Church History

The Parish Church of Rolleston is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, though it is curious to notice that Thoroton in his "History of Nottinghamshire", published in 1677, attributed it to St. Wilfred.

It seems certain that a church of some sort existed here in Saxon times, for not only does the Domesday Book of 1086 state that at Rolleston there was a priest and a church, but about 1895, when part of the present church was being restored, some fragments of a Saxon cross-shaft were found, full descriptions of which are given later.

The next information comes from the White Book of Southwell. There we find record of Henry, son of Thomas de Rolleston, giving the patronage and avowson of the church to the Prior and Convent of Thurgarton. This entry is undated, but the Augustinian Priory of Thurgarton was founded in 1187 by Ralph d’ Eyncourt, so it must have been after that time; possibly it was in 1220, for in that year Henry de Rolleston claimed the advowson of the church of Rolleston versus the Prior of Thurgarton, so that it would seem that there might have been something of a dispute, eventually settled by Henry consenting to voluntarily hand over any claim which he considered himself to have, or it may have been that the action was a sham one in order to establish title—such being a frequent ruse.

In 1221 the Church of Rolleston was transferred by the Prior and Convent of Thurgarton to the Archbishop of York for the purpose of augmenting the income of the resident Canons of Southwell, and the letter of Walter dc Gray, then Archbishop of York, granting the church to Southwell for this purpose is dated 1225.

There would be a house for the priest to live in, and attached to it a garden and glebe, the latter for growing corn. The tithes of the parish would also be allotted to the priest. When the advowson was handed to Thurgarton, the Priory would appoint themselves rectors and take the tithes and send one of their Canons to take care of the parish, or else put in a curate or vicar to do so. When the advowson was transferred to Southwell, they would likewise appoint themselves, namely the Chapter, rectors, and then take the tithes and appoint one of their vicars's choral to serve the church. This state of affairs continued until 1848 when the funds of Southwell were taken by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for the purpose of augmenting poor livings.

We here give a list of the vicars and priests of Rolleston so far as is known, compiled chiefly from the Southwell Records, together with any notes of special interest concerning them, or contemporary occurrences, in chronological order.

1258 (about - Hugh. A “Hugh vicar of the church of Rolleston” is mentioned in the Assize Rolls in 1272 also, concerning a dispute over some land in Rolleston.

(Undated)—Benedict, parson of Rolleston.

1328 - "Hugonus vicarius" appears in a list of names for tax or levy of some kind in “Roldeston cum Starthorpe.”

The following appears in the Inquisiones Nonarum in 1324 -

"They say that the church of Roldeston which belongs to the canons of Southwell is taxed 20 marcs & the nonae of the sheaves, lambs, & fleeces are worth per annum 14 marcs 3s. & 4d. & no more, that the land and meadow belonging to the said church are worth per annum 13s. 4d. & the tithe of the hay is worth per annum 40s. & the alteragium is worth per annum 23s. 4d (a marc was equal to about 13/4).

At some time between the years 1389-1401 we have the following, though it is not known whether the chaplain mentioned was that of Rolleston or not: “Robert de Dalston chaplain, taken for this that he ........at Rolston feloniously stole 13s. 4d. in numbered money from the goods and chattels of William Symond of Rolston. The Jurors say that in nothing is he guilty"

1398 - Hugh de lanum. "Geoffrey servant of William Clerk of Roldeston taken for this that he feloniously stole 12 sheep value 12 shillings of the goods and chattels of Hugh de lanum chaplain of Roldeston the Munday next before the feast of St. Martin Bishop the 21^st year of the reign of King Richard II, whereof he was indicted before Robert de Morton sheriff of the said county".

1487 - William Grene. By his will dated the 20th May, 1487, his body is to be buried in the choir of the church of Rolleston before the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary of pity, and he leaves 20/- to the fabric of Rolleston Church and the same to Barnburgh (Yorks.) church, etc.

(Undated) - Richard Cooper.

1488 - Thomas Gree, presented 11th Sept. on resignation of Cooper.

1502 - William Leys, presented 7th July on resignation of Gree.

(Undated) - Thomas Butterfield. Extract from Valor Ecciesiasticus, Henry VIII "Rolston Vicaria. Thomas Butterfield vicare there. Havinge a mansion w^t glebe land and medowe thereto belonginge of the yerely value of xxs. tithes at Eastr iiil iijs. woolle and lambe iiijl piggs geyse & chickens viijs. tithe eggs xvd. holybrede sylver vs. vjd. quyet rent iiijs. vd. hempe and flaxe vjs. tiethie of the water xijd. tiethe of the osyers xijd. and two offreing daies xxs.—Sum[m]a valoris xl. xjs. ijd. Whereof paied to the archebishoppe of York for synage iijs. and to th’ archedeacon of Nott, for p'curacons vijs and so remayneth clere �10—xiiijd. Xma inde xxs.—jd. ob’.”

Also there is the following, though there seems to be some mistake in the name: -

"On Aug. 20th, 1521, John Butterfeld, vicar of the parish church of Rolleston, already lawfully cited, preconized & long waited for, but never appearing, is declared contumacious, and in punishment of his contumaciousness is suspended from entering the church.” A brass plate to his memory is to be found on the back of the chancel screen, as follows- “Hic jacet dominus Thomas Butterfeled quondam vicarius istius ecclesiae Rollyston A⁰ dni m� cccccb^o xxx� V� cujus animae propitietur deus.”

1535 - Nicholas Palmer, presented 17th July on the death of Butterfield. Deprived.

In the time of Edward VI "The Parishe churche of Roleston ys worthe in a parcell of lande there lying Graunted for the mayntayning of a light or lamp for ever there by yere iiid"

In the 16th century great changes were made in England, amongst them the visitation of churches for the removal, by royal injunction, of various ornaments, pictures, crosses, robes, etc., and in Sept. 1552 the Commissioners for removing such ornaments visited Rolleston, and the following were confiscated to the King (Edward VI.):

"fyrst a vestment of Rede Dimytye

Item one ode[r] (i e. “other “) whyte vestment

Item one coope of black sulk�

Item one auter clothe

Item ii Laten (i.e. brass) candelstickes

Item one crosse of copper

Item iii belles in the steple

Item one sacring belle & one hond belle (i.e. sanctus bell & hand bell)

Item on [e] chales sylver & not gylte

Item on [e] surplesse & one rochette

1554 - John Thomson. Died. Patrons the Assignees of the Chapter.

1556 - William Munton. Died. Patrons, Philip & Mary.

1556 - Stephen Welles. Resigned. Patrons, the same.

1557 - William Assheley. Died. Patrons, the same.

1557 - Thomas Lutherington. Died. Patrons, the same. This is the first vicar whose name

appears in the existing Church Registers, being there spelt “Loder�ington,” the entry being his burial on Jan. 4th_, 1571.

Apparently during the reign of Queen Mary, she and her husband, Philip, assumed the patronage, for the first appoint�ment after the death of Mary is made by the Southwell Chapter again. Queen Mary would naturally appoint Roman Catholics. After her death Lutherington would not be ejected so long as he took an oath of allegiance and conformed to the rulings of the Archbishop.

On 22 April 1569 the advowson of Rolleston was leased to Sir William Mering, Thomas Mering, Gent, and Stephen Mather, yeoman, for the next vacancy.

1571 Roger Martin, presented 15 Jan. on the death of Lutherington.

1582 Thomas Wilson, presented 23 Nov on the death of Martin.

1583 Robert Leband, B.A., inducted 16 April. This vicar is worthy of special notice, for it is chiefly owing to his unusual notes and comments written in it that we owe the fact that the existing part of the original paper Register is one of the most interesting Registers in England, as will be explained, and some extracts given later. Robert Leband was inducted into this living at 29 years of age. A note in the Register states that he was buried July 15th, I626, having been drowned between Rolleston and Upton by falling off a bridge into a ditch, which was then named after him, and probably since corrupted into the name of “Long Bank.” He was therefore 72 years old when he died, and was vicar of Roleston 43 years. His will proved 16th July 1627 states that he was to be buried in the chancel near the south wall. Patron, the Farmer of the Rectory.

1643 Daniel Harding. During the Commonwealth Harding was expelled, and Thomas Ogle, M.A., of St. John’s College, Cambridge, a Congregationalist, was put in, but was ejected in Aug. 1662, being one of those who at the time of Monmouth's rising were taken prisoners at Chester. Daniel Harding then came into his own again. He died in 1681.

1687 John Twentiman, presented 12th May. This vicar is also worthy of note for his interesting entries of various kinds in the Registers, and for his unusually good handwriting. A tablet to his memory is situated at the west end of the south aisle. Buried Nov. 15th, 1706.

1717 Hollis Pigot, presented 24th Oct. on the death of Benson. Buried 21st Aug. 1727.

1841 Robert Hodgson Fowler, presented 22nd July on the cession of Basnett. The son of this vicar, also named Hodgson Fowler, was architect for the Dean & Chapter of Durham Cathedral, and it was he who gave his services as architect when the north aisle and ceiling of Rolleston church were restored. A stained glass window in memory of this vicar was inserted in the north side of the chancel.

1865 Frederick Drummond Hay B.A, presented 11^th Mar. on the cession of J. A. Gaussen.

1896 John Bedford M.A.; presented 29^th Oct. on the cession of G. D. Wharam. A brass plate to his memory is situated on the south wall of the chancel.

1899 Edward Slater Longhurst M.A. presented 17^th Mar on the death of J. Bedford.

27^th September 1969 Ronald Gordon Lacey. Priest-in-Charge. Instituted Vicar 2^nd June 1972. Resigned 29^th February 1976

20^th November 1991 David Leaning – Priest in Charge. Resigned 12^th September 1993

12^th September 1993 Alan Heaton – Priest in Charge. Resigned 3^rd December 1996

“A true & perfect Terrier of the Buildings, Glebe Lands, Tythes, & other profits belonging to the Vicarage of Rolston in the County of Nottingham as delivered in at the Primary Visitation of the most Reverend Father in God, Robert by Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of York, Primate of England & Metropolitan, holden at Newark on Wednesday the second of May, one thousand seven hundred & sixty four.

Imprimis. The Vicarage House (the Walls part Brick, part Mud, the whole covered with Thatch) contains four Rooms on a Floor, the Floors are Brick and Plaister except the Floor of the Parlour & Chamber over it which are both boarded. One Barn containing two Bays & a small stable: the Walls are of Mud & covered with Thatch. A Yard & Garden containing by Estimation half an Acre

The Profits arising from Fiskerton in the Parish of Rolston. Imprimis. The Tythes of Tofts & Crofts in kind..... The Tythe of Wool, Lamb, Geese, Ducks, Chickens, & Eggs, which last are paid on Good-Fryday. Pidgeons paid in kind. Pelts a half penny, Pigs, Apples & all other small Tythes.

Every House three pence half penny. New bear Cows two pence, Stropper three half pence, Calf sixpence, Foal one penny, Swarm of Bees one penny, Drape one penny, Sheep & Beasts bought & sold, if kept one Month in the Parish, one penny each

Furniture of the Church. Four Bells, a Clock, a Font, a Poors Box, a Chest, a Communion Table with a Green Cloth upon it, a Linen Table-Cloth & Napkin used at the Commun�ion, a large pewter Tankard and Plate, a Silver Cup, a Silver Salver with this Inscription “Ex dono Hanh the Reid of the Rev. Mr. Ben. Cooper, & Daughter of the Rev. Mr. John Twentyman once Vicar of this Church,” a Surplice, Pulpit Cloth, & Cushion, a Table of the Prohibited Degrees of Marriage, a Folio Bible, two Folio Common Prayer Books, & a Book of Homilies.