats, Sudbury measure,
and one fat wether and 3 shillings and tenpence laid out for
her suit at Norwich against William Hedgeman, on condition that
they discharge the dilapidations on the Parsonage of Hawkedon
and the chancel of Hawkedon etc.
Item To Maister William Polie of Boxted Hall his best horse.
Item To Mr John Jermyn, of Depden, Esq., his rowan colt, desiring
them both to be friendly to his executrix.
Item To Maister Thomas Shakelton, clerk, his sarcenet tippet
and two square caps.
Item To Harry Boyse, clerk, his furred gown.
Item To Alice Hartlie, his sister, his posted bedstead, with
the tester over it, one of his best featherbeds with transsome
and two pillows and one covering.
Item. To John Broun, his godson, a silver spoon, etc, etc Witnesses,
Thos. Hamond of Hawkedon, Thos. Hills of Linn, Harry Boyse,
clerk, Alexander Emote, Thos Hill, Richard Sadlington, clerk.
By a codicil, dated 17 Dec., 1583, among other bequests, 6 silver
spoons and a maser to Alice Hartelie. The copy endorsed- " The
copie of Mr Shawe his last will and testament with the probate
annexed thereto" 29 Aug 1584.
Robert Shawe was buried in Stansfield Church, Aug 21st, 1584. |
| Nicholas Walrons - 1584 |
ad pr.Reginae.
Married 1586, Dec 6. - "Mr Nicholaus Walrond, R Eccl. Par. De
S. Et Martha Orbell. Baptised 1587 Nov 5 Rogerus Walrond, fil.mri.
N.W. Rect. Eccl. Par de S. Et Marthae uxoris.Rectoris, etc."
Nicholaus Walronde signs the register for the last time 24 th
Mar., 1602. |
| James Rowe -1602 |
ad pr. Reginae 1622.
1622 "Jacobus Rowe, Cleric et Anna Frost contraxere inter se
nuptias decimo die maii." 1622 " Jacobus Rowe dudum Minister
hujus Eclesiae (per menses 17 menses paralysi male affectus
et post mortuus) sepultus est 14 Julii. Cui Jacobo Rowe jure
et virtute resignationis suae successit in Rectoria de Stansfeld,
vizt. Mense maii Anno Dni 1621 pr. Dicto Gilbertus Wimberley
Rectoir ibdm." Stansfeld, vizt. Mense maii Anno Dni 1621 pr.
Dicto Gilbertus Wimberley Rector ibdm"). |
| Gilbert Wimberley - 1621 |
| (Sanctae Theologiae Professor) |
| Robert Cotisford - 1622 |
| ad pr. Thomae Bedingfelde. |
| John Pakenham - 1639 |
| Walker in his book "Sufferings of the Clergy,"
says that " Thomas Pakenham was teiz'd out of it (the Rectory
of Stansfield) by the vexatious behaviour of his parishioners
encouraged by the prevailing powers, and succeeded by one B---,
an army chaplain." |
| Samuel Boardman - 1648 |
Mr. Samuel Boardman. In 1648, Mr. Seth Ward
at Long Melford, resigned and was succeeded by Mr. Samuel Boardman
"his brother in law", of the same faction The Stansfield Churchwardens'
books record that Mr Boardman gave £10 to the poor of this Parish
" when he was removed to Melford by the late usurping powers"
In 1646, Mr Boardman's name appears as one of the signatories
of the " Humble Petition of the Ministers of the Counties of
Suffolk and Essex concerninge Church Government," presented
to the Rt. Hon. The House of Peers.
He died in 1653 (Parker's History of Long Melford). |
| Clement Ray - 1661 |
ad pr. Dni Regis.
The Registers from 1649 are in the handwriting of Clement Ray,
and there were: Baptized 1651, 20 Dec Maria; Baptized 1653,
May 1, Joseph; Baptized 1654, Hune 20, Isaac; Baptized 1655,
Nov 17, Elizabeth; Baptized 1657, Dec 2, George; Baptized 1658,
Dec 16, Samuel: children of Clement Raye and Mary his wife From
this it may be inferred that Clement Raye, who had been minister
for some years during the Commonwealth , conformed and was duly
instituted on the Restoration of the King.
In 1686 Clement Ray was Perpetual Curate at Denston, where he
was buried 1686, Apr 6th. |
| Thomas Tyllott - 1662 |
ad pr. Dni Regis. T. Tyllot was ejected from
the rectory of Depden in 1643. He then opened a school, but
was commanded to desist when the ordinance came out that no
sequester minister should be allowed to teach a private school.
He seems to have found refuge at Stansfield on the avoidance
of the Rectory by Clement Ray. Walker says he was restored to
his two livings.The burial register records in 1667; "Mr Tho.
Tyllott Retr. Hujus Ecclesiae sepultus est vicesimo primo Augusti."
The inscription on his ledger reads -
Ms Thomae Tyllott
Qui antiqua et honesta Tyllotorum
Gallicorum prosapia oriundus
Indefessa in studiis opera
et spectata fidelitate
Eamdem cohonestavit
Saeviente bello civili
Deo Regi atque afflictae Ecclesiae
Rectoriam de Depden faeneranti.
Cum illa sua hane alteram de Stansfield
Rependit Carolus Secundus redux
Annorum tandem et famae publicae satur
Ad aureolam coelestem translatus est
Aug 16 Anno Domini 1677 Aetatis suae 70 |
| Henry Halsted - 1677 |
S.T.B., ad pr. Dni Regis.
The epitaph on his tombstone sufficiently gives the history
of H.H. From the numerous records in the Parish Books, he seems
to have been a very active and energetic parson, and the entry
of his burial in the Register is a very touching one. "1728,
Aug. 10th , Henricus Halstead, s.t.b., hujus ecclesiae Rector
dignissimus."
On his ledger - Arms of Halstead, an eagle displayed on a chief
compone, impaling a bend gutte between 2 moorhens, a chief compone.
Henricus Halstead, S.T.B.
Burnlimie in Lancastria natus
Oxonii apud suos Aeneinascences socius(sic)
ad hanc Rectoriam
Post annos circiter xx in studiis positos
promotus est.
Ubi veri pastoris officium
cum pace et modestia exercuit
et postquam Dei
Ministorum que Ipsius Aedes
Pro animo decoraverat
Immortalitatem adiit Die Augusti . A.D.1728. Aetat 87 |
| Hopton Haynes - 1728 |
M.A. Patron the Crown.
From this time until 1854, a series of non-resident Rectors
was inflicted on the Parish, and the church suffered a loss,
the effects of which are even now too evident. |
| Samuel Ogden - 1766 |
D.D. Patron the Crown.
Extract from the Life of Professor Adam Sedgewick._ "The (Woodwardian)
Lectureship being vacant a fourth time, Col. King, now a very
old man, appointed the Revd S. Ogden, D.D., Fell. And Pres.
Of St. John's College. Dr. Ogden had been Master of the Grammar
School Halifax, from 1743 to 1753, when he returned to Cambridge,
where he resided to his death, 22nd Mar., 1778, He held the
livings of Stansfield in Suffolk and of Lawford in Essex, and
was Vicar of St, Sepulchre's, Cambs. From 1759 to 1777. For
his personal appearance we will again quote Cole- "Dr. Ogden
is a bold swarthy black man, of most extraordinary turn of Humour.
Great Vivacity, odd, whimsical, and like no one else, a great
epicure, and very parsimonious, a very ingenious Preacher, and
on that account his Church of St Sepulchre at Camb., is usually
so thronged as to be difficult to get a place."
From Gilbert Wakefield, " I heard Dr. Ogden preach most of these
discourses which were afterwards made public. His manner and
person and character were exactly suited to each other. He exhibited
a black scowling figure , a lowering visage, embrowed by the
honours of a sable periwig. His voice was growling and morose,
and his sentences desultory, tart and snappish. His sermons
are interspersed with remarks eminently brilliant and acute,
but too epigrammatic in their close. He was a good scholar,
a liberal minded Christian and an honest man."
Ogden had a turn for writing verse, and his name appears in
three of those volumes which in the 17th and 18th centuries
the Universities used to address to the Sovreign on important
occasions. In 1760 he mourned the death of George II nd in Latin
Elegiacs; in 1761 he hailed the marriage of George III rd in
English Stanzas; and in the following year the birth of George,
Prince of Wales, in Arabic. These curious changes of language
were satirized in the following lines:-
When Ogden his prosaic verse,
In Latin numbers dressed,
The Roman laguage proved too weak,
To stand the critics' test.
To English rhymes he next essayed,
To show he'd some pretence,
But ah ! rhyme only would not do,
They still expected sense.
Enraged, the Doctor swore he'd place
On critic no reliance,
So wrapt his thoughts in Arabic,
And bid 'em all defiance.
These lines are attributed by Cole, to R. Pepper Arden, Fell.
Trin. Coll., afterwards Lord Alvanley. Several amusing stories
about Dr. Ogden are found in Gunning's Reminiscences. His Sermons
were published with an account of his Life by S. Halifax, Camb.
1814. Dr Johnson greatly admired his sermons Mayor's edition
of Baker's History of St. Johns ollege, also contains much information
concerning him. He was buried in St. Sepulchre's, Cambridge
and his Epitaph is in Manchester Cathedral. |
| George Ashby - 1790 |
B.D. Patron the Crown.
Fellow and President of St. John's College, Cambridge. Instituted
to the Rectory of Barrow, Suffolk, on the presentation of St.
John's College, 5th Aug.1774."He was a very good antiquary,
learned critic, and much conversant in medals and pictures."
Cole's MSS. He lies buried in Barrow Church near the altar on
the South side. Epitaph "Near this place is interred the body
of the Revd George Ashby, B.D., and F.S.A., Rector of this Parish,
son of Edmund Ashby (by Elizabeth Judith, daughter of Robert
Lock of Dinton in Wiltshire) of an ancient Leicestershire family,
who was born 5th Dec., 1724, and died 12th June, 1808." He was
for many years President of St. John's College, Cambridge,
by which Society he was presented to this living in 1774, and
in 1790, obtained by the friendship of Dr. Ross, Bishop of Exeter,
the Rectory of Stansfield in Suffolk. For some years previous
to his death he had the misfortune to become blind, but as a
critical scholar and an antiquary he left many lasting testimonials
of superior abilities. Thomas Lyns of Barrow, the constant companion
and amanuensis of the Revd G. Ashby for the space of 28 years,
and at last his testimentary heir, with all respect and gratitude,
inscribes this marble to his memory - Arms: Ashby of Quenby,
Leicester. Azure, a chevron ermine between 3 leopards or. |
| John Carleton - 1808 |
D.D.
Rector of Hartest 1799 - 1812, Rector of Theberton 1813, Chaplain
in ordinary to His Majesty 1814; Rector of Binton, Stratford-on-Avon.
A Tablet in Binton Church reads:-In Memory of Revd John Carleton,
D.D., formerly Rector and late Curate of this Parish, where
he died Jany. 16th, 1819, in the 68th year of his age, being
one of His Majesty's Chaplains, Rector of the livings of Hartest
and Boxted, and also of Stansfield and Theberton in the County
of Suffolk. This tablet is erected by his dutiful and grateful
servant, Charles Hamilton. |
| John Maddy - 1820 |
D.D. F.R.S.,
Jesus College, Oxford.. He was very poor for a time but became
much patronised by the nobility and Gentry in London who entrusted
him with the education of their children at their own houses
and he was able to earn about £80 a week in this way. He was
elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in June 1817. From the
Tablet in Somerton Church:-
"Sacred to the Memory of The Revd Johhn Maddy, D.D., F.R.S.,
F.A.S., Canon of Ely, 53 years Rector of this Parish also of
Hartest cum Boxted, and Stansfield, Chaplain in ordinary to
Her Majesty Queen Victoria from 1830 - 1853 and the three preceding
Sovereigns. Born March 23rd, 1766. Died June 17th, 1853" |
| Edward J. Phipps - 1853 |
M.A.,
Pat. Lord Chancellor. Memorial Window in chancel:- "Erected
to the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of Edward James Phipps,
Rector 1853-1884, ob . fest. Ascension:1884 Aetat: 78, by his
widow and children. R.I.P." |
| Alfred Giles Hilton - 1884 |
| M.A. Camb. |
| Joseph Russel Little - 1890 |
| M.A. Camb. |
| Archie Fredrick Webling - 1913 |
A.K.C.
Author of numerous books "The Last Abbott" etc |
| Arnold Hill Payne - 1926 |
M.A.
The last Rector or Vicar to live in the Parish. |
| Hugh Overthwaite Hutton - 1955 |
| - |
| Tom Wright - 1976 |
M.A.
Rector of Stansfield and Poslingford and perpetual curate of
Denston |
| Ian Finn - 1999 |
A.K.C.
Rector of the seven parishes forming the newly created benefice
of Bansfield. The name Bansfield is derived from a manor existing
in the large (in terms of area) parish of Wickhambrook. |
| Stephen Abbott - 2008 |
A.K.C.
Rector of the benefice of Bansfield. |
| Brin Singleton - 2013 |
| Rector of the benefice of Bansfield. |
| Eve Bell - 2020 |
| Rector of the benefice of Bansfield. |
|
