Rolleston Holy Trinity

List of Incumbents

A list of the vicars and priests of Rolleston so far as is known, was 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.'

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 country'.

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 East 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 valorfs 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. 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 Monmoth'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 z8th 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 March on the death of J Bedford.

1938 - Arthur 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

16th January 1998 Susan Spencer – Priest in Charge. Retired 11th April 2010