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Doncaster Parish Church to the time of William Farndale
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The original medieval
parish church of St George burnt down on the last day of February 1853. This
fire resulted in the loss of the medieval library which was above the south
porch. The current Doncaster Minster is therefore an impressive Victorian
structure built after 1853.
In order to
enter the world of William Farndale (FAR00038),
Chaplain of Doncaster Parish Church by 1355 and Vicar of Doncaster Parish
Church from 8 January 1396 to 31 August 1403, we need to understand the earlier
church.
First
century CE
In Roman Doncaster, the present
market-place was in all probability used then for the same purpose that it is
now. It would also contain, as most Roman market-places did, the public Temple.
At all events, on whatever other site such Temple may have stood, it could
hardly have been on that of the Church of St. George; for, in the times of
which we are speaking, that site was unquestionably the true Castrum, or
Pretorian Camp, a military fortress, or barrack, enclosed within special
defences of its own
After the Romans had abandoned Britain,
this Castrum, or military enclosure, became at a later period the site of a
castle belonging for some centuries to the feudal lords of Doncaster. By whom
it was built, or when it was destroyed, there is not a fragment of evidence to
show; but that such castle did stand here, we have the positive testimony both
of Camden and Leland. The latter, 300 years ago, about a.p.
1538, visited the town, and saw part of the outworks of the Castle still
remaining. “‘ The church,” he says, ‘‘ stands in the very area where ons (once) the castelle of the towne stood, long since clene
decayed, the dikes partly yet to be seen, and foundation of part of the walles. There is likelihood,”’ he adds, ‘‘ that when this
church” (the Perpendicular St. George’s) ‘‘ was erected, much of the ruines of the castelle was taken
for the foundation, and filling up of the waullis of
it.” In Pryme’s MS. Diary, it is stated that part of
the walls were in existence so late as a.p. 1694.
Though, therefore, we have really no account whatever of the Castle of
Doncaster, either as to the time of its being built or destroyed, and though it
is impossible to say what Leland might have understood by ‘‘long since clene decayed,” still, we have his ocular testimony and the
tradition which was then reported to him, in proof of the fact that the castle
did stand here, and that, moreover, it comprised within its area and special
defences, the ground now occupied by St. George’s Church and churchyard.
If, in the early days of Doncaster, this
ground was occupied by a castle and castleyard,
specially defended by walls, could it conveniently have contained, at one and
the same time, a Parish Church and churchyard? The two uses are very
incompatible. A Parish Church, being required for public daily or hourly use,
ought to be within daily and hourly access, without the risk of interruption.
The same with the cemetery. But the public cemetery and church of the
parishioners would hardly have been open to such uninterrupted access, and
ready for use at any moment, if, between the people without and the cemetery
and church within, there was constant risk of ‘Veto’ from portcullis or
sentinel. No place, again, would have been so wholly inappropriate to the
tranquillity proper for holy offices and services as the noisy precincts of a
barrack-yard.
That Doncaster Castle may have had, as
almost all castles had, its own chapel within its own walls, is likely enough.
But that, so long as it was the chief military and feudal garrison of the town,
it should have contained within its enclosure the Parish Church and Parish
cemetery, when there was room for them elsewhere, appears, at all events, very
unlikely.
Those, therefore, who think that on the
site of St. George’s have stood all the Parish Churches of Doncaster, in
succession, from that of Paulinus downwards, have to meet this choice of
difficulties. They must either insist on what is improbable, viz., that the
earlier Parish Churches of the town were imprisoned within the walls of its
fortress ; or they must get rid of the fortress before the time of Paulinus, a.p. 633. But this would be to annihilate Doncaster Castle
before that very period of history when such strongholds were most abundant and
most needed. In short, to destroy it so early, would be to allow it scarcely
any existence at all.
If however there should have been, all
this while, another site in Doncaster free from this difficulty of contested
occupation ; one in the very heart of the town, open and accessible at all
times ; and if it could be shown that on that site there had existed an
ecclesiastical building, not only of great antiquity, but of antiquity greater,
so far as we can at present judge, than any portion of St. George’s ; if,
beside such other church, there should also have been, surrounding it, a
cemetery of considerable extent; is there not, in these circumstances, and
considering the comparatively smaller size of the ancient town which would
hardly require two cemeteries, fair reason for conjecturing that this, after
all, may have been the site of the original Parish Church?
(from Rev
Jackson, History of the ruined church of Mary Magdalene, 1853)
627
CE
Edwin of
Northumbria (586 to 633) was baptised in York about 15
years after the death of Augustine.
When Augustine
came to Britain, he does not appear to have attempted to bring his mission to
Northumbria. However Edwin, King of Northumbria, married the daughter of
Ethelbert, the converted king of Kent and it was agreed that she should freely
exercise her religion. She was accompanied by a zealous pupil of Augustine,
Paulinus, and this provided the basis for Edwin’s conversion. From that time,
Paulinus was increasingly employed in conversion across the region of
Northumbria. One of the areas of Paulinus’ conversion was on the banks of the
Gleni and the Swale and at Campodonum (South Yorkshire, the History and Topography of the
Deanery of Doncaster in the Diocese and County of York by Rev Joseph Hunter,
1828, page xiv, Bede’s Ecclesiastical
History, Chapter 9, 14).
Bede describes
the catechizing and baptising of Paulinus during times when he
instructed crowds in Bernicia and in Deira. He often followed river courses and
baptised along the river Swale, where it flows beside the town of Catterick and
in Cambodonum, where there was also a royal
dwelling, he built a church which was afterwards burnt down, together with the
whole of the buildings, by the heathen who slew Edwin [this was when Penda
defeated Edwin at Hatfield in 633 CE]. In its place later kings built a
dwelling for themselves in the region known as Loidis.
This altar escaped from the fire because it was of stone, and is still
preserved in the monastery of the most reverend abbot and priest Thrythwulf, which is in the forest of Elmet. (Bede’s Ecclesiastical History, Chapter 14). Loidis is modern Leeds. Cambodonum
has been interpreted as various locations in the West Riding, but it probably
derives from “Field of the Don” and is more likely a reference to Doncaster.
So, it is
likely that a church was erected in the place of modern Doncaster at this time.
If this is correct, then Paulinus also tells us that Edwin had a royal
residence (villa regia) at Campodonum. The
praetorium of the Roman Castrum might have been an ideal site for an occasional
royal residence. This would suggest that the church at Doncaster was burnt down
by Penda after the Battle of Hatfield Chase in 633 CE. So no sooner was the
first church built, that it was destroyed and the progress of Christianity in
Doncaster was interrupted.
Bede’s work
also suggests that a second Christian church, after the church at York in 627
CE, was built in Doncaster under Paulinus’ supervision.
(South Yorkshire, the History and Topography of the
Deanery of Doncaster in the Diocese and County of York by Rev Joseph Hunter,
1828, page 4 to 5, 34)
633
CE
Edwin was
killed by the pagan Penda at the heath field on Hatfield Chase, 10km northeast
of Doncaster. It appears that Penda immediately attacked Doncaster and
destroyed the church, and probably the royal residence, as we don’t hear of
Northumbrian kings returning. However the altar was preserved in a monastery in
the wood at Elmet,
around modern Leeds.
However the
church was rebuilt, the monastery at the mouth of the river referred to by
Alfred of Beverly. The early churches were more like monasteries than early
parish churches (see Kirkdale). Early religious
men lived around these places and made ecursions into
the countyryside, before the time of parish churches.
764
CE
In 764 the chronicler Symeon
of Durham in his Historia Regum groups York with
London, Doncaster, and other places, repentino igne vastatae (destroyed by a sudden fire). (A History of the County of York: the City of York.
Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1961).
Multae
urbes, monsteriaque, atque villae, per diversa loca necnon
et regna, repentino igne vastatae sunt; verbi gratia, Stirburgwenta civitas, Homunic, Lundonia civitas, Eboraca
civitas, Donacester, aliaque
multa loca illa plaga concepit.
Many cities, towns, and villages, in different places,
as well as kingdoms, were destroyed by a sudden fire; for example, the city of Stirburgwent, Homunich, the city
of London, the city of York, Doncaster, and many other places were conceived by
that plague.
There is evidence of fire in the area of the Roman
castrum, but these marks may have been the result of the devastation by Penda.
This was a time when Alcuin of York, in the Kingdom of
Charlemagne, was despairing of the fate of his homeland.
813
CE
Alfred of Beverly recorded the destruction of the monastery
at the mouth of the Don by Danes, which may have been a reference to Doncaster –
Monasterium ad ostium Doni amnis precaverunt, sed non impune; “They prayed
to the monastery at the mouth of the river Don, but not with impunity”.
1086
Shortly after
the Norman Conquest, Nigel Fossard refortified the
town and built Conisbrough Castle. By the time of
Domesday Book, Hexthorpe in the wapentake of Strafforth
was said to have a church and two mills. The historian David Hey says these
facilities represent the settlement at Doncaster. He also suggests that the
street name Frenchgate indicates that Fossard invited fellow Normans to trade in the town.
Doncaster was ceded to Scotland in the Treaty of Durham and never formally
returned to England!
Rev Jackson’s
book (see below) tells us: “At the Conquest there was a Church and a single
Priest , whose nomination lay with the Fossards,
feudal Lords of the town. In the reign of William Rufus, Nigel Fossard , leaning with the special favour of those times
towards the establishment of monastic houses, made to the newly founded Abbey
of St. Mary's, near the walls of York, a donation which is thus described in
his charter.”
There was significant
building of monasteries and parish churches during this period. The building of
churches was attractive since this allowed the lords to extract tithes from
distant churches to which it had been paid and settle it on churches of their
choosing, perhaps closer to their own residence. During this period churches
were built at places including Coningsborough,
Campsall, and Doncaster. Joseph Hunter lists 60 places where Churches were
built. Most of these churches had one officiating minister at their foundation,
the persona or rector. The churches were often placed under the
patronage of monastic institutions. The church at Doncaster was distinguished
from others by being given the title of dean. Certain of these churches were
parish churches in form, but were also referred to as chapels, which meant that
they were given rights of baptism, nuptial benediction and of sepulture, but were not able to participate in tithes from
the lands around them. These churches included St Mary Magdalene at Doncaster and
the chapel at Loversall.
(South Yorkshire, the History and Topography of the Deanery
of Doncaster in the Diocese and County of York by Rev Joseph Hunter, 1828, page
xvi to xx).
1088
Early in the
reign of William II (William Rufus), Nigel Fossard was
amongst the benefactors who founded the abbey of St Mary in York.
Fossard gave the church of Doncaster to the new abbey
as well as lands in the area.
Twelfth
century
The church of
St Mary Magdalene stood in the market place and may have been the early parish
church of Doncaster, but it soon served as a chapel.
By the reign of
Henry II (1154 to 1189), it was a chapel.
By 1248, a
charter was granted for Doncaster Market to be held in the area surrounding the
Church of St Mary Magdalene.
(See also South Yorkshire, the History and Topography of the
Deanery of Doncaster in the Diocese and County of York by Rev Joseph Hunter,
1828, page 20).
c1200
Robert
de Turnham tried to recover the rights in the church which Nigel Fossard had given to St Mary’s Abbey, York, but had to
acknowledge the continued rights of the abbey, but was given a right to the
chapels at Loversall and
Rossington, which were part of the parish of Doncaster.
1204
There was a
disastrous fire in 1204 which appears to have completely destroyed the town, from
which the town slowly recovered.
At some stage
during the reign of King John, there were two rectors of the parish church,
called Hugo and John.
1291
The ecclesiastica taxatio
listed the parish churches of England and Wales in 1291 to 1292 and listed St
George’s at Doncaster, whose patronage was to the Benedictine St Mary’s Abbey
at York, assessed for tax at £93 6s 8d.
The main source
for St George’s Parish Church is the History of
St George’s Church, Doncaster, Destroyed by Fire, February 28, 1853, by the Rev J E Jackson.
Rev
Jackson suggested “according
to Leland, an eye-witness about A.D. 1510, the late Parish Church stood upon
area and within the walls (some of their foundations then remaining) of the
ancient Castle of Doncaster. Whether the Castle, whilst used as such, had
contained any spot of consecrated ground ; whether that ground had been
occupied by a parish church or only a chapel; at what time the whole area of
the Castle became consecrated and parochial ; and in what style any first
churches may have been built, are points that will receive from this Volume
little or no aid to solution.”
From
excavations after the fire in 1853, Jackson concluded that if the church had
been of Norman origin, it would have lasted scarcely a hundred years as the
fire of Easter 1204 consumed the town of Doncaster so if it had existed it must
have been destroyed.
Rev
Jackson suggested that the
original church “had been in its previous (we dare not say original) state,
essentially and throughout of the order known as “ First Pointed ," or
Early- English. The period usually allowed for that style is about 118 years,
from 1 Richard I to 35 Edward I.” So this suggests the origin of the parish
church to have been 1189 to 1307.
He then says “we
are not wholly without grounds for suggesting the names of one or two principal
promoters”:
·
“The
cost of the chancel would be provided by the owners of the Rectorial
property, then the Abbot and Convent of St. Mary's at York. Under such
influence, that part might be expected to correspond (as from the pattern
remaining in the old side -windows appears to have been the case) with the more
enriched variety of this style, of which that Abbey was itself an exquisite
specimen”. Note the
connection of the Stutevilles to the Convent of St Mary at York in the early
history of Farndale.
·
“Amongst
contributors to the rest of the Church, without ranging vaguely beyond the bounds
of reasonable conjecture, one may perhaps be identified in the person of Robert
de Turnham , a Crusader under Richard I., distinguished by special notice
in metrical chronicles of the day.” “He was, in fact ( by marriage with
the heiress of the Fossards) , Lord of Doncaster, and
actual owner of the estates now possessed by the Corporation.” “he was
contemporary with, and must have been a sufferer in property by, the Fire of
A.D. 1204, is certain ; for he did not die until six years after it, in A.D. 1210.”
1300
As to a
description of the church of William Farndale’s day:
·
“the
width of the Nave (50 feet)”
·
“The
form , that of the Latin Cross, having Nave and Chancel; with Transepts (North
and South ), to each of which was appended on their eastern side a small aisle
or chapel.”
·
“At
the west end … it is not unlikely that there may once have been a Norman Door.”
·
“The
nave was formed by two large arcades, each consisting of five obtusely -
pointed arches rising upon massive octangular pillars. The capitals and
mouldings were without ornament, and of the earliest period of this order of
architecture, dating probably from about A.D. 1190 to A.D. 1200.”
·
“Above
these large arches (between them and the roof) there was originally a range of
low windows (forming the Clerestory)”
·
“Behind
them, and within the thickness of the Church wall, ran a narrow gallery known
as the “ Triforium ” passage”
·
“Four
massive piers at the cross were ready to support some kind of steeple”
This is his
ground plan for the older church:
“Of the
exterior, an outline, to a certain extent conjectural, but representing what the
Church is most likely to have been about the year 1300, is given below:”
So this seems
to be the best representation of the church in the time of William Farndale.
Rev
Jackson went on to explain
that “yet, within little more than two centuries, we shall find that almost
every other part of it had been once more renewed”. He ponders why it was
necessary to carry out such extensive renovation so soon. However this would
seem to take us beyond the time of William Farndale. There are however some
observations which help:
·
“The
first and almost the only monument of any quality or consequence in Doncaster
Church was of the year 1465.” (ie after William
Farndale)
·
However
“the cross slabs discovered (chiefly ) about the Foundation of the South
Transept, besides those above mentioned in the roof of the Crypt, are indeed of
the thirteenth century” (ie before William
Farndale)
·
And
“some of the ' inscriptions copied by De la Pryme
(as will be seen on referring to them in a later page) bear dates between A.D.
1330-1413” (ie during William Farndale’s time.
·
“These
would have been in or belonging to the Church before it was altered : but no
memorial of any kind better than a simple gravestone appears until the Church
had been made almost new again.”
1303
As the size of
the church grew it was felt that the pension was not sufficient to maintain two
rectors and an appeal was made to Archbishop Corbridge. A perpetual vicarage
was ordained and the vicar was to have 50 marks sterling for his support paid
quarterly by the abbot and the convent, with a penny paid for every funeral.
The vicar was also exempted from tithe payments for his cattle and the general
tithe rate for the church lands was reduced to a quarter (South Yorkshire, the History and Topography of the Deanery
of Doncaster in the Diocese and County of York by Rev Joseph Hunter, 1828, page
34).
Jackson wrote: “in A.D. 1303 , the Monks of
St. Mary's … discovered that for two Rectors to divide the profits between them
, leaving only a small pension to the Abbey, could never have been the meaning
of Nigel Fossard. So having succeeded in convincing
Archbishop Corbridge, and the other ecclesiastical authorities in such cases
appealed to, that the Latin of Fossard's charter
ought to be differently translated, they obtained leave to appropriate the
Rectory to themselves. The act of appropriation does not appear to have taken
effect for about 17 years ; as the institution of Rectors continued to 1318 ,
and it was not until 1320-1 that the Royal Patent was granted, and that
Archbishop Melton confirmed the proceedings. The two Rectors at that time
were Roger and William de Staines. The former probably died about that
time; as we find only the latter pensioned off, with the liberal allowance of
80 marks per annum for his life. From this time all the tithe, both great and
small (“ totam ” in Fossard's
charter) flowed to the treasury of St. Mary's at York ; and one clergyman,
under the title of Perpetual Vicar, was appointed to be the resident guardian
of parochial duties. One of the two Rectory houses, “ with the whole place,”
was assigned to the Vicar, with the annual stipend of 50 marks (331. 6s. 8d .
), to be paid him by the Abbey. With the amount of this provision, considering
the times, no fault was to be found ; nor would his successors in the Vicarage
have had any reason to complain, if the stipend had been proportionately
increased according to the change in the value of money : but in this material
point the endowment was neglected. Whilst the Abbey and all succeeding owners
of the Tithe altered the amount of their receipts, no change was for a very
long time made in the original figures of the Vicar's stipend. Besides this
money payment, the Ordination awarded to him , “ his vigils for his labour,
with the penny offered at funerals and the penny at the Church door for
marriages : " in other words , certain perquisites resembling modern
" surplice fees. ” He was to be exempt from payment of tithe upon his own
cattle , but was burdened with one - fourth part of the charges upon the
Rectory. Archbishop Melton, in giving his sanction to this arrangement,
stipulated with the Monks for two pensions out of the Rectorial
tithes: one of 10l. a-year to himself and his successors in the see of York ,'
the other of five marks a-year (31. 6s. 8d .), to be distributed amongst the
poor ” of Doncaster for ever.” The period of the Rectors continued until
1320 when Walter de Thornton was appointed as the first Priest/Vicar.
1320
The arrangement
was confirmed in 1320 when it was also ordered that the religious community
should distribute ten marks to the poor of Doncaster, or corn to that value.
Walter de
Thornton became the first Vicar of Doncaster on 12 March 1320.
1323
Hunter refers
to a chantry of St Nicholas founded by the chaplain Thomas de Fledburgh, in 1323. He says this was done with consent of
the rector and confirmed by Archbishop Melton on 15 February 1329 (South Yorkshire, the History and Topography of the Deanery
of Doncaster in the Diocese and County of York by Rev Joseph Hunter, 1828, page
40).
1349
John de Mekesborough became the chantry priest or cantorist on 31 July 1349 on the death of John Plumer. He
was succeeded on his death by William de Hexthorpe on 21 December 1369 (South Yorkshire, the History and Topography of the Deanery
of Doncaster in the Diocese and County of York by Rev Joseph Hunter, 1828, page
40).
1355
Jackson listed
the chaplains, which include William
Farndale for 1369 to 1370, but he concedes in the notes that his list is no
doubt capable of additions, and we have other evidence of William’s chaplaincy
in 1355 so he was presumably chaplain for a longer period than shown below.
William, son of
Thomas, son of Ellen de Apelby became Vicar of Doncaster
on 17 June 1355 and continued until he died.
1360
Robert Murray
became Vicar of Doncaster on 5 October 1360 and continued until he resigned the
following year.
1361
John de Gisburn
became the Vicar on 18 March 1361.
At some point
Alan Raysine became the Vicar and continued until he
died. He directed in his will that he be buried in the Doncaster church.
1392
Jackson surmised there may have been another
fire at some point.
He thinks that
“About A.D. 1392, the large Perpendicular window was inserted in the West
Front. That this was done, the rest of the Church being still Early, is clear
from an arrangement made for continuing the Triforium Gallery across the new
window by a double row of mullions in the lower tier, between which it was
conducted . The date of this insertion is supplied by the will of one Robert
Usher, of East Retford, who, in this year, bequeathed “ 5 marks towards the
construction of a window at the western end of the Church of St. George, at
Doncaster.” I At this period, therefore, the Nave would be lighted by the large
window at the end and the small narrow lights of the clerestory at the sides.”
So this was four years before William became the Vicar, while he was presumably
still the chaplain.
Jackson thought the renovated Church might have
ended up looking something like this, but this would have been after William’s
time, unless the surmised fire or some of the reconstruction had started when
William was the vicar. It was probably a bit later though.
The Rectory of
Doncaster
1396
Jackson listed the clergy of St George’s
including William
Farndale who was vicar from 8 January 1396 to 31 August 1403 when he
resigned.
Hunter descries
various burials which occurred during the time of William Farndale including
that of William Jone in 1403 (“O dere frends hafe pyte
for my soule as I hafe form
many done, yet I may come to bliss”); and Johan and Alicia Rastal in 1392 and 1398; John Savyl
of Doncaster; Robert Ellius Esq, Alderman of
Doncaster in 1402 and Catharine the wife of William Smith in 1402 (South Yorkshire, the History and Topography of the Deanery
of Doncaster in the Diocese and County of York by Rev Joseph Hunter, 1828, page
41 to 42).
Lovershall
There is also a
bit about Lovershall
(where William Farndale purchased land) in Jackson’s
book:
CHAPELRY OF
LOVERSAL
By the Chapelry
of Loversal , so constantly mentioned, is meant, in
fact, the tithes of the parish of Loversal ( a
township of Doncaster ). For the ministerial duty the Vicar of Doncaster is
responsible. Upon the subject of the small endowment of this Chapelry there is
in Archbishop Sharp's MSS the following memorandum:
The Chapel of Loversal is parochial. The Curate thereof (who is at
present Mr. Pegge, Vicar of Wadworth) is paid 41. by the Vicar of D. And Sir
John Worsman " (Wolstenholme, the last of his family who was owner of Loversal, and who died 1716) useth
to give 4l This is all the profits, except Church yard and Surplice Fees.
1403
William Cooper
became Vicar of the Church on 31 August 1403 and continued until he died. He
directed that he be buried in St Nicholas Quire in the Doncaster Church. He
described it as a beautifiul specimen of a church of
about the time of Edward III (1327 to 1377).
1434
On 15 October
1434 there was an agreement with John Fichiane, then
vicar of the parish, regarding repairs to the chancel, which the vicar was
bound to undertake.
1539
The abbey of St
Mary at York was surrendered during the dissolution of the monasteries and the
rectory was included in the great exchange on 6 February 1539.
1828
Writing in
1828, Rev Joseph Hunter described the church as it was before the fire of 1853,
with narrow loop hole windows, but an extreme richness of detail in the
ornamental parts. He referred to the font being dated 1061, but was unsure
whether it was that old. He refers to the sixteenth century Leland’s account
that it was likely that when the church was erected, the ruins of the old
castle were taken as its foundation and for the building of the walls. Hunter
described a lofty tower rich with crockets and pinnacles. He felt that Doncaster
church was more opulent than others since it was owned by St Mary’s Abbey in
York. Hunter was particularly impressed by the belfry.
(South Yorkshire, the History and Topography of the Deanery
of Doncaster in the Diocese and County of York by Rev Joseph Hunter, 1828, page
37).
1853
The destruction
of the medieval church by fire on the night of 28 February 1853 was a great
calamity. Nevertheless, within seven days, a rebuilding committee had been
formed and raised over £11,000. The new
building, to the designs of George Gilbert Scott, took four year’s
to build. Great celebrations accompanied the consecration of the building by
the Archbishop of York on 14 October 1858.
2004
In 2004 the
church was designated as the Minster and Parish Church of St George by the
Bishop of Sheffield.
http://www.doncasterminster.co.uk/