VICARS OF HENBURY
The Manor Henbury in the Saltmarsh came into the possession of the See of Worcester by a
succession of gifts of land made to the Bishops by the Mercian Kings. The first was made by King
Ethelred between 692-697 to OFTSOR, second bishop of Worcester. It is possible therefore that the
Church of Henbury was built by one of the Saxon Bishops of Worcester (who had a house here) for
the benefit of his tenants. The first definite mention of a Church occurs in a charter of Bishop
Wulfstan, in the year 1093, when it was mentioned among the endowments of the monastic Church
at Westbury-on-Trym. Soon after, Wulfstan’s successor, Bishop Sampson replaced the monks of
Westbury by a Dean and secular Canons, who were corporately Rectors of Henbury and served its
Church as Chaplains, of whom Alwyn (c. 1140) is first named. By 1270 it had acquired a Vicar, the
first known name of which is recorded below. The Bishops of Worcester continued to keep the
presentation of the Vicarage in their own hands and Vicars were instituted by Episcopal collation
until 1542 when Henbury became part of the newly created Diocese of Bristol. Between1544-48 the
Manor and Hundred of Henbury, with the advowson of the Church, was granted to Sir Ralph Sadleir
(d.1587) by King Henry VIII. His heirs retained the advowson until 1675 when it was sold to Thomas
Yate of Grays Inn and Gregory Geering of Denchworth, Berks. In 1680 it was sold to (Sir) Samuel
Astry whose heirs continue to hold it.
c.
c.
c.
c.
c.
1283
ADAM AVEBURY
1297
WILLIAM HATFIELD
- Records incomplete
1337
HUGH WRO
1349*
WALTER LYNHALE
1352*
ROBERT MODECOMBE
1354*
HENRY KYNG
1361*
RICHARD GREDE
1361*
ROGER OTERY, LLB
 The Black Death raged at this time
1362
ROBERT WATTES
1370
WILLIAM POTTERNE
1377
RICHARD ICHINGTON
- Records incomplete
1404
SOLOMEN HAYWODE
1412
NICHOLAS SCHERMAN
1419
JOHN MORYS
1440
JOHN HARNHAM, LLB
1443
ROBERT BENSAUNT
1458
THOMAS EGGECUMBE, LLB
1460
WILLIAM VAUCE, LLB
Vicar’s rights and duties defined by Bishop Carpenter. He became
Precentor of Lichfield in 1472
1472
THOMAS EGGECUMBE, LLB
For the second time.
1485
JOHN ARGENTEIM, M.D.
Physician to Prince Arthur and his brother, later Henry VIII.
1488
JOHN LANDAFF
1513
Bishopric of Worcester became perquisite of Italian Prelates. Henbury
served by Chaplains from Westbury
1539
JOHN BARLO, M.A.
Also Dean of Westbury (1530). Acknowledged Royal Supremacy (1534).
Became Precenter of Hereford (1546)
1546
WILLIAM MACHYN
1555
1574
1575
1583
1627
1654
1655
1658
1662
1668
1672
1690
1712
1726
1729
1779
1786
1792
1803
1830
1860
1906
1928
1957
1967
THOMAS LEWIS
Instituted during reign of Philips and Mary.
RICHARD MICHELL
JOHN NORTHBROOKE
Author of a treatise against “Dicing, dauncing…vaine plays”
EDWARD GREEN
From c. 1597 vicarage served by curates,
The Vicar being non-resident
HENRY BRERETON, M.A.
JOHN MILLARD
Public Preacher in the Commonwealth
THOMAS FREEMAN
Presented by the Protector
CHETWYND LAPTHORNE
Commonwealth Minister
HENRY BRERETON, M.A.
Restored to Vicarage
JOHN SAUNDERS, B.A.
JOHN CHETWYND, M.A.
Prebendary of Bristol
THOMAS STUMPE, B.A.
d. 1712 Memorial in N. Porch
ARTHUR DARBY
WILLIAM HOLMES, D.D.
Became Dean of Exeter 1742
JOHN GARDINER, M.A.
Built Old Vicarage
JOHN DAVIE, D.D.
Added to Vicarage. Memorial in N. Porch
ALEXANDER COLSTON, L.L.B.
CHARLES GORE, M.A.
WALTER TREVELYAN, M.A.
Memorial in S. Chapel
HENRY HUGH WAY, B.A.
JOHN HUGH WAY, B.A. Hon. Canon of Bristol. Buried in S. Churchyard.
CHARLES PARRY WAY, M.A. Hon. Canon of Bristol
JOHN COLLINS LLOYD, B.A. Hon. Canon of Bristol
ERIC CONWAY DAVEY, B.A. Hon Canon of Bristol
MERVYN HENRY DREWITT, M.A. Hon. Canon of Bristol
Compiled from “Notes on the Ecclesiastical History of the Parish of Henbury by Professor A.
Hamilton-Thompson, M.A., F.S.A. 1915.