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Hereford Institutions
(in Benefice order)

Source

The data presented below has been extracted from the registers of the Bishops of Hereford. The Cantilupe Society took the initiative to make the registers from 1275 to 1900 available to the public and they were translated and published as books between 1907 and about 1921, often by the Canterbury and York Society. The references are available below.

Status

This is work in progress. The institutions currently presented form a complete extract from the final publication of the Cantilupe Society covering the period 1539 to 1900 (edited by A.T. Bannister). The institutions for the earlier years 1275 to 1539 are currently being extracted, and, to date, have been added to all benefices starting with the letter A. See the list of Bishops for the status of each register.

How to Use

Clicking on a relevant entry takes you to the benefice. Using the alphabetic index takes you to the benefices starting with the chosen letter. There is a little help available for those without experience of the complexities of benefice management.

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

A

Abberley, Abbeydore, Abdon, Abenhall, Aconbury, Acton Round, Acton Scott, Alberbury, Alcaston, Allensmore, Almeley, Alveley, Alvington, Archdeaconry of Hereford, Archdeaconry of Ludlow, Archdeaconry of Salop (Shropshire), Ashford Bowdler, Ashford Carbonell, Astley Abbots, Aston Botterell, Aston Ingham, Aston, Atcham, Avenbury, Awre, Aylton, Aymestrey.

B

Bacton, Badger, Ballingham, Barrow, Bartestree, Bartonsham, Bayton, Beckbury, Bedstone, Benthall, Bettws-y-Crwyn, Bewdley, Billingsley, Birley, Bishop's Castle, Bishop's Frome, Bishopstone, Bishopswood, Bitterley, Blakemere, Bobbington, Bockleton, Bodenham, Bolstone, Borington, Bosbury, Bourton, Brampton Abbots, Brampton Bryan, Bredenbury, Bredwardine, Breinton, Bridge Sollers, Bridgnorth St. Leonard, Bridgnorth St. Mary Magdalene, Bridstow, Brilley, Brimfield, Brinsop, Brobury, Brockhampton, Bromfield, Bromsberrow, Bromyard, Broseley, Buckenhill, Bucknell, Bullinghope, Burford, Burghill, Burrington, Burwarton, Buttington, Byford, Byton

C

Canon Frome, Canon Pyon, Canon Residentiaryship, Cardeston, Cardington, Castle Frome, Caynham, Chancellorship of the Cathedral Church, Chantry of the Cross Lydney, Chantry of St Mary Magdalene, Chelmarsh, Chetton, Chirbury, Church Preen, Church Pulverbatch, Church Stretton, Church Withington, Church Stoke, Claverley, Clee St. Margaret, Cleeton St. Mary, Clehonger, Cleobury Mortimer, Cleobury North, Clifford, Clifton On Teme, Clodock, Clun, Clunbury, Clungunford, Coalbrookdale, Coddington, Cold Weston, Collington, Colwall, Coreley, Cowarne, Cradley, Crasswall, Credenhill, Criggion, Croft, Cublington, Culmington, Cusop

D

Deanery of Hereford, Deuxhill, Dewchurch, Dewsall, Diddlebury, Dilwyn, Dinedor, Ditton Priors, Dixton, Docklow, Doddington, Donnington, Dormington, Dorstone, Dowles, Downton, Dulas

E

Eardisland, Eardisley, Eastham, Easthope, Eastnor, Eaton Bishop, Eaton under Haywood, Eccleswall, Edgton, Edvin Loach, Edvin Ralph, Eigne, Elton, Episcopi, Evancoyd, Evesbatch, Ewithington, Ewyas Harold, Eye, Eyton

F

Far Forest, Farlow, Felton, Ford Herefordshire, Ford Salop, Forden, Fownhope, Foy, Frome Bishop, Frome Canon, Frome Castle

G

Ganarew, Garway, Glazeley, Goodrich, Gorwell and Overbury, Great Hanwood, Great Wollaston, Greete, Grendon Bishop, Grendon Warren

H

Habberley, Hampton, Hampton Bishop, Hanley William, Hardwicke, Hatfield, Hentland, Hereford All Saints, Hereford St James, Hereford St John Baptist, Hereford St Martin, Hereford St Nicholas, Hereford St Owen, Hereford St Peter and St Owen, Hereford St Peter, Highley, Hinton, Holdgate, Holme Lacy, Holmer, Hope Bagot, Hope Bowdler, Hope Mansel, Hope, Hopesay, Hope under Dinmore, Hopton Cangeford, Hopton Castle, Hopton Wafers, How Caple, Hughley, Humber, Hunderton, Huntington (nr Hereford), Huntington (nr Kington), Hyssington

I

Inkberrow, Ironbridge, Ivington

J

Jackfield

K

Kenchester, Kenderchurch, Kentchurch, Kilpeck, Kimbolton, Kings Pyon, Kingsland, Kingstone, Kington, Kinlet, Kinnersley, Kinsham, Knighton, Knighton on Teme, Knill, Knowbury, Kyre Wyard

L

Leaton, Lectureship of Hereford, Lectureship of Bromyard, Lectureship of Ludlow, Lectureship of Monmouth, Ledbury, Leinthall Earles, Leinthall Starkes, Leintwardine, Leominster, Letton, Leysters, Lindridge, Lingen, Linton, Little Birch, Little Dewchurch, Little Hereford, Little Marcle, Little Wenlock, Llandinabo, Llanfair Waterdine, Llangarren, Llangrove, Llangua, Llanrothal, Llanveynoe, Llanwarne, Longden, Longhope, Longtown, Lower Sapey, Lucton, Ludford, Ludlow St. Lawrence, Lugwardine, Lydbury North, Lydham, Lyonshall

M

Madeley, Madley, Mainstone, Mamble, Mansell Gamage, Mansell Lacy, Marden, Marstone Stannett, Marstow, Marton, Meole Brace, Middleton Scriven, Middleton, Middleton-in-Chirbury, Minsterley, Moccas, Monkhopton, Monkland, Monmouth, Monnington on Wye, Montgomery, Mordiford, More, Moreton on Lugg, Moreton and Whaddon, Moreton Jeffries, Moreton Magna, Moreton Parva, Morville, Much Birch, Much Cowarne, Much Dewchurch, Much Marcle, Much Wenlock, Munsley, Munslow, Myndtown

N

Neen Savage, Neen Sollars, Neenton, New Radnor, Newcastle on Clun, Newton, Nonnington, Norton, Norton Canon

O

Ocle Pychard, Old Radnor, Oldbury, Onibury, Orcop, Orleton

P

Pembridge, Pencombe, Pencoyd, Pensax, Peterchurch, Peterstow, Piona Parva, Pipe, Pixley, Pontesbury, Pratum Majus, Pratum Minus, Precentorship of Hereford Cathedral, Preen, Prelectorship in the Cathedral Church, Presteigne, Preston, Preston Wynne, Preston on Wye, Pudleston, Putley, Putson Major, Putson Minor

Q

Quatford

R

Ratlinghope, Ribbesford, Richards Castle, Rochford, Rock, Ross, Rowlestone, Rushbury

S

Sarnesfield, Sellack, Shelsley Walsh, Shelve, Shobdon, Shrawardine, Sibdon Carwood, Sidbury, Silvington, Snead, Snodhill, Sollers Hope, St Devereux, St Margarets, St Weonards, Stanford Bishop, Stanford on Teme, Stanton Lacy, Stanton Long, Staunton, Staunton on Arrow, Staunton on Wye, Stockton on Teme, Stoke Bliss, Stoke Edith, Stoke Lacy, Stoke Prior, Stoke St Milborough, Stoke, Stokesay, Storridge, Stottesdon, Stowe, Stretford, Stretton, Stretton Grandison, Stretton Sugwas, Sutton, Sutton St Michael, Sutton St Nicholas

T

Tarrington, Tasley, Tedstone Delamere, Tedstone Wafer, Tenbury, Thornbury, Thruxton, Tidenham, Titley, Treasurership in the Cathedral Church, Trelystan, Tretire, Tuckhill, Tugford, Tupsley, Turnastone

U

Ullingswick, Upper Sapey, Upton Bishop, Upton Cressett

V

Vowchurch

W

Wacton, Walford, Walterstone, Warham, Wellington Heath, Wellington, Welsh Bicknor, Welsh Newton, Wentnor, Weobley, Westbury, Weston Beggard, Weston under Penyard, Wheathill, Whitbourne, Whitchurch, Whitney, Wigmore, Willersley, Willey, Winforton, Wistanstow, Wisteston, Withington, Withington Parva, Wobery, Wolferlow, Wollaston, Woolhope, Woolstaston, Wormsley, Worthen

X

Y

Yarkhill, Yarpole, Yazor, Yockleton

Z

Help

Definitions

Advowson was the right in English law of presenting a nominee to a vacant ecclesiastical benefice. In effect, this meant the right to nominate a person to hold a church office in a parish. The process of appointment was initiated by the holder of the advowson, who for this purpose was termed the patron, presenting his nominee. Patronage was associated originally with ownership of the right to the tithes - the lord of the manor. Later, the patron was someone who had purchased or obtained the advowson, often by inheritance but sometimes in payment for a debt. Patronage could be provided by a body rather than a person, such as a priory or monastery.

If the patron's right to present, and the qualifications of his presentee, were found acceptable in canonical law, then the bishop authorised institution to the benefice; the deed of institution was a written instrument under the episcopal seal. If the bishop was also the patron then this was termed collation. Institution to the spiritualities of the freehold office was followed by induction by the archdeacon or his or her deputy into possession of the temporalities of the benefice. This was not recorded in writing but was usually effected by placing the priest's hand on the key of the church door or other part of the building. Before being admitted to office, the priest made the declaration of assent and took the oath of allegiance to the Sovereign and of canonical obedience to the bishop. An example of an oath was bound with the register of Ricardi Mayew and is reproduced here.

Induction to a prebend or other cathedral office was often delegated to the hebdomadary to perform. The hebdomadary was a member of a chapter or convent, whose week it was to officiate in the choir, and perform other services, which, on extraordinary occasions, were performed by the superiors.

The benefice data on this website has been extracted from the list of institutions, collations, exchanges and resignations included with the registers published by the Cantilupe Society. This list includes those presentations to a parish made by the holder of the advowson as well as those made to non-parish appointments such as prebends and other offices in the cathedral church. The exception is that of the register of Thome de Cantilupo which, when published by the Cantilupe Society, did not contain such a list. In this one case, an extract has been made from the text of the register and, due to my lack of knowledge (which might be expected of a diocesan historian), the resulting data is more prone to errors and misunderstandings. In both cases, the data includes the date of presentation, the name of the presentee, the patron, the previous incumbent and the reason for the vacancy.

Tithes were taxes (traditionally of ten percent) levied on the agricultural output of the parish.

A benefice was originally a gift of land and, in England, most of these gifts arose after 1066 with the division of land-based income amongst William's knights and bishops. Under pre-Reformation Canon law it came to mean an income enjoyed - often linked to some land administered - by a priest in chief of an ecclesistical office, such as a parish, monastery, or a post of canon in a chapter. There were therefore a number of different types of benefice.

The most common benefices were rectories and vicarages whose tithes provided a living for the incumbent priest(s), and therefore formed a parish. Tithes were divided into greater tithes levied on wheat, hay and wood, and lesser tithes levied on the remainder. A rector received both greater and lesser tithes, and a vicar received the lesser tithes only. A resident rector tended to the cure of souls in the parish, whereas an absentee rector lived elsewhere and appointed a vicar to act as the parish priest, but still enjoyed most of the profits arising therefrom. A perpetual curate received no tithe income and was supported by the diocese. A perpetual curate was usually priest-in-charge of a newly created parish carved out of a larger rectoral or vicarious parish. The patron expected to receive a small yearly fee from the parish priest taken from the tithes of the church, and, in some parishes, custom dictated that the patron received a much more significant pension. I have included chantry as a type of benefice but the funding of a chantry differed from others. A chantry was located in a church and associated with a specific priest. The chantry priest was funded by a sum of money lodged with the diocese, usually by inheritance following the benefactor's death, specifically for the saying of prayers on behalf of the benefactor.

However, some benefices were prebends whose tithes funded a prebendary, or official of the Cathedral Church. If the parish also supported a parish priest (a rector or vicar) then it was customary for the prebendary to be the patron for the presentation of a new occupant of that post. In some cases the income from parish tithes was divided into portions and the right to each portion could be owned by different portionists. And, in a few cases, the portions might each fund prebendaries. Early registers made little or no distinction between portions and prebends and refer, in the case of Bromyard, Burford, Dixton, Holgate, Ledbury, Llanwarne, Pontesbury, and Westbury to "portion or prebend".

A table of common abbreviations used in the entries has been provided.

Some Explanations

The diocese of Hereford had, at various times, benefices located in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire, Mongomeryshire and Radnorshire. Those not in Herefordshire are qualified by the [County] in brackets following the name of the benefice. In the case of parishes spread across more than one county, I've followed the conventions of GENUKI. However, the habit of the civil authorities of moving county boundaries has made this attribution rather more complex than it might seem.

Benefices were sometimes passed from one diocese to another and there are indications that Hereford, Lichfield, Worcester, Gloucester and St Asaph operated in this way. Note that the benefice histories included here are derived only from the registers of the diocese of Hereford and there might be more information held elsewhere.

The register entries sometimes indicate that some benefices changed from perpetual curacy to vicarage and vice versa (although this could sometimes be simply clerical error in the register). Where the entries are consistent, these changes are noted but, if not, the most recent is used. Note that wherever the term curacy is used it means perpetual curacy. In some cases, the benefice justified both a rector and a vicar.

It was permitted for the owner of the advowson to present himself or a close relative for appointment to a benefice, and this seemed to be particularly frequent during the 19th Century. There are, therefore, parishes where the living passed by inheritance down the generations in parallel with the patronage.

Because the advowson was often passed by inheritance, it sometimes resulted in ownership by a minor, in which case a parent or guardian acted as patron on his behalf. It also resulted in the special case that a widow could act as patron if her husband left her the advowson.

The entries include not only the name of the presentee but also his academic qualification and these changed over time. I suspect some of these changes were clerical errors but it was customary for the bishop to release priests for academic study to improve their qualification.

The cause of the vacancy was almost always one of cession, death, deprivation, exchange or resignation; in a few rare cases it was amotion, preferment, promotion or void. Cession was giving up or vacating a benefice, by accepting another without a proper dispensation. Deprivation was the result of an act in ecclesiastical law to deprive the living from the incumbent. Exchange occurred when two priests swapped benefices. Resignation was the formal retirement of a priest from a living. Amotion was the unilateral removal of the incumbent. Preferment and promotion were the career advancement of the incumbent to a senior position in the church. An appointment was void if some ecclesiastical reason was found which invalidated it. The term vacation was used if no reason was given in the entry.

Missing and Suspect Data

Most of the data has been extracted from AT Bannister's publication on Hereford Institutions 1539-1900, but earlier data is being included as it becomes available. Note that some registers are unavailable and those presentations are therefore missing. Details of the availability of registers can be found in the list of Bishops.

In addition to missing registers, there were particular problems around the time of the Civil War. There are some institutions in the register of Theophilus Field (1635 to 1636) which were made in the vacancy of the see. Field's register is very confusedly kept, and contains no institutions during the time Theophilus Field was actually bishop, and, with no explanation, includes four institutions to Coreley made between 1508 and 1591. Between 1635 and 1661 there are no institutions entered in the registers. The institutions of 1661 are entered in the register of Herbert Croft (1661 to 1692) although they must have been made by bishop Nicholas Monk (1660 to 1661). Readers will therefore find gaps in the lists of entries only some of which will correspond to a missing register.

Oath

I become your man from thys day forward of lyfe and lymb and of wordely worshyppe and faith that y owe to ower sovereign lord the kynge and to my elderer lordys. So helpe me godde at hys holy dome and by my trewth.

And I, as ye lorde of such londes and tenementys as ye hold of me by knyghten service, for the whyche ye have done your hommage unto me, I accepte you - and take you - as my tenant and hommager.

Abbreviations

References

• Registrum Thome de Cantilupo, episcopi Herefordensis, 1275-1282, ed. R. G. Griffiths and W. W. Capes. Canterbury and York Society, ii, 1907.
• Registrum Ricardi de Swinfield, episcopi Herefordensis, 1283-1317, ed. W. W. Capes. Canterbury and York Society, vi, 1909.
• Registrum Ade de Orleton, episcopi Herefordensis, 1317-1327, ed. A. T. Bannister. Canterbury and York Society, v, 1908.
• Registrum Thome de Charlton, episcopi Herefordensis, 1327-1344, ed. W. W. Capes. Canterbury and York Society, ix, 1913.
• Registrum Johannis de Trillek, episcopi Herefordensis, 1344-1361, ed. J. H. Parry. Canterbury and York Society, viii, 1912.
• Registrum Ludowici de Charltone, episcopi Herefordensis, 1361-1370, ed. J. H. Parry. Canterbury and York Society, xiv, 1913.
• Registrum Willelmi de Courtenay, episcopi Herefordensis, 1370-1375, ed. W. W. Capes. Canterbury and York Society, xv, 1914.
• Registrum Johannis Gilbert, episcopi Herefordensis, 1375-1389, ed. J. H. Parry. Canterbury and York Society, xviii, 1915.
• Registrum Johannis Trefnant, episcopi Herefordensis, 1389-1404, ed. W. W. Capes. Canterbury and York Society, xx, 1916.
• Registrum Roberti Mascall, episcopi Herefordensis, 1404-1416, ed. J. H. Parry. Canterbury and York Society, xxi, 1917.
• Registrum Edmundi Lacy, episcopi Herefordensis, 1417-1420, ed. J. H. Parry and A. T. Bannister. Canterbury and York Society, xxii, 1918.
• Registrum Thome Poltone, episcopi Herefordensis, 1420-1422, ed. W. W. Capes. Canterbury and York Society, xxii, 1918.
• Registrum Thome Spofford, episcopi Herefordensis, 1422-1448, ed. A. T. Bannister. Canterbury and York Society, xxiii, 1919.
• Registrum Ricardi Beauchamp, episcopi Herefordensis, 1449-1450, ed. A. T. Bannister. Canterbury and York Society, xxv, 1919.
• Registrum Reginaldi Boulers, episcopi Herefordensis, 1450-1453, ed. A. T. Bannister. Canterbury and York Society, xxv, 1919.
• Registrum Johannis Stanbury, episcopi Herefordensis, 1453-1474, ed. J. H. Parry and A. T. Bannister. Canterbury and York Society, xxv, 1919.
• Registrum Thome Myllyng, episcopi Herefordensis, 1474-1492, ed. A. T. Bannister. Canterbury and York Society, xxvi, 1920.
• Registrum Ricardi Mayew, episcopi Herefordensis, 1504-1516, ed. A. T. Bannister. Canterbury and York Society, xxvii, 1921.
• Registrum Caroli Bothe, episcopi Herefordensis, 1516-1535, ed. A. T. Bannister. Canterbury and York Society, xxviii, 1921.
• Edward Fox: see Registrum Caroli Bothe.
• Edmund Bonner: see Registrum Caroli Bothe.
• Diocese of Hereford, Institutions, etc., 1539-1900, comp. A. T. Bannister. Hereford, 1923.

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