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SOMERSET
WEST LYDFORD PARISH CLERGY
William the priest was rector in the mid 12th century.1 A chaplain was recorded c. 12432 and William,
chaplain of St Mary’s chapel, in 1268.3 William de Betville, presented 1318, was to seek deacon’s
orders in 1319 and was later in the bishop’s employ.4 In 1350 Walter Tinctor was given leave of
absence, the church to be served twice a week by the vicar of Barton St David.5
West Lydford men were ordained in 1446 and 1448.6 John Richard, rector 1431—48, was of noble
birth and lived in London but left his corn to West Lydford church.7 William Childe, rector 1450—87
and fellow of New College, Oxford, gave money to the poor and blue velvet vestments for priest,
deacon, and subdeacon in honour of Mary and All Saints, white sarsenet vestments with flowers and
red embroidery, and a new missal to the church.8 His successors were also graduates including the
pluralist John Watson, 1489—1505, and Edward Underwood, 1505—24, prebend of St Paul’s,9 but the
parish was in the care of assistant chaplains or curates.10
1
HMC. Wells, I, 23—4; Eng. Episcopal Acta, X, p. 37.
2
Chadwyck-Healey, Som. Pleas c. 1200—56, p. 237.
3
Green, Feet of Fines 1196—1307, 222.
4
Hobhouse, Bishop Drokensford’s Register, 20, 132, 200.
5
T.S. Holmes (ed.), Register of Bishop Ralph of Shrewsbury, 1327-1363 (Som. Rec. Soc. 10, 1896), p. 624.
6
H.C. Maxwell-Lyte, Register of Bishop Bekynton, 1443—65 (Som. Rec. Soc. 50, 1935), pp. 477, 485.
7
Weaver, Somerset Wills, 162; T.S. Holmes (ed.), Register of Bishop Stafford, 1425—1443 (Som. Rec. Soc.
31, 1915), p. 95; Cal. Papal Regs. VII, 657; Biog. Univ. Oxon.
8
Weaver, Somerset Wills, 235; Biog. Univ. Oxon.
9
S. Bates-Harbin (ed.), Somerset Enrolled Deeds (Som. Rec. Soc. 51, 1936), p. 152; H.C. Maxwell-Lyte (ed.),
Registers of Bishop Stillington 1466—91, and Bishop Fox, 1492—4 (Som. Rec. Soc. 52, 1937), p. 161; H.C.
Maxwell-Lyte (ed.), Register of Bishop King (Som. Rec. Soc. 54, 1939), p. 110; H.G. Maxwell-Lyte (ed.),
Bishops’ Registers, 1518—59 (Som. Rec. Soc. 55, 1940), p. 31; Biog. Univ. Oxon.
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William Stanley, instituted in 1550, was presumably a kinsman of the patron.11 His successors were
resident12 but in 1575 the rector served two churches and services were not held at the due time.13 In
1606 there was neither pewter pot for communion nor new book of Common Prayer. Many people
absented themselves from church for various reasons.14 Edward Wareham, although resident, also held
East Lydford from 1613.15 His successor Edward Jacob, who served from 1649, instituted by
Parliament, until his death in 1689, was described as a pious scholar who lost his sight.16
In 1746 rival candidates were presented but in 1747 the man presented by Edward Phelips agreed to
give up the living.17 Joseph Challoner Bale, rector 1746—96, lived in Hampshire. His curates included
John Marsh who served for over 20 years from c. 1763.18 Thomas Colston held the living from 1796—
7 until his brother William was ordained.19 William Hungerford Colston, rector 1797—1855, was a
pluralist, deputy lieutenant,20 and wealthy, with six servants in 1841 and 1851.21 He resided,
administered communion four times a year in 1802,22 and in 1815 and 1827 held one Sunday service,
10
H.G. Maxwell-Lyte (ed.), Register of Bishop Bekynton, 1443—65 (Som. Rec. Soc. 49, 1934), pp. 147,
397; Cal. Pat. 1452—61, 263; SRO, D/D/Vc 20.
11
SRO, D/D/Bp 18.
12
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College MS 97; SDNQ. XIV, 257.
13
SRO, D/D/Ppv 3.
14
Ibid. D/D/Ca 140.
15
VCH Som. III, 127.
16
Weaver, Som. Incumbents, 134; TNA, E 134/1655—6/Hil. 25; SRO, DD/SAS C/1193/4; D/P/w.lyd 2/1/1.
17
SRO, DD/PH 34; D/D/Vc 88; D/D/Bv.
18
Ibid. D/D/Vc 10; D/P/w.lyd 2/1/1; ibid. A/AQP 9.
19
Ibid. 2/1/1.
20
Ibid. 4/1/1; DD/BRC 40; ibid. A/AEH 17/1. His only son was accidentally shot in 1852: obelisk in Copley
wood, Butleigh.
21
TNA, HO 107/937, 1933.
22
SRO, D/P/w.lyd 2/1/3.
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alternately morning and afternoon.23 Between 1844 and 1846 he held services in a barn on the Green.24
On Census Sunday 1851 20 people attended morning service and 100 in the afternoon; 35 Sunday
school children attended both services.25
The Revd. Frederick Freeman, 1858—89, kept records of how often parishioners and visitors took
communion and who received alms. He celebrated communion 14 times a year and privately in several
houses.26 There were two Sunday services in 1870.27 William Holmes Orr had four children and two
boarders in 1881 but managed with one servant.28 His successor held three Sunday services,
fortnightly communion, and a children’s service with Sunday school attended by 49 children in 1896.
By 1909 communion was celebrated weekly but from 1914 Sunday services were reduced from three
to one.29
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23
Ibid. D/D/Rb 1815, 1827.
24
Ibid. D/P/w.lyd 2/1/7.
25
TNA, HO 129/322/2/9.
26
SRO, D/P/w.lyd. 2/6/1.
27
Ibid. D/D/Va 12/4.
28
TNA, RG 11/2408.
29
SRO, D/P/w.lyd 2/5/1—2.
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