List of Vicars and Priests
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 21st 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 wt 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° cccccbo 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 sulké
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 “Loderington,” 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 appointment 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.
1626 Francis Withington, M.A. Resigned 1642.
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.
1682 Samuel Leeke, presented 11th May on the death of Harding.
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.
1706 William Benson, presented 23rd Jan. Died 10th Sept. 1717.
1717 Hollis Pigot, presented 24th Oct. on the death of Benson. Buried 21st Aug. 1727.
1727 John Abson, presented 19th Oct. on the death of Pigot. Buried April 1749.
1749 Hugh Thomas, presented 20th July on the death of Abson. Resigned.
1750 Lynford Caryl, presented 24th Jan. on the cession of Thomas.
1752 Claudius Daubuz, presented 23rd April on the cession of Caryl.
1752 Childers Twentiman, presented 19th Oct. on the cession of Daubuz.
1759 John Laverack, presented 18th Oct. on the cession of Twentiman.
1768 John Holmes, presented 21st April on the cession of Laverack.
1779 William Leybourne, presented 21st Oct.
1784 Richard Barrow, presented 22nd April on the death of Leybourne.
1785 Charles Fowler, presented 21st April.
1840 Thomas Still Basnett, presented 23rd April on the death of Fowler.
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.
1858 John Ash Gaussen M.A., presented 11th Feb. on the death of R. H. Fowler.
1865 Frederick Drummond Hay B.A, presented 11th Mar. on the cession of J. A. Gaussen.
1886 Joseph John Merry, presented 9th Dec., on the cession of F. D. Hay.
1891 George Dent Wharam, presented 1st May on the resignation of J. J. Merry.
1896 John Bedford M.A.; presented 29th 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 17th Mar on the death of J. Bedford.
1938 Arthue Edward Dawe –resigned 31.12.51
7th May 1952 Peter Walpole Wiggington
5th March 1957 Richard Michael Rycroft – resigned 31st October
2nd July 1965 Norman Henry Todd (Hon Canon) Resigned 1st September 1969
27th September 1969 Ronald Gordon Lacey. Priest-in-Charge. Instituted Vicar 2nd June 1972. Resigned 29th February 1976
1st December 1980 Norman Henry Todd
1st December 1980 John Mulholland Burgess – Curate
5th May 1983 Norman Henry Todd, Resigned 30th June 1988
7th February 1990 John Murray Irvine – Priest in Charge
6th March 1990 Anthony Ian Tucker – Curate
20th November 1991 David Leaning – Priest in Charge. Resigned 12th September 1993
12th September 1993 Alan Heaton – Priest in Charge. Resigned 3rd December 1996
6th January 1998 Susan Spencer – Priest in Charge (Canon from 8th June 2007) Retired 11th April 2010
7th September 2011 Claire Elizabeth Goode, B.Sc. - Priest in Charge., Resigned 15th June 2014
7th October 2015 Philip William White M.A.
Holy Trinity, Rolleston with Fiskerton