SECTION V.

OF THE CHURCH.

LOWESTOFT is a vicarage endowed with great tithes. In the reign of Henry

I the impropriation of this parish was given by that king towards

augmenting the endowment of the priory of St. Bartholomew, in London, and

continued in the possession of that house till the dissolution of the

monasteries, in the reign of Henry VIII; when the site of this priory

being granted to Sir Richard Rich, afterwards Lord Rich, probably the

impropriation of Lowestoft, as part of the endowment of the priory,

devolved to Sir Richard and his family. How long it continued there, or

into whose hands it came afterwards, is now uncertain; the most material

information obtainable concerning it is, that about the year 1719 the

impropriation was the property of three grand-daughters of one Mr.

Church, at Pakefield, whose names were Fowler, Landifield, and Warwick;

and was purchased of them soon after by the Rev. Tanner, vicar of the

parish, at the price of £1050, which money was raised by Mr. Tanner by

subscription. In gratitude to the memory of those who so generously

contributed to the purchase of this impropriation, Mr. Tanner caused a

list of their names to be entered upon two tables, and affixed to the

north side of the chancel, together with the several sums they severally

subscribed. Between these tables of impropriation benefactors is a neat

marble tablet with the following inscription:

A.D. 1720.

Two Hundred Pounds of Queen Anne’s Bounty were given

towards purchasing the

Impropriation of Lowestoft, for the benefit of the Vicar.

Mr. Tanner, previous to the subscription for purchasing the

impropriation, distributed among his friends, and the neighbouring

gentlemen, a printed representation of the vicarial tithes and the state

of the living; and wherein it appears that the income was very small.

THE REPRESENTATION.

The parish of Lowestoft, in Suffolk, is a large parish, consisting of

about three or four and twenty hundred souls; and the living, which

is a vicarage only, is but meanly endowed; there being no house, and

but one acre of land belonging to it, and out of that piece of land

the crown claims a pension of 3s. 4d. per year, and 8d. for an

acquittance; the vicarage tithes are not worth above £20 per year,

one year with another; and all the rest of the minister’s income

depends on the offerings, surplice fees, and fisheries, which are

very precarious and uncertain. And as the number of the poor

increaseth greatly in the said parish (the poor’s rate, which about

35 years ago came only to £13 a quarter, cometh now to £63 per

quarter, besides a great deal that is paid to the poor out of the

town lands), so doth the number of the inhabitants in general

increase too (several families coming to us almost every year from

other places, and the number of our christenings exceed the number of

our burials); so that the duty of the minister is plainly increasing,

whilst his revenue must as certainly decrease as the poor increase.

But under this melancholy prospect it hath pleased God to order

things so that the great tithes of the said parish are to be sold, by

a decree in Chancery, to the highest bidder; and to put it into the

hearts of several, both in the parish and places adjoining, to

contribute according to their abilities, towards purchasing the said

tithes for the benefit of the vicar for the time being, for ever.

But as all that can be raised hereabouts will go but a little way

towards so large a purchase, we are forced to ask the assistance of

charitable and well-disposed persons further off, hoping they will

not be backward in promoting so good a work.

It is thought that these tithes will cost £1,800, which being a

larger sum than can possibly be raised by benefactions; the method

proposed is, to raise as much as we can by benefactions, and to

borrow the rest of the money; and to have the tithes conveyed to

divers persons, in trust for payment of the money borrowed; and when

both principal and interest of that is paid off, then to be for the

use and benefit of the minister for the time being, for ever. So

that it is uncertain whether the present minister will ever have any

benefit of it. And therefore he hopes that all whom he applies

himself to on this account will believe that he acts more, in what he

herein doth for the good of the church than out of any principle of

self-interest.

It is apprehended that the acre of land referred to by Mr. Tanner, (on

which formerly was built a messuage or tenement, since decayed) for which

the vicar of the parish paid to the crown the annual sum of 3s. 4d, and

8d. for an acquittance, was given by some pious person, to support a

light before the image of St. Roche. {119} Where this image was placed,

whether in the church or in one of the chapels, is now uncertain; though

most probably in the church; as this acre of land lies next the quarter

of an acre at the south-west corner of the churchyard, on which the

vicarage-house stood that was destroyed by fire in 1546. Probably at the

dissolution, the premises came into the hands of Government, and as the

vicar enjoyed them, he became subject to the above annual payment. A

discharge of the above-mentioned payment was purchased of Government in

1788, by the Rev. John Arrow, late vicar of this parish, at the expense

of £5 as appears by the following certificate:

BY THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE LAND REVENUE.

These are to certify, that the said commissioners have contracted and

agreed with the Reverend John Arrow, vicar of Lowestoft, in the

county of Suffolk, clerk, for the sale to him of all that yearly rent

of three shillings and fourpence, due and payable to his Majesty by

the said John Arrow, as vicar of Lowestoft aforesaid, for or in

respect of a certain messuage or tenement and pightle of land, called

St. Roch’s Light, situate and being at Lowestoft, with the

appurtenances thereof, at or for the price or sum of five pounds of

lawful money of Great Britain, to be paid by the said John Arrow into

the Bank of England, in the name of the said Commissioners. Which

said rent, from and immediately after the payment of the said sum, in

manner aforesaid, and the inrollment of this certificate with the

receipt of the said purchase-money, in the office of the auditor of

the land-revenue for the county aforesaid, shall be adjudged, deemed,

and taken to be absolutely vested in the said purchaser and his

successors, vicar of Lowestoft, for ever by virtue of an Act passed

in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of his present Majesty King

George the Third, intitled, “An Act for appointing commissioners to

inquire into the state and condition of the woods, forests, and

land-revenues belonging to the crown, and to sell or nalieate

fee-farm and improveable rents.”

Given under the hands of the said Commissioners, the twenty-ninth day

of Feburary, one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight.

CHARLES MIDDLETON, JOHN CALL, JOHN FORDYCE.

Witness to the signing, by the said Commissioners,

WILLIAM HARRISON.

Received the 6th day of March, 1788, of and from the above-named, the

Rev. John Arrow, the sum of five pounds, of lawful money of Great

Britain, being the consideration-money expressed in the above

certificate.

Witness my hand, for the governor and company of the Bank of England,

J. PADMAN, cashier.

Inrolled the 6th day of March, 1788, before me,

JOHN HOSIER, dep. aud.

Paid for the conveyance of the premises £0 11s. 8d.; Paid into the

Bank of England, for purchase of ditto £5; Paid for inrolling ditto

at the Auditor’s office, New Palace Yard, Westminister 10s. 0d.;

Total £6 1s. 8d.

Mr. Tanner was greatly encouraged in this undertaking by Mr. Thomas

Mighells, of Lowestoft, merchant {120a} and assisted by the Rev. Gregory

Clarke, rector of Blundeston.

It appears that there was a suit in chancery respecting the impropriation

of Lowestoft, and that it was obliged to be sold by order of a decree of

that court. Mr. Tanner alludes to this suit in the following letter

addressed to Mrs. Dorothy Mighells, Burlington Key, Yorkshire:

Madam, The suit which was begun in chancery two or three years ago,

concerning the great tithes of this parish, is now brought so near to

an end that ’tis thought they will be sold before harvest; so that we

are now making all the interest we can to get them. And to that end

Mr. Clarke and I are to ride about the country two or three days

every week a-begging; and, God be thanked, we have made a pretty good

beginning. As you were pleased to tell me more than once that you

would give £5 towards it, I have presumed to put you down so much,

for an example and encouragement to others; and also have sent you a

copy of the paper which we have printed and sent to such as we cannot

well get to.

I am, your most obliged Kinsman,

J. TANNER. {120b}

Lowestoft, 21st May, 1719.

The undertaking of the Rev. Tanner proved so successful in the

subscription, as to enable him to complete the purchase, and consequently

endowed the vicarage of Lowestoft with the impropriation of the great

tithes in the manner inserted under:

IMPROPRIATION OF LOWESTOFT.

The impropriation of the parish of Lowestoft, being to be sold in the

year 1719, John Tanner, then vicar, being greatly encouraged by Mr.

Thomas Mighells, of Lowestoft, merchant, and very much assisted by the

Rev. Gregory Clarke, rector of Blundestone, solicited contributions from

the tradesmen and gentlemen of the country, and obtained Queen Anne’s

bounty towards it; and got conveyances thereof to him the said John

Tanner, about Christmas, 1719; but several difficulties arising, it could

not be finally settled till 1721; when the great tithes of all the lands

lying on the north, or right-hand part of the highway leading from the

Swan Lane to Mutford Bridge, were settled (in conjunction with the

govenors of Queen Anne’s bounty, who have all the writings relating to

this purchase) on the then vicar immediately, and his successors for

ever, without any condition but that of paying thirty shillings per year

towards repairing the chancel. And in November, 1721, the said John

Tanner conveyed the other moiety, or the great tithes of all those lands

lying upon the south, or left-hand part of the aforesaid highway, unto

Mr. Thomas Mighells, Mr. Stephen Buxton, Mr. John Barker, jun., Mr.

Robert Hayward, and Mr. John Durrant, of Lowestoft; to the Rev. Clarke,

of Blundestone; Mr. Burton, of Gisleham; Mr. Richardson, of Pakefield;

Mr. Camell, of Bradwell; and Mr. Woolmer, of Carleton; and their heirs

for ever. That out of the profits of the same the sum of our hundred and

forty pounds (which being wanted to complete the purchase, was kindly

lent by the Rev. Dr. Thomas Tanner, a Chancellor of the Diocese of

Norwich) might be repaid with interest; and after the said £440 was

repaid, then to be for the benefit of the Vicar of Lowestoft for the time

being for ever, in the following words:—

And from and after he the said Dr. Thomas Tanner, his executors,

administrators, or assigns, shall be fully reimbursed and repaid the

said sum of £440 of good and lawful money of this nation, and also

all interest for the same, to become and grow due; and also all

costs, charges and expenses which he or they shall be put unto for or

by reason or means as aforesaid. That then the said Thomas Mighells,

Stephen Buxton, John Barker, Robert Hayward, John Durrant, George

Clarke, Joshua Buxton, Philip Richardson, Robert Camel and Robert

Woolmer, and the survivors or survivor of them, and the heirs and

assigns of the survivor of them, shall stand be seized of the said

tithes of corn and grain, in that part of the said parish above

particularly described, to the only use, benefit and behoof of the

Vicar of Lowestoft aforesaid for the time being for ever. So as, and

upon this express proviso and condition, nevertheless, That such

Vicar for the time being, and all and every his successors, vicars of

the said parish of Lowestoft, shall, for rightfully qualifying him or

themselves to take and enjoy such tithes, or the rents and profits

thereof, reside within the said parish of Lowestoft for the space of

eight kalendar months, or five and thirty weeks in every year to be

computed from Midsummer to Midsummer wherein he shall have or claim

such tithes, or the rents and profits thereof. And by himself, or

his sufficient curate or curates, read divine service and preach

twice every Lord’s day, commonly called Sunday, and read prayers

every Wednesday and Friday weekly, and also on every holy day; and

publicly administer the holy sacrament of the Lord’s supper in the

said parish church at Lowestoft, in every year at least six times, as

now within the said parish is accustomed to be done. And so as such

person or persons who shall, by virtue of these presents, become

entitled to the said tithes of corn and grain in that part of the

said parish of Lowestoft, herein before particularly mentioned or

described, or the rents and profits thereof, shall from time to time,

and at all times for ever hereafter, maintain, repair, and keep the

whole chancel of the church of Lowestoft aforesaid in good and

tenantable repair, being yearly and every year allowed towards the

doing of the same, the sum of thirty shillings, by or from such

person or persons as shall rightfully have claim, receive or take the

tithes of corn and grain growing or arising, or to be received in

that part of the said parish as lyeth on the north or right-hand side

of the said score, lane, way or road, before herein particularly

described and distinguished from the other part on the southern part

thereof. Provided always, and upon this further condition, that if

the said Vicar for the time being, or his successor or successors,

vicar or vicars of the said parish of Lowestoft shall, after the

first Midsummer after the institution and induction of such vicar or

vicars, unto and into the said parish church, be absent from the said

parish by the space of four kalender months, or seventeen weeks in

any year, to be computed from Midsummer to Midsummer; or shall

neglect to perform, or cause the said duties to be performed, in any

manner that shall be judged wilful negligence, and not casual,

undersigned, or allowable omitance, by the chancellor of the diocese

of Norwich, or any other person or persons deputed by him (whose

sentence shall be final.) Then for every year the vicar is negligent

or absent as aforesaid (after the said sums repaid and re-imbursed

unto the said Dr. Tanner, his executors, administrators or assigns),

it shall and may be lawful for the churchwardens of the said parish

of Lowestoft, and the schoolmaster of the free school of the

foundation of Mr. Annott in Lowestoft to take, collect, and receive

the said tithes of corn and grain in that part of the said parish of

Lowestoft herein particularly mentioned and described, for the use

and benefit of the schoolmaster of the said free school; upon this

condition nevertheless, that the said schoolmaster shall for every

year’s profit that shall by this means fall to him, teach six such

poor children as shall be sent unto him by the churchwardens of

Lowestoft aforesaid for the time being for the space of three years.

And whereas it may so happen, that he that is schoolmaster of the

said free school, when the vicar is thus absent, may be removed

within three years afterwards: it is hereby directed and appointed,

that the monies arising by and from the said tithes shall be laid up

in the hands of the churchwardens, or one of them, or such other

person or persons as the said schoolmaster shall appoint and approve

of, who shall give sufficient security to the satisfaction of the

said schoolmaster, to pay the sixth part of it every half-year to the

schoolmaster of the said free school for the time being, for teaching

such six poor children as shall be sent thither as aforesaid;

exclusive of such part or parts thereof as shall be for the repair of

the said chancel, having such allowance as aforesaid. And so shall

every year that the vicar is absent or negligent, as aforesaid. And

when the vicar is resident, and performs, or causes the duties

aforesaid to be performed, within the said parish, by the space of

eight kalendar months, as aforesaid, then the same is to be for the

use of the vicar only, anything herein before mentioned to the

contrary thereof, in any wise notwithstanding.

In witness whereof, etc.

That the above £440 and interest was (after a great deal of money laid

out about the chancel etc.,) cleared off and discharged about Lady Day,

1742, by the above twenty years care and trouble of the above John

Tanner, vicar of the said parish of Lowestoft, who besides his

contribution of eighty pounds, given by him when the subscription was

first opened, gave likewise afterwards twenty years’ profits of that part

of the tithes, which was settled on the vicar by the govenors of Queen

Anne’s bounty, in the year 1721; disclaiming at the same time all merits

to himself, and attributing it solely to the bounty and goodness of the

Supreme Being, saying

At non nobis, Domine, sed nomini tuo sit Gloria. Amen.

Not unto us, O Lord, but to thy name be the Glory. Amen.

With the impropriation there was likewise purchased a large barn (to lay

the tithes in) copyhold, on which barn there was left unpaid £50. This

money was also paid off at Michaelmas, 1745, by the care and good

management, and bounty of the above worthy vicar John Tanner. This barn

was surrendered, a little before the Mortmain Act took place, to Mr.

Woolmer, of Carleton: Mr. Robert Hayward, jun., and Mr. John Durrant of

Lowestoft; in trust, for the use of such person and persons as, from time

to time, shall be entitled to the great tithes. It pays a quit rent of

1/8 to the Manor of Lowestoft.

The value of the living is also further increased from the fisheries.

The Vicar receives from the owner of every boat employed in the herring

fishery half a guinea, and for every boat employed in the mackarel

fishery half a dole. When the North sea and Iceland fisheries flourished

at Lowestoft, the Vicar was not allowed half a dole for every vessel sent

upon those fisheries, but for every voyage which they made annually to

those seas, which were not only one, but sometimes two, three and even

four voyages. In the begining of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, about

fourteen of these vessels, called doggers, were employed by this town in

the North sea and Iceland fisheries, which paid a considerable sum

annually to the Vicar. But these latter fisheries are now entirely

ceased at Lowestoft, and have been so for many years.

This custom of allowing the vicar half a dole is a very antient one, but

how long it has subsisted at Lowestoft is uncertain. At Yarmouth, in the

year 1484 the half doles of fishing voyages were granted by the assembly

to the use of the haven; but this custom, called the half-doles, had been

before that time paid to the town even from time immemorial; for the

fishermen had always given a whole dole, namely, half a dole to the use

of the church, and the other half to the use of the town; and because one

half part of the dole was given to sacred purposes, it was called

Christ’s dole. Probably the payment of the half dole by the fishermen at

Lowestoft to the same sacred use, is as antient as that at Yarmouth.

What is meant by a dole is this: from the amount which each boat raises

by the sale of mackarel, during the voyage, a sum is first deducted for

provisions and incidental expenses; the residue is divided into shares or

doles of which the owner of the boat has a certain number, and the net

owner the like for his nets, and the remainder is distributed among the

boatmen according to their several stations, including the minister’s

half dole. Thus, if a boat raises £100, take for provisions, etc., £25,

then the residue, £76, will be the sum to divide into doles; and if the

number of doles for boats, nets and men, together with the half dole to

the Vicar, be 150, then the division will be 10s. per share or dole; and

consequently, in that case, the Vicar will be entitled to 5s. for his

half dole for that boat.

There not being any antient records now remaining, respecting the origin

of this noble and beautiful structure, the church at Lowestoft, they

being all burnt in the year 1606, when the dwelling-house belonging to

Mr. Glesson, vicar of this town, was destroyed by fire, we are unable to

ascertain with certainty the exact time when this building was erected;

and consequently all the investigations in pursuit of this discovery must

be attended with much difficulty and enveloped in the obscurity of

probable conjecture.

It is evident, from what has been already observed at the begining of

this section, respecting the grant of Henry I that there was a church

belonging to this parish in the eleventh century, but how long it had

been erected before that period is now uncertain, probably soon after

Christianity was first introduced into the kingdom of the East Angles.

In those early ages the generality of our English churches were

undoubtedly very ordinary buildings; they were of Saxon origin, some few

were built with stone, but the greater part of wood only, and

consequently were much inferior to the stately edifices that were erected

after the Norman conquest. To determine therefore, what kind of church

it was that they had at Lowestoft at that early period is now impossible;

all that can be advanced on the point is, that when we consider the

barbarous taste which prevailed in that uncivilised age, the infant as

well as the persecuted state of Christianity, and the violent commotions

which at that time agitated this part of the kingdom, it may be concluded

that it was but a mean building, and bore but a small resemblance to the

size and elegence of the present structure.

But it may be asked, that if the original church at Lowestoft was a

building of that inferior kind as is above represented, by what means was

it that the present large and elegant structure came to be erected; since

it is evident, that the ability of the inhabitants at any one period was

never equal to the accomplishing such an expensive undertaking?

In answer to the question it may be observed that the church belonging to

the impropriation of this parish, which made part of the endowment of the

priory of St. Bartholomew, by Henry I, was the old original building,

which was then standing, and not the present structure. The former of

these buildings, was of very ancient date, probably soon after the

establishment of Christianity in the Kingdom of the East Angles;

therefore it may reasonable be supposed, that at the time when the grant

of it was made, namely, in the reign of Henry I, it must be in a very

decayed and ruinous state. This grant of Henry I was confirmed by a

charter from Henry III, in the year 1230. When, therefore, the priory of

St. Bartholomew was in full possession of the church and impropriation of

this parish, by virtue, of this charter, they, in consequence of their

zeal, or rather religious frenzy, for erecting churches and founding

religious houses, which at that time so universally prevailed, the old

ruinous church at Lowestoft was entirely taken down, and the present

elegant structure erected in its place, through the munificence of the

priory and pious ostentation of the times.

Tanner, in his Notitia, says “That Henry I gave churches in Suffolk to

the priory of St. Bartholomew, without specifying the names of those

churches; yet it may reasonably inferred that the church at Lowestoft was

one of them; because, when the grant was confirmed by the charter of

Henry III, this church was particularly mentioned.”

It is certain that the present church at Lowestoft was erected prior to

the year 1365, because Weever has given an inscription which he found in

the church, namely,

ROBERT INGLOSSE, Esquyer,

which died in Anno 1365.

Therefore, it is evident, that the old church at Lowestoft was standing

in the year 1230, when the grant of Henry I was confirmed by the charter

of Henry III; and as it is equally evident, from the above inscription,

that the present church was erected before the year 1365, it makes it

clearly manifest that the present building was erected some time in the

interval between the years 1230 and 1365; and consequently, that the

present church of Lowestoft has been built 500 years.

After the church came into the possession of the priory of St.

Bartholomew, it was found to be so old and mean a building, and in such a

ruinous state, that it was necessary to take it entirely down and rebuild

it, and which was accordingly done in its present noble and elegant

style. The nave, the south aisle, and the chancel were the first parts

that were taken down; but the north aisle was not re-built till some time

after. This is evident, from the difference which may be observed in the

form of the windows belonging to these aisles; the former being more

acute than the latter, which points out a more ancient construction.

An ingenious writer has said that the very obtusely-pointed arches of the

windows of our churches, shew, at first sight, that they are of no very

great antiquity; for the very sharply-pointed arch, which succeeded the

circular one about the year 1200, expanded itself by degrees, and grew

more and more obtuse till, towards the reign of Henry VII. it approached

the segment of a great circle. This observation tends to confirm what

has been previously advanced, namely, that the present church at

Lowestoft was wholly re-built at the same time, but that the north aisle

was built some time after the other parts of the building. The walls

belonging to the south part of this beautiful structure are at this time

much inclined from the perpendicular; owing, probably, to the absurd and

injurious practice of open graves, both within and without the building,

too near the foundations a practice which too much prevails in other

places.

[The south wall was rebuilt in 1871.]

The present church was erected chiefly through the munificence and

liberality of the priory of St. Bartholomew of London; and, it is also

probable that it was indebted to the same society afterwards for keeping

it in repair, for when all supplies from those resources were entirely

withdrawn, in consequence of the dissolution of the monasteries, in the

reign of Henry VIII., the churches that were dependent on those

foundations soon fell into decay, as the parishes to which they belonged

were unable to support the expense of repairing them. Sometimes the

Lords of the Manors belonging to parishes whose churches have been

rebuilt, have been liberal benefactors on these occasions, especially

about the time when the re-building of Lowestoft church was undertaken.

John de la Pole, Lord of Wingfield Castle, was one of the principal

benefactors, when that noble tower belonging to the church at Redenhall,

in Norfolk was erected; and as the town of Lowestoft and the island of

Lothingland were part of the estate of the De la Poles, in the reigns of

Henry IV. and V., it might be supposed that this family contributed also

to the rebuilding of Lowestoft Church; but not anything appears to

confirm this supposition. No leopard’s faces (the badge of the De la

Poles) are visible in any part of the building, as they are in many

places in the tower at Redenhall. The building of this tower was begun

about the year 1460, and finished in 1520; but the church at Lowestoft

was not re-built till between the years 1230 and 1395; it is therefore

probable that the De la Poles were not the proprietors of the town of

Lowestoft and the island of Lothingland till after the rebuilding of

Lowestoft church. This was the case at Corton and Kessingland, near

Lowestoft, after the dissolution of Leystone abbey, and the abbey of the

Minorisses, in London; and the church at Lowestoft would have experienced

the same misfortune, after the suppression of the priory of St.

Bartholomew, had not the town at that time prevented the lands which had

been given many years before, for the sole use of this church, being

alienated with the impropriation of this parish, and the other endowments

of the priory, in the grant which was made to Sir Richard Rich, in the

36th of Henry VIII.

Probably Corton and Kessingland were not altogether in the same

predicament as Lowestoft. For as the abbeys to which they belonged were

in possession of their impropriations only, their churches were repaired

out of the common revenues of those abbeys; whereas the priory of St.

Bartholomew had not only the impropriation of Lowestoft, but was also,

probably in possession of the lands which had been given for the sole use

of the church; which lands were recovered again after the dissolution of

the monasteries, for their original purposes. For it appears that the

church lands belonging to this parish were never under the absolute power

of the priory as the impropriation was, although it might have great

influence concerning them; this is evident, by the feoffment of the said

lands in the reign of Henry VII A.D. 1503, which shews that the right was

not in the priory of St. Bartholomew; and consequently, might be the

reason of their being recovered again by the parish soon after the

dissolution.

But notwithstanding the recovery of the church lands, it appears that the

town was much distressed after the dissolution of the monasteries, in

keeping the church in decent repair. For in the year 1592 the church was

in such a ruinous state that it cost upwards of £200 to repair it; out of

which sum £68 18s. 8d. was collected of the inhabitants; £100 were

borrowed of Mr. Bartlemewe, of Yarmouth, and the remainder was raised

(including a provision for discharging the debt) from premiums by

granting leases of the town lands under their full value; the situation

of the inhabitants at this time obliging them to have recourse to these

methods for repairing the church. It also appears that there had been

paid by the churchwardens, towards repairing the church, of hayning-money

collected in the roads, the sum of £63 18s. 3d. when the lands were

unable to discharge the expenses of the repairs and other necessary

expenses of the town, exclusive of money collected of the inhabitants.

The church has also cost the parish several considerable sums since that

time for repairs; so that, had not the town been assisted in repairing

this building by the rents and profits of the church lands, that

venerable pile had many years since fallen into decay, and mouldered into

irreparable ruin.

The ruinous state of the church at this time arose, probably, from the

profits of the lands given for keeping it in repair, being applied to

other purposes. From the decree of the Court of Chancery, in 1616,

respecting the town lands, it appears, that that decree was grounded on a

complaint of the inhabitants that the rents and profits of those lands

had been alienated to purposes not intended by the donors. That the

lands called French’s, given for the use of the poor of this town were

worth £20 a year, but that the poor received little more than 13d. a week

from them. That the lands given for the use of the church were worth £40

a year, but that £10 a year only had been applied to that purpose; and

that the overplus of all these lands had been expended in law-suits and

divers other business of the town; contrary to the designs of the donors.

It was also further complained, that the churchwardens had let the said

lands at rents considerably below their value, in order to obtain fines

and incomes, which amounted to £210 and upwards. And as the burthen of

repairing the church, in consequence of these alienations, fell, in great

measure, upon the inhabitants it occasioned an application to the Court

of Chancery for redress. Nevertheless, if the distressed condition of

the town at this time is considered, as being obliged to raise £120 in

1591, to defend their rights to Annott’s school; to raise £120 in 1597,

to defend their rights against Yarmouth, respecting the herring fishery;

to raise £200 in 1592 lo repair the church; also £114 in 1616 to

discharge the expenses of the above suit in chancery; may easily account

for some measures having been pursued which were not altogether

justifiable, but were adopted through absolute necessity.

That part of the town lands which was given for the use of the church,

and is chiefly appropriated towards keeping it in repair, and furnishing

it with decent ornaments, is the gift of some charitable and religious

persons, whose names, at this distant period, are wholly unknown; but,

whoever they were, they are justly entitled to the grateful

acknowledgments of the parish, as having been the means of preserving it

from a burthen which at all times would have been inconvenient.

Under the general denomination of town lands belonging to this parish,

are included, not only those above-mentioned, consisting of sixty-seven

acres of land, divers tenants, a wind mill, and dole lands, and which

were given for the use of the church, but also those that were given for

the benefit of the poor. Concerning the lands given to the church, the

donor is not only unknown at the present time, but was also unknown in

the year 1552, the sixth of Edward VI, when one, John Jetter, the only

surviving feoffee, made a new feoffment of the premises, dated 20th June;

and who therein said “That he together with divers persons deceased, had

them by the feoffment of Nicholas Hughson and William Fly, bearing date

10th November, 1503, 19 Henry VII.”

On the 12th June, 1644, when Francis Jessope, under a commission from the

Earl of Manchester, pillaged this church of almost all the brass

inscriptions, he took up, in the middle isle, twelve pieces belonging to

twelve several generations of the Jetters. Margaret Jetter, 1573, widow,

laid in the churchyard. The mother, probably, of Anthony Jetter, of

Lowestoft, merchant, who was living in the 8th of Queen Elizabeth.

The feoffees named in the feoffment, dated October 14, 1678, are: John

Arrow, vicar; Aldous Arnold, gent.; Samuel Barker, merchant; Samuel

Barker, jun., Hewlin Luson, jun., Dan. Ketteridge, merchant; John Peache,

merchant; William Bell Parker, clerk; John Jex, gent.; William Slop,

draper; Robert Reeve, gent.; Samuel Collett, draper; Henry Roman, baker;

James Harman, merchant; James Brame, baker; William Pashley, merchant;

Thomas Brame, gent.; Aldous Arnold, surgeon; Obed Aldred, bricklayer;

John Stannard, rope maker; Thomas Smith, beer brewer; Coe Arnold, beer

brewer; Philip Walker, gent.; John Howard, grocer.

The other part of the town lands given for the use of the poor, called

French’s, consisting of twenty-one acres and a half, were purchased with

sixty pounds left by William French, by will, dated April 14, 1529, to

buy free lands for the use of the poor; the profits of which lands were

to be distributed in the following manner: to thirteen poor people of the

town of Lowestoft, thirteenpence every Sunday, after divine service; and

three shillings and fourpence to the churchwardens, yearly, for their

trouble. About the beginning of the last century, in consequence of the

great misapplication of the rents and profits arising from these lands,

and also those given to the church, the inhabitants applied to the Court

of Chancery, requesting that a commission might be appointed for making

enquiry into the abuses, and to redress the same. A commission was

accordingly granted, and an inquisition was held at Lowestoft, and in the

year 1616 a decree was issued from that court (which cost the town £114

10s.) wherein it was ordered.

I. That the town lands belonging to Lowestoft should be let by the year,

or by leases not exceeding seven years, by the feoffees (the

churchwardens for the time being, being two) and six other inhabitants.

II. No new leases to be made before the old ones are expired.

III. The Rents to be received by the Churchwardens, and to be disposed

of as follows:

1st. That twenty pounds be laid out annually in repairing and

ornamenting the church.

2nd. To thirteen poor people of the town of Lowestoft, thirteen pence

every Sunday, and three shillings and four pence, yearly, to the

churchwardens, for their trouble.

3rd. Twenty pounds a year to the poor, including the above.

4th. Ten pounds a year to put out poor children apprentice, and a stock,

to set poor people to work; and the remainder of the rents to be disposed

of as the churchwarden, and twelve other inhabitants shall think proper,

for the public good of the town.

5th. That in all the leases there shall be a reservation of the timber

and wood; and that no wood or timber growing upon the premises shall be

felled or taken, but for the reparations of the church and the houses

standing on the said premises. And all underwood, when felled, shall be

sold for the benefit of the poor and reparations of the church, by the

churchwardens.

The decree in Chancery declares that this is the true intent and meaning

of the donors, and therefore ordered that it should be fulfilled in the

most ample and liberal manner. The Churchwardens are required on every

Monday in Whitsun week to pass a true account to the new churchwardens,

feoffees, and townsmen under pain of five pounds.

In 1738 the town lands belonging to the parish were let for between £90

and £100 per annum.

In 1644 they were let for the term of seven years, at the rent of £64

only. The rents of lands about this time were much reduced in general,

probably from the violent commotions of that unhappy period.

In 1651 they were let for £71 1s. per annum.

In 1734 they were let for £90 per annum.

In 1756 they were let for £93 per annum.

In 1776 they were let for the annual rent of £163 4s. 6d., agriculture

being so much improved of late years as to render farming very

advantageous. The farming business was in such a flourishing state about

this time, that the vicar of Lowestoft, in the year 1776, compounded with

his parishioners, for his tithes at 3s. 6d in the pound, according to

what the farms were let for; but in 1777 the said composition was 4s. in

the pound.

In 1683 the lands realised £138 6s. 6d. per annum.

There is no Church rate in the parish of Lowestoft, the profits arising

from the lands belonging to the church being amply sufficient for keeping

it in repair. Whether the rents of these lands have always been applied

to the uses intended by the donors, is now uncertain, but thus far may

justly be observed, that through the great care and assiduity of the

vicar, the Rev. Arrow, in appropriating to the use of the Church such

part of the town lands as it is justly entitled to, and preventing their

being alienated to purposes for which they were never intended by their

generous benefactors, this stately edifice is not only kept in proper

repair, but rendered truly elegant; so as to become an honour to

religion, a credit to the parish, and the admiration of every stranger.

The town lands contain not only the sixty-seven acres given for the

repair and ornaments of the church, and the twenty-eight acres and a

half, called French’s, given for the use of the poor, in the whole

ninety-five acres and a half, which lands are particularly and separately

described in the decree of Chancery of the year 1616; {127} but also the

other smaller donations of lands in Lowestoft, making the whole amount

one hundred and four acres, exclusive of the estate at Worlingham, in

Suffolk, given by Mr. John Wilde, of Lowestoft for establishing an

English Grammar school in the parish, and the lands at Whitacre Burgh,

the donation of Mr. Thomas Annott, of Lowestoft, for a grammar school at

Lowestoft. The above one hundred and four acres of land are put up to

auction every seven years, in the presence of the minister and

churchwardens, to be let on leases for the said term of seven years. The

overplus of Mr. Wilde’s estate, at Worlingham, after founding and

supporting the school, and fulfilling other directions mentioned in the

will, he gave for such charitable purposes as the minister and

churchwardens should think proper. This is further explained by a decree

in Chancery in 1754, which says, “that the minister and churchwardens

shall have the liberty to apply the overplus in such manner as they

should think fit, for the relief of such persons as have large families,

and such aged, sick, lame and impotent persons that belong to the said

town, and who do not receive any relief from the parish; or to and

amongst the testator’s poor relations, at the discretion of the

trustees.” It is also further enjoined by the said decree, that as

Lowestoft is a fishing town, the preference shall be given to those

children whose fathers go fishing voyages, or any other employment about

the fishery belonging to that town, as an encouragement to the said

fishery. But if there be not forty boys so qualified, then any other

boys belonging to the town, so as to make up that number.

The tower belonging to this church is neither large nor lofty, its height

is only 120 feet, including a leaden spire of the height of 50 feet, and

it is obvious to the most common observer, that both its height and size

bear but little proportion to the building to which it is annexed;

neither is there much resemblance between them either with respect to

composition or workmanship, for in both these points the church is far

superior to the steeple. These circumstances plainly denote that the

tower belonged originally to the old church, and strongly indicate that

the latter was a building much inferior to the present structure. Some

remains of the old steeple are still visible, and are indubitable proofs

of its original meanness; and also prove that when the old church was

re-built by the priory of St. Bartholomew, the greater part of the tower

was suffered to remain, after being strengthened and enlarged by

buttresses, and ornamented with a spire, in order to give it a more

modern appearance, and bring it to a nearer resemblance with the external

appearance of the edifice. At this present time and for many years past,

the steeple contains only one bell; but it is evident, from the

appearances which still remain, that formerly it contained three. The

reason generally assigned why the number was reduced, is, that the

steeple was not strong enough to bear them. The weight of this bell is

17 cwt. 2 qr. 17 lbs., and has the following inscription thereon:

I tell all that do me see,

Newman, of Norwich, new cast me.

The expenses paid to Mr. Newman, for new casting this bell, including the

brasses, amounted to £19 12s. 7d.

The church is dedicated to St. Margaret. It may be here stated that St.

Margaret was born at Antioch, and was the daughter of a heathen priest.

Olybius, president of the East, under the Romans, intended to have

married her; but finding she was a christian, deferred it till he could

persuade her to renounce her religion: but not being able to accomplish

his designs, he first put her to cruel torments and then beheaded her.

She suffered in the year 278.

The patron is the Bishop of Norwich; it is valued in the King’s books at

£10 1s., and by Queen Anne at £43 16s. 6d., and is thereby discharged

from paying first-fruits and tenths. By the King’s books is meant the

valuation of all the livings in England, taken in the reign of Henry

VIII. In the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, all livings that

were under £10 in the King’s books were discharged from paying the first

fruits. And in Queen Anne’s reign, when a second valuation was made, all

livings under the value of £50 per annum were discharged from paying

first fruits and tenths, and were also entitled to Her Majesty’s bounty.

Before the dissolution of the monasteries the annual value of the

vicarage of Lowestoft appears to have been £44 4s. 5½d.

The principal entrance to the church is by a stately porch on the south

side. In a nich on the outside, was formerly placed, as usual, the image

of the saint to whom the church is dedicated. There is also a nich on

each side of the former one, wherein other saints were also placed. On

the ceiling of this porch is a representation of the Trinity, drawn in

the same usual, but profane manner as, Blomefield says, it was on the

rood-loft in Norwich Cathedral, namely, the Almighty Father represented

by a weak old man, the Redeemer on the cross between his knees, and the

Eternal Spirit by a dove on his breast. There are also Ancient shields,

representing the crucifixion. On one of them is the cross, with the reed

and spear saltyr wise; also the scourge, the nails, and on the top the

scroll for the superscription. On the other, only the cross. Over this

porch there is a chamber, called the Maids’ Chamber. There is a

tradition that it took its name from two maiden sisters, Elizabeth and

Katherine, who, before the reformation, resided in this chamber; and, by

withdrawing themselves from the world, retired to the more tranquil

pursuits of a recluse life. It is reported of these sisters, that they

caused two wells between the church and the town, called Basket Wells, to

be digged at their own expense for the benefit of the town.

The church is situated about half a mile to the west of High street; and

the reason of its being erected at so great a distance from the inhabited

part of the parish, is the danger it would be exposed to from the sea by

a nearer situation; it is probable, that at the time the church was

built, the sea approached much nearer to the bottom of the cliff than it

does at present. The church is about 43 feet in height, 57 feet in

breadth, and, including the chancel and steeple, 182 feet in length. It

consists of a nave and two side isles, which are separated from each

other by two rows of tall, handsome pillars. The building appears to be

a perfect model of the churches of the more early ages of Christianity,

which were divided into two principal parts, namely, the nave, or body of

the church, and the sacrarium, or according to the more modern

appellation, the chancel. The former part being common to the people, as

the latter was appropriated to the priests and other “sacred” persons.

This separation continued in the English churches till the reformation,

when Bucer, at the instigation of Calvin, objected to this division, as

making too great a difference between the clergy and the people in the

celebration of divine service. In consequence of this objection of

Bucer’s, reading desks were erected in the nave of the church, for the

people’s instruction. But though the whole of the service was originally

performed in the chancel, yet there were always pulpits in the nave of

the church, from whence, on Sundays and holidays, the ministers

instructed the people by a sermon; and at the bottom of the south-west

side of the middle pillar, on the north side of the nave of the church

was a stone pedestal, which, before the reformation, supported the bottom

part of one of those pulpits. As all the service was performed in the

chancel, so the people, during the celebration thereof, remained in the

nave, and were not admitted into the former place only at the

administration of the sacrament.

The side isles of those antient churches did not terminate where the

chancel began, neither did they extend to the end of it, but extended

only about halfway of the chancel; and that end of the north isle which

reached beyond the nave was named the prothesis, or side table. {129}

In all the particulars mentioned, the church at Lowestoft bears a perfect

resemblance to the antient churches; the side aisles extending exactly

half way of the chancel; the end of the north isle next the chancel is

made use of as a vestry; and there is the same space at the east end of

the south aisle, which was used formerly for the prothesis. Before the

Reformation the chancels were separated from the nave or body of the

churches by screens or partitions. These screens are still remaining in

some of our English churches; in Lowestoft church part of it was standing

about the year 1710. The doors belonging to these screens (or holy gates

as they were called in the primitive times) were always kept shut against

the laity, except at the celebration of the sacrament.

There was also a rood loft in this church in the times of Popery. A few

years since some bricks falling down from one of the buttresses on the

south side of the church, near the chancel, discovered the stairs by

which they ascended to the loft. The same has also been discovered on

the north side of the church. The rood was the representation of our

Saviour on the Cross, with the Virgin Mary on one side and St. John on

the other; and was placed on the top of the wooden screen which formerly

divided the church from the chancel. This screen, from the use above

mentioned, was often called the rood-loft, a small bell, which was rung,

probably, at some particular parts of divine service (as at the

consecration or elevation of the host, from whence it is called the

sacring, or consecrating bell), to rouse the attention of the

congregation, some of whom, who sat at the south-east and north-east

corners of the church, could not well see what was transacting at the

high altar. This bell is different from that called the Saints’ Bell,

which was hung on the outside of the church, and gave notice to those

abroad when the more solemn acts of religion were performing. A small

piece of stone work on the outside of the east end of the church, with a

small perforation or arch in the middle, for the bell to swing in, is

still standing on several of our churches.

The chancel belonging to this church is very neat and elegant. The Rev.

Tanner, while vicar of the parish, opened the subscription for purchasing

the impropriation, and declared that if he succeeded in his undertaking,

he would expend a considerable sum in repairing and beautifying the

chancel. Mr. Tanner was successful, and he strictly adhered to his

promise; for he thoroughly repaired the roof, raised five free-stone

steps the whole breadth of the building, leading to the communion table,

wainscotted the east end entirely, as well as part of the north and south

sides, and also erected the seats at the west end, and made such

alterations as rendered the chancel both commodious and handsome,

expending in the whole upwards of £300.

The succeeding vicar, Rev. Arrow, continued the plan of his worthy

predecessor in repairing and ornamenting the chancel. He erected a new

altarpiece, enclosed the communion table with handsome iron work, opened

the lower part of the east window (which before was filled up with brick

work), and glazed the same, which caused this window to produce a very

beautiful effect when viewed from the body of the church; and from these

and other alterations, he rendered the chancel truly elegant. The number

of communicants at Lowestoft church on Easter day, 1789, was 122.

There was a custom amongst the primitive Christians (during the violent

persecutions which raged in those early ages of Christianity) of having

churches underground, in order to avoid the dreadful cruelties which a

more open profession of their religion would have exposed them to. In

imitation of this antient practice the more modern Christians have also

had their subterranean places of worship, which were situated under the

choirs or chancels belonging to their respective churches, and where they

also deposited the bones of deceased persons, which places where called

the under-croft, and from the latter use of them charnel-chapels. There

seems to have been one of these charnel-chapels formerly under the

chancel belonging to this church. The design of them was for a priest to

officiate therein, and to pray for the souls of all those persons whose

bones were deposited in that place; but after the reformation they ceased

being used for any sacred purpose, and were made use of afterwards only

as repositories for the bones that were casually dug up in the church or

churchyard.

The font in the church is very antient. It is ascended by three stone

steps, and on the upper step is an old inscription, almost unintelligible

through corrosion. The font is surrounded by two rows of saints, each

row consisting of twelve figures; but they were so much injured by

Francis Jessope, when he visited the church in 1644, under a commission

from the earl of Manchester, as to be almost totally defaced.

On the 12th of June, 1644, Francis Jessope, of Beccles, under a

commission from the Earl of Manchester, visited this church, and took

away all the brass plates from the grave stones having the inscription

“Orate pro Anima, etc.” and others of the like nature, except the

following: “Pray for the soul of Lady Margaret Parker, who died the First

day of March, Ao. Dni. 1507. On whose soul may God be propitious.” He

also disrobed the stones of many brass effigies. All the brass was sold

to Mr. John Wilde, of Lowestoft for five shillings; although the quantity

was sufficient to be run into a bell, which was used for a chapel. On

the bell is the inscription “John Brand made me, 1644.” The stone work

of the font is covered with a handsome piece of carved work erected in

the year 1734 by John Postle and Edmund Gillingwater, churchwardens.

About the year 1740, the pews in the church being very old, irregular,

and much decayed, the Rev. Tanner, the vicar of the parish, in order to

recover it from this disgraceful state, and to ornament it with that

decent arrangement of seats, so becoming a place dedicated to public

worship, and so generally to be met with in other churches, first set the

example of new-pewing the church by erecting (in 1746) six neat wainscot

seats in the body of the church, in memory of his wife. On these seats

was the following inscription: “In memory of Mary, the wife of John

Tanner, and daughter of Robert and Mary Knight, 1746. Not unto us, O

Lord; not unto us, but unto thy name be the praise. John Tanner, vicar,

desires this to be considered as a monument and pledge of love.” In 1747

he added eight more, in grateful acknowledgment of some great mercy he

had received from the Almighty. On these seats the inscriptions are

“What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me. J.

T., 1747”; the other is “In memory of Grace Symonds, sister of John

Tanner, vicar, 1759.” It is supposed he thus shewed his thankfulness,

for having been enabled to complete and publish the great work of

learning and antiquity the “Notitia Monastica,” which his brother, the

Bishop of St. Asaph, left unfinished. The town being stimulated by so

pious and useful an example, undertook within a few years after, to

complete what Mr. Tanner had so laudably began; for in the year 1770 the

whole design of new-pewing the church was completed; and by the addition

of a very elegant desk and pulpit, is become one of the neatest and best

pewed churches in the county.

In the year 1778 a resolution was formed by the minister and

churchwardens to erect an organ in the church, and in pursuance thereof,

a large gallery was built that year, at the west end of the middle isle,

for the purpose of an organ loft; and in 1780 a large chamber organ,

which formerly belonged to the late Dr. North, of Shanfield, near

Saxmundham, was purchased at the price of eighty pounds, and erected in

Lowestoft Church, and is the first instrument of the kind ever placed

there.

There was a large brass eagle in the church. It formerly stood at the

west end of the middle isle, but was removed into an obscure corner. The

original use of the eagle, so general, formerly, in most of the churches,

was for the purpose of being used as a litany desk; which part of the

Church service, after the Reformation, was read or sung, at a different

time of the day, from that where morning prayers were read. Also,

possibly, the great English Bible, which, in 1538, Thomas Cromwell, Lord

Privy Seal, ordered to be placed open in each parish church, for everyone

to have recourse to, was laid upon these eagles. The ardour with which

men flocked to read this bible is almost incredible. They who could,

purchased a Bible, and they who could not, crowded to read it, or to hear

it read, in churches; where it was common to see little assemblies of

mechanics meeting together for that purpose, after the labours of the

day. Many even learned to read in their old age, that they might have

the pleasure of instructing themselves from the Scriptures.

In many parts of the Church are stones with matrices, or moulds, wherein

plates of brass had formerly been laid; but all are now disrobed,

together with the inscriptions, during the ravages under the usurpation

of Oliver Cromwell.

The churchyard belonging to the parish, was nearly square, but not so

before the year 1769, for at the south-west corner there was a small

piece of glebe land, about a quarter of an acre, which projected into it.

The parish had formerly made application to the late Vicar, Mr. Tanner,

to exchange it for a piece of equal value; but the answer he always

returned was, that he had no right to make any alteration in the property

of the church. However, in the year 1769, the parish made an amicable

agreement for it with the Rev. Arrow, and it was enclosed with a wall and

laid into the churchyard, which made it of a regular form, but the piece

of ground was never consecrated. On the death of the Rev. Arrow, the

Vicar, in June, 1789, the dwelling-house, of which he was the proprietor,

was purchased of his executors, for £550, under the powers of an Act of

Parliament, passed some years since, for the better securing the

residence of the clergy. But as the Act did not authorise an incumbent

to raise more than two years value upon his benefice, and that sum

amounting only to £430, the deficiency was made up in the following

manner: Dr. Bagot, the Bishop of the Diocese, £20, and the parish of

Lowestoft £100; and accordingly the house is now settled upon the Vicars

of Lowestoft for ever.

In the churchyard formerly stood a cross, some remaining fragments of the

stone work which supported it were visible a few years since. On the

north side of the church is a tomb belonging to the family of the

Barkers; in which are interred the remains of John Barker, Esq., a native

and benefactor to the town; who died at his house in Mansel street,

London, the 1st November 1787, aged eighty years. He was one of the

elder brethren of the Trinity House, a govenor of the London Assurance,

vice-president of the Magdalen house, and one of the directors of

Greenwich Hospital. His body arrived at Lowestoft on the 8th of

November; and after laying in state at the Queen’s Head Inn till the next

day, it was conveyed with great funeral pomp to the burial place of the

family; where an elegant mausoleum has been erected, he having left by

will £500 for that purpose, and also charged £1000 Bank stock, with the

payment of £30 per annum for keeping the same in repair for ever; and

what was not wanted of the said £30 for that use, is to be given to the

poor of Lowestoft, in bread, at the church every Sunday after divine

service. He also gave £200 to the poor of Lowestoft, to be given in

coals, etc., immediately after his decease, which was done.

John Barker in his Will says:

I direct that my body be buried in the yard of the parish church of

Lowestoft, in the County of Suffolk, in the vault wherin my late wife

Elizabeth lies interred; and it is my desire that my executors

hereafter named do cause a handsome tomb and monument to be erected

over the said vault to our memory; but not to lay out a greater sum

than £500 in erecting the same. And it is my intent, that the said

vault, tomb, and monument be kept, in every respect, in perfect

repair, pursuant to the provision hereafter by me made for that

purpose.

I give and bequeath the sum of One thousand pounds, three per cent.

consolidated Bank annuities, unto the Accountant General, for the

time being, of the High Court of Chancery; but to, for, and upon the

uses, trusts, intents, and purposes following, that is to say, Upon

Trust to permit and suffer the minister and churchwardens of the

aforesaid parish of Lowestoft, for the time being for ever, (subject

to the control and direction of the said Court of Chancery, in case

if any misapplication of the said trusts, Bank annuities, contrary to

the true intent and meaning of this my will), to receive and take the

interests, dividends, and proceeds of the said one thousand pounds

Bank annuities, to and for the following uses (to wit): In the first

place thereout to keep, maintain, and support the said vault, tomb

and monument herein before by me directed to be erected in Lowestoft

churchyard, as aforesaid, not only neat, clean and decent, but in all

respects in perfect repair. And in the next place, as to what

overplus shall remain of such interest, dividends and proceeds, after

keeping the said vault, tomb, and monument in perfect repair, I do

empower the said minister and churchwardens, for the time being, to

lay out such overplus in the purchase of bread, and to distribute the

same, after divine service be finished on a Sunday, to and among such

persons in low and indigent-circumstances, of the said parish of

Lowestoft, as they shall think fit objects of this charity. But it

is my will and meaning, that my nephews, the aforesaid William Bell

Barker and Samuel Barker, and after the death of the survivor of

them, the persons for the time being for ever, who shall be heirs at

law to my said nephews, William Bell Barker and Samuel Barker, shall,

from time to time, have and enjoy the privilege of nominating to the

minister and churchwardens aforesaid, twelve of such poor persons to

receive the benefit of the said charity; and to which twelve poor

persons to be nominated as aforesaid, the preference shall be always

given, of having the said bread first delivered to them, anything

herein before contained to the contrary thereof, in any wise

notwithstanding. And it is my will, that all such expenses as at any

time may attend the execution of the said trust, shall be first

deducted out of the interest, dividends, and proceeds arising from

the said one thousand pounds trust Bank annuities. And it is my

further will, that if the aforesaid stock, commonly called three per

cent. consolidated Bank annuities, shall at any time be paid off;

then, and in such case, the produce of the said one thousand pounds

stock shall be re-invested in the name of the Accountant General for

the time being, on other Government security, to, for, and upon the

like uses, trusts, intents, and purposes hereintofore expressed of

and concerning the same.

Mr. John Wilde, of Lowestoft, having, by will, dated the 22nd of July,

1735, given several estates to this town, after the decease of Elizabeth

Smithson, for the purpose of a school for the education of children

belonging to this parish; and the said Elizabeth Smithson (afterwards

Perryson) having departed this life the 3rd of December, 1781, the

minister and churchwardens, in pursuance of the trust reposed in them by

the said will, on the 21st of March, 1788, began to erect a building, for

the purpose of a schoolroom, according to the directions of the said

will; which building is thirty-six feet in length and twenty-five feet in

breadth, and is situated at the bottom of the hill, on the east side of

the Stone House which he gave to the parish by the said will; which house

stands on the east side of High street, a little to the north of Rant’s

score. Under the first stone of this building are deposited several

silver and copper coins of his Majesty.

Subjoined is an extract of the Last Will and Testament of JOHN WILDE, of

Lowestoft, gentleman, (who died in April, 1738,) bearing date the 22nd of

July, 1735:

Also I give and devise unto the town of Lowestoft, for ever, all that

my dwelling-house, fish-houses, yards, gardens, and appurtenances

whatsoever to the same belonging, in the occupation of the Rev.

Shewell. Also I give and devise to the said town of Lowestoft, for

ever that all my meadow, in Lowestoft aforesaid, now in the

occupation of John Pope. Also I give and devise unto the said town

of Lowestoft, for ever, all that my house commonly called Rotterdam,

with the yards, gardens, and appurtenances whatever to the same

belonging, now in the occupation of James Pottle. Also I give unto

the said town of Lowestoft, for ever, all my dole-lands in Lowestoft,

together with all my lands, tenements, and hereditaments (if any

there be not before by me given and bequeathed in this my will)

whatsoever, which I have, at the time of my decease, in the town of

Lowestoft aforesaid. Also I give and devise unto the said town of

Lowestoft, for ever, the reversion (whenever it shall happen, after

the death of the said Elizabeth Smithson) of all my messuages, lands,

tenements, hereditaments, and premises, situate, lying, and being in

Worlingham aforesaid, now in the tenure or occupation of Nicholas

Matcheston, or his assigns, under-tenant, or under-tenants; all which

premises, before by me given to the said town of Lowestoft, I give to

the uses, intents, and purposes hereafter in this my last will more

particularly declared, limited, and appointed. And I do nominate the

minister and churchwardens, for the time being, for ever, hereafter

to be trustees of all these my bequests to the said town of

Lowestoft, strictly charging and commanding them religiously and

conscientiously to discharge their trust, hereby by me given to them

as they will answer it to Almighty God another day, in seeing the

same performed according to the true intent and meaning of this my

last will and testament, which now follows. And, first, my mind and

will is, that all the same estates before by me given and devised to

the said town of Lowestoft, together with the rents and profits

thereof, shall be applied for a virtuous and learned schoolmaster,

who shall teach forty boys to write and read, and cast accounts; and

also shall teach them the Latin tongue. And my mind and will is,

that the said schoolmaster shall be chosen by the said minister and

churchwardens for the time being, upon every vacancy that shall

happen by death, misdemeanour, or misbehaviour of the said

schoolmaster. All which I leave to the discretion and management of

the said Minister and Churchwardens for the time being, to place,

replace, or remove the said schoolmaster as they shall think proper;

desiring them they will act impartially in placing or removing the

said schoolmaster, and not choose by favour or affection, but having

virtue, religion, and merit chiefly in view. And my mind and will

further is, that when all the said bequests, before by me given and

bequeathed to the said town of Lowestoft, shall become due to the

said (then, and not before), the salary of the said schoolmaster

shall be forty pounds per annum; which I will be paid half-yearly to

the said schoolmaster, upon the feasts of St. Michael, the Archangel,

and the annunciation of the blessed Lady Mary the Virgin, by equal

portions in every year. And my mind and will is, that until the

death of the said Elizabeth Smithson, the profits of the other

bequests before by me given and devised to the said town of Lowestoft

shall be at their own discretion, so as the same be expended towards

the encouraging of learning; and therefore would have it employed, as

far as the rents will go, towards educating children in manner

aforesaid. And my mind and will further is, and I do hereby give and

devise unto the Minister of the said parish of Lowestoft for the time

being, for ever, the sum of one pound and one shilling; and unto the

clerk of the said parish, for ever, the sum of ten shillings; and

unto the sexton of the said parish, for ever, the sum of five

shillings. All which said sums of one pound and one shilling, ten

shillings, and five shillings, I will shall be paid out of the rents

and profits of all the messuages, lands, tenements, hereditaments,

and premises, before by me given and devised, in this my will, to the

said town of Lowestoft, for the purposes aforesaid. And I bind all

the same for the payment thereof. And my mind and will is, that the

said several sums shall be paid to the several persons always yearly

upon the twenty-third day of December, in every year; but upon this

condition, nevertheless, that the minister of the said parish of

Lowestoft for the time being, shall always yearly upon the

twenty-third day of December in every year, sometime in the forenoon,

preach a sermon (except the said day should fall on a Sunday, and

then my mind and will is, that the said sermon should be preached on

the Monday next following); and his text I desire should be these

express words—“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he

is old he will not depart from it.” And my mind and will further is,

that the said sermon should chiefly tend upon the great necessity of

the good education of children, and the ill consequence that attends

the neglect of it. And in case any overplus should arise out of the

said several bequests before by me given and devised to the said town

of Lowestoft, after the said salary of forty pounds to be paid to the

said schoolmaster, in manner aforesaid; and the said several sums of

one pound one shilling, ten shillings, and five shillings, to be paid

to the several persons above mentioned, be fully paid and satisfied,

such overplus, if any should be, or whatever it be, I give and devise

the same, for such charitable purposes and uses as the Minister and

Churchwardens of Lowestoft aforesaid, for the time being, shall think

proper to distribute, so as such overplus, if any there be, or

whatever it be, shall be distributed every year.

Will of Mr. John Hayward, of Lowestoft, to whom some of the poor were

indebted for weekly donation of bread:

In the name of God, Amen. I, John Hayward, of Lowestoft, in the

county of Suffolk, mariner, being of sound and perfect mind and

memory, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner

and form following: First. I commit my soul into the hands of

Almighty God, etc., and for settling my goods and temporal estate, I

do give and dispose of the same as followeth: I give and bequeath all

my messuages or tenements unto Mary, my loving wife, during the time

of her natural life. I give and bequeath (after my said wife’s

decease) unto my son, Robert Hayward, all my houses, out-houses,

fish-houses, lands and appurtenances whatsoever, to hold to him for

and during the term of his natural life, and after his decease to the

heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten. And for want of such

heirs, give all the same lands and premises to and amongst all my

daughters that shall then be living. To hold them jointly, and to

their heirs for ever, so as, and upon condition, that my said son

Robert, or his heirs, or my daughters, or such person or persons as

shall enjoy my said messuages, lands, and tenements, shall pay or

cause to be paid unto my grandson, Samuel Mariner, the sum of fifty

pounds, of lawful money of Great Britain, at the age of one and

twenty years. And also shall pay yearly, and every year, into the

hands of the churchwardens of the parish of Lowestoft, and their

successors, for ever, the sum of two and fifty shillings. The first

payment within twelve months next after the decease of my said wife,

and so to be received yearly by the churchwardens, and employed and

laid out twelve pence weekly, and every week in the year, for

fourteen loaves of bread, to be by them given every Sunday, or Lord’s

day, throughout the year, for ever, after divine service in the

afternoon, at the parish church of Lowestoft aforesaid, to fourteen

such poor people as they shall think fit. Which said sums of fifty

pounds, payable to my grandson, Samuel Mariner, and two and fifty

shillings, given payable yearly for ever, for bread for the poor, my

will is, shall be paid out of the estate wherein I now dwell. And I

do make all the same estate liable and subject to the payment of the

same, as fully and amply as may or can be. And my will is, that the

same may so continue for ever. Except such persons as shall enjoy

the same, after the payment of the aforesaid fifty pounds to my

grandchild, shall give any other security to the churchwardens and

trustees of Lowestoft aforesaid, for the continuance of the payment

of two and fifty shillings yearly, for ever, as they, the said

churchwardens and trustees, shall think fit to accept. {134a}

This is a true copy of the clause of Mr. John Hayward’s will, which

was proved at the Bishop of Norwich’s principal office (19th of

August 1719), holden in the precinct of the cathedral church of

Norwich; where the original will may at any time be seen.

JOHN TANNER,

Vicar of Lowestoft, and one of the executors of the said John

Hayward.

* * * * *

A decree, judgment, and orders made sett down by Sir Arthur Heveningham,

Sir Miles Corbett, knts., Henry Gawdy, Esq., and Mr. Dr. Sucklinge,

doctor in divinity; by virtue of her Majesty’s commission to them and

others, out of her Majesty’s High Court of Chancery, under the great

seale of England, directed and hereunto annexed, upon a verdict by force

of the like commission, to them and others directed by them, the second

day of October, in the four and fortieth year of her Majesty’s most

gracious and happy reign, taken and returned unto the said Court of

Chancery upon the statute made in the High Court of Parliament holden the

seven and twentieth day of October, in the three and fortieth year of her

Majesty’s reign, intituled an Act to redresse the misemployments of

lands, goods, and stocks of money, before the making thereof, given to

charitable uses, as followeth:

IMPRIMIS. We do order, adjudge, and decree that the free grammar

schoole mentioned in the said verdict shall be and remain a free

grammar-schoole, and shall have continuance for ever within the said

town of Lowestoft; and the same schoole shall consist of a

schoolmaster learn’d in the art and knowledge of grammar, and able to

instruct and teach the rules and principles thereof and the Latin

tongue, and other things incident, necessary, and belonging to the

said art, to be master, tutor, and teacher of the schollars in the

said schoole, consisting of forty schollars, and not above, to be

taught and instructed within the said schoole.

ITEM. We do order, adjudge, and decree that the house within the

said town of Lowestoft, which is now used for the schoole-house for

the said master and scholars, {134b}, shall, for ever, hereafter,

continue and be the schoolehouse wherein the schoolemaster of the

said schoole shall teach and instruct the schollars thereof; and that

Stephen Phillips, now schoolemaster of the said schoole, shall

remaine schoolemaster thereof; and that he and his successors, and

all other schoolmasters of the said schoole, shall, for ever

hereafter be called and known by the name of “Mr. Annott, his

schoolemaster.” And whensoever, and as often as it shall happen,

that the place and roome of the schoolmaster hall become void, we do

order adjudge and decree, that the Chancellor for the time being, to

the Bishop, for the time being, of the see of Norwich, or sede

vacante the guardian of the spiritualities, shall have the nomination

and appointment of the schoolemaster of the said schoole within the

said town.

We do also order, adjudge, and decree, that the forty schollars of

the said schoole shall be of such children as are or shall be borne

within the said towne of Lowestoft, if there be or shall be

sufficient of such within the said town to supply and fill up the

said number of forty. And for want of a number sufficient of them to

supply or make up the said number of forty, then that the children of

the inhabitants within the said town, albeit the said children be or

shall not be born within the said town, to supply and make up the

said number of forty. And if these also neither are nor shall not be

sufficient to supply and make up the said number of forty, then that

the children of the inhabitants within the hundred of Lothingland and

Mutford shall be nominated, elected and appointed to supply and make

up the said number of forty; the choise and appointment of which

schollars shall be to the said Stephen Phillips, now schoolemaster,

so long as he shall be schoolemaster there, and to such as from time

to time shall supply the roome and place of the said schoolemaster

within the said town; so that he do nominate and appoint to the

number of forty scholars, and not above; and that he shall not take

for the nomination and appointment so by him to be made above the

sume of twenty pence for every schoolar within the said schoole.

(Examined by me,)

RICHARD MOSS, Dep. Reg.

Writings of great length concerning this school could at one time be seen

at the Episcopal Office at Norwich. Probably the original deed of Mr.

Annott, bearing date 10th of June, 1570, for founding the school, the

commission, inquisition and verdict, as well as the above decree, are

included amongst them. Mr. Annott dying without issue, his heirs at law

disputed the legality of the donation, and endeavoured to recover the

lands, for it is recorded that in 1591 it cost the town £120 to defend

its right to this school; and it was in consequence of this suit that the

heirs augmented the annual payment from twenty marks to sixteen pounds.

On the vacancy of a mastership of this school, a person of good

character, and a member of the Church of England, is presented to the

Chancellor of the Diocese by the Vicar and Churchwardens of Lowestoft for

the time being, who appoints and licenses the same.

About the year 1670 (when the old school-house belonging to Annott’s

foundation was decayed) a dispute seems to have arisen between this

parish and the Allens of Somerly, respecting a design formed by that

family of uniting Annott’s school with one founded by Sir Thomas Allen.

One Mr. Henry Britten formerly master of the school at Lowestoft, who had

been applied to by the town for information concerning this affair,

answered as follows:

TO THE TOWNSMEN OF LOWESTOFT,

Whereas I was desired to give an answer to divers things proposed

concerning the free grammar-school at Lowestoft, during the time I

had to do with it; to which I answer as follows: I was presented to

it by Mr. Thomas London, the then patron, in the year 1667, and

chosen by the general consent of the town, with the minister’s hand

and churchwardens, and generally the whole town; and had also a

license from the chancellor of Norwich, with his seal, to receive the

profits, and did receive, for divers years, the yearly salary of £16

per annum, paid me by the tenants of the school lands at Burrough.

But the tenant being a backward man, was always in arrears, and at

last died, and left at least £10 unpaid. Thomas Perry, steward for

Mr. Thomas Allen, seized what he had, and I was never paid it. But

after that they paid me, and I received it from Sir Thomas himself,

at the hall, but most what his steward paid me, but they also kept

behind in arrears, but told me I should be paid it, only desired me

to forbear awhile, because the tenant had not paid them.

Some while after, old Sir Thomas {136}, erected a school house. When

it had been some while built, and stood empty, Mr. Evans petitioned

that he might keep a writing school in it, which being granted soon

after, Sir Thomas would have me resign, that he might lay the

revenues given to the Latin to his school house, designed for

English. In refusing to sign, there being about two years in

arrears, he told me I should not have one farthing, if I did not

resign, and from that time the money was stopped. He desired also to

see writings belonging to the school, which he did obtain of some of

the townsmen, which he kept, and they could not be found until such

time as we came to agreement, which was many years after.

Thus it continued many years unpaid. Sometimes I had promise of

payment from Sir Thomas Allen, but he was set off again by some or

other. I have had many journeys to Norwich, and applied myself to

the Bishop and Chancellor, and had promise of them to do me right,

but something or other always happened that it was still unpaid. I

had counsel about it, and I was told that I might help myself by the

Court of Chancery, if the town would join with me, otherwise they

would not assist me. I propounded it and found the town cold, and

did not care for stirring in it; so that at last I was forced to

agree with them, there being £200 due. With much ado I agreed with

them to pay me £100, which I did not receive all, till a year or more

after I resigned (in 1696.) Mr. Echard, of Somerleyton, was he that

agreed it with me, as Sir Thomas Allen’s agent. They required me to

give them bond to quit all claim of the school, and also to give in

my license. And, thus, I suppose, I have answered what was desired.

HEN BRITTEN.

Needham Market, Dec. 26, 1701.

An extract of the last Will and Testament of JOHN WILDE, of Lowestoft,

bearing date the 3rd of April, 1699, respecting the donation of James

Wilde, his father, of twelve loaves of bread to the poor of this parish

to be given every Sunday, after divine service, in Lowestoft church.

Also his own donation.

ITEM. I give, devise, and bequeath unto my said son John and his

heirs, for ever, fifteen pounds, of lawful English money; the

interest of which said sum of fifteen pounds, with the rent of the

messuage, tenement, and pightle, in the occupation of John Middleton,

aforesaid, I will shall be for and towards the payment of twelve

loaves of bread, given by my father, Mr. James Wilde, deceased, every

Sunday, or Lord’s Day, in the year, for ever, to the poor of

Lowestoft aforesaid. And for and towards the payment of six penny

loaves more, as aforesaid, being my own bequest, to be distributed as

aforesaid, in Lowestoft Church, after divine service in the forenoon,

every Sunday for ever. But my mind and will is that it shall be in

my said son John’s power to choose whether he will give securities to

the feoffees of the town lands and churchwardens of the said tenement

and pightle, and the interest of the said fifteen pounds, or assign

and set over the said tenement and fifteen pounds unto the said

feoffees, to remain for ever to the use aforementioned, the one of

which, my mind and will is, shall be performed and done by my said

son John and his heirs, for ever.

ANN GIRLING, widow, by will, bearing date 8th of June, 1584, gave certain

premises therein mentioned to the poor of Lowestoft, to be given them in

firing.

LOWESTOFT.—At the General Court Baron, with the leet of Corton,

holden on Saturday, in Quinquagesima week, in the 27th year of Queen

Elizabeth, A.D. 1584–5.

To this Court came William Wilde and John Lawne, and brought into

Court the last will and testament of ANN GIRLING, of Lowestoft,

widow, in which is contained (amongst other things) as follows:

_Item_. My barn, house, with the tenement adjoining and their

appurtenances, being copyhold of this manor of Lowestoft, I give and

bequeath unto Thomas Ward, William Wilde, Nathaniel Arnold, John

Wilde, John Lawne, John Wells, and their heirs for ever. ONLY to the

use of the honest poor of Lowestoft, to be given by the hands of two

of them, in wood, so far as the farm of my said barn and tenement,

with the appurtenances, will reach yearly. So much yearly detained

only as shall keep the same in reparation sufficiently. And they the

said feoffees to see conveyance made from them, when there remaineth

but two of them, to others whom they shall think good to the use

aforesaid. Or as learned counsel shall best advise; and so from

feoffees to feoffees, to the use aforesaid, for ever, as by the said

will, bearing date the 8th day of June, A.D. 1584, it doth and may

more fully and at large appear. And thereupon the said William Wilde

and John Lawne, in their own proper persons, and the other feoffees,

namely, Nathaniel Arnold, John Wilde, and John Wells, by their

attorney, were admitted, etc.

The premises, named, have many years since fallen into decay; and the

ground was, in 1773, the garden of a house situated by the old market,

and was let for five shillings per annum.

The abuttalments are thus described in the last admission:—“One tenement

decayed, with a barn and garden thereunto belonging, in the west lane,

near the old market, between the king’s highway upon the south; and the

lands of Margaret Whitehead upon the north; and abutts upon the widow

Sterry, towards the west; and upon late Stingales, towards the east. In

whom it is now vested, is unknown; but the churchwardens dispose of the

rent.”