From "Notes on the Parish of Mylor", published by Hugh Pengelly Olivey 1907

Beware, Ongoing work - This is First Draft Only and likely to contain typographic errors

SECTION 7

The Vicarage of Mylor and Mabe.
Account of Glasney College.
List of Vicars.

ON the 23rd February, 1288, St. Mylor (Ecclesia Sancti Melori) was appropriated to the college of Glasney, which was situated at Penryn. The History of Glasney Collegiate Church, by Mr. Thurstan C. Peter, gives a full and interesting account of this institution. It was a college of secular canons, somewhat after the manner of our modern cathedrals, which acted as a centre of church life in West Cornwall. It was founded in the year 1265 by Walter Bronescombe, Bishop of Exeter, sometimes called Walter le Goode, who ruled from 1257 to 1280, and was dedicated by him to St. Thomas the Martyr (otherwise Thomas a Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered in the time of Henry II, in 1170), and afterwards also to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

It is recorded of him, on his tomb in Exeter Cathedral, that he was moved thereto by a voice that came to him in his sleep. "He laid the foundation of the church (says the Cartulary) on the morrow of the Annunciation of Our Lady, in the year 1265, and on Sunday the morrow of the Annunciation of our Lady, two years after, he solemnly consecrated the church and churchyard." In 1267, being the third year of the foundation, he appointed and designated thirteen persons under the names of canons secular (a provost and twelve canons), called a provost and chapter, who should serve faithfully and continuously in the said church.

The canons of Glasney were secular canons, just as the canons of Truro are at the present day, and it was in no way a monastic institution. During the three hundred years of its existence it was a favourite establishment of the bishops of Exeter, and many important orders were promulgated from here. Here, in 1371, on the occasion of his ordinary visitation, Bishop Brantyngham ordained no fewer than sixty-four men ; the names of whom are given in Mr. Thurstan C. Peter's book.

There was a close connection between the prebendal canons of the college and the vicars of the numerous parishes which were appropriated to it. The bishop called upon the college to nominate a clerk to the parish so appropriated, whom, if satisfactory, he instituted as perpetual vicar, responsible to the bishop, and irremovable without the bishop's consent. A house was also to be provided, and he was to reside continuously. The canons took special care that there should be a vicar in each parish, and if untrained men were appointed to benefices, they required them to study at Oxford or elsewhere, meanwhile providing a duly qualified substitute.

There appears to have been some dispute as to the appropriation of Probus to the college, and a decision was given against such on 23rd February, 1288. On the same day the appropriation of Mylor was made as a substitute for Probus.

The document relating to this states : "That as that exalted city, the Heavenly Jerusalem, when that most glorious martyr, Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, reached the pastures of eternal life, there to feast with his brethren, rejoiced that another golden star had been added to their number, so the Anglican Church below ought fervently to strive to honour him by providing in every place dedicated to him (in aliquo sui vico) a new light by which posterity might be illuminated." The good bishop (Peter Quivil) then proceeds to extol St. Thomas' conduct in life and in his death by the cruel sword of the satellites of Satan, and tells us how his own predecessor, Walter [Bronescombe], had commenced, in the saint's honour, the collegiate church of Glasney, but had been unable to complete his undertaking. Bishop Quivil, therefore, being anxious to do all he could to give effect to so laudable an intention, ordained (with the consent of the dean and chapter), that as Glasney was too far from Exeter for proper control to be exercised, there should be a perpetual rector, to be known as " Provost," to bear a part of the responsibility. The provost, at the time of his institution, should have reached the order of sub-deacon at least, and should proceed to the priesthood in due course. He was to be in residence at least two-thirds of the year. He was to have jurisdiction over all canons and clerks, with all necessary powers for the regulation of manners and the guidance of souls, and to the same extent as the dean had over the canons and clerks of Exeter, of which church Glasney was, as far as possible, to be a daughter in practice (sequax filia). He then appointed Walter de Fermesham, who had for some time presided over the college with faithfulness and success, and had been called provost, to be so in reality, assigning to him and his successors in the office the principal stall in choir and seat in chapter.⁽¹⁾ Then, because the means of the church and its clerks were slender and their labours great, the bishop, with the consent of the dean and chapter given after careful and solemn discussion, granted to the said Walter as provost the church of St. Mylor, being in his gift, and annexed it to the provostship in perpetuity, reserving to himself and his successors the right of collation to the Glasney prebends as they should fall vacant, and saving all rights to the bishop and church of Exeter. The bishop intimates that other provision will, as opportunity occurs, be made for Glasney, and that in due course a perpetual vicarage will be ordained in St. Mylor, that the provost may be relieved of work. The deed is dated 23rd February, 1288.

To St. Mylor he ordained a perpetual vicar. There is an ordinance of the vicarage, dated 9th May, 1353, the church being therein described as appropriated to the office of provost of Glasney, and the vicar being Sir Simon de Trelees, priest, who was instituted 11th January, 1353, and the patron Sir Richard de Gomershall, provost of Glasney. By this the bishop, with the consent of the provost, assigned to the vicar for the time being a messuage adjoining the cemetery of the church, with land measuring at least ten acres.⁽²⁾ He was moreover to receive the entire altarage and the small tithes, both real and personal, as well of the parish church as of the dependent chapel of St. Laud (now the separate parish of Mabe), together with the tithe of hay, and of the fishery and the mortuaries of the whole parish, also the garb-tithe of Kerygou (now Cregoes) ; the whole of which the bishop estimated as worth by the year £10 sterling.

It is interesting to note that at the date of the tithe commutation " the corn and rain tithes arising from lands called part of Cregoes " still belonged to the vicar.

This great collegiate institution survived for nearly three hundred years, until the dissolution of religious houses and the suppression of chantries⁽³⁾ by King Henry VIII, who, under the plea of devoting the money arising from them to the foundation of schools, the augmentation of universities, and relieving the poor, found it more convenient to seize their goods and revenues for his own use, or bestow them on his favourites.

Thus the church was robbed of its property, and as one result we find the great tithes, in many instances, remain the property of laymen to the present day. This is so at Mylor. This spoliation was not completed during the lifetime of King Henry, but the college existed feebly until the second year of Edward VI, 1548. The buildings were then sold and dismantled, full particulars of which are given by Mr. Thurstan C. Peter. Amongst the articles valued are " the belles, leade, stones, and timber." Part of the lead is sent to "the thiles of Sille, for the king's majesties fortifications."

About this time the king was giving attention to his coast defences. St. Mawes and Pendennis castles were built, and the Islands of Scilly were fortified.

The total amount of lead taken is " xxij ffoder," a fodder being 1 9cwt., and it was worth per fodder £3 13s. 4d. The stones and timber were valued at £20. These meant considerable sums in those days.

It has been conjectured that much of the stone in Mylor Church came from Glasney, namely the fine Caen stone of the south porch, and of the pillars of the central arcade, and some windows. Of these it is said that no such fine stone can be obtained at the present day. A considerable quantity of this stone has been found in the ruins of Glasney. The workmanship, too, of these is admirable. Caen stone, also, is not unusual in Cornish churches.

RECTORS OF MYLOR.

The following is from the Diocesan Register at Exeter.

"St. Mylor [Sancti Meliori MS. Rectors of]. Thomas de Wyndesore clerk resigned viva voce et literatorie totium jus quod habuit ad ecclesiam Sancti Meliori in Cornubia 22 June 1258 and on the same day the Bishop collated Sir Walter de Fermesham⁽⁴⁾ cum honore (sic) viginti marcurum solvendarum Magistro Johanni de Agnavia quoad vixerit. Also on the same day Thomas de Wyndsore optinuit tales literas-Universis etc. Walteris Dei gracia etc. Noveritis nos caritatis intuitu concessisse dilecto clerico nostro, Thome de Wyndsore decem marcas percipiendas singulis annis de Camera nostra et successiorum nostrorum ad duos anni Terminos ; unam videlecit medietatem ad Festum Sancti Michaelis et alteram medietatem ad Pascha, quosque idem Thome vel alicui persone Ecclesiastice ydonae quam ad hoc elegerit in competenti Beneficio Ecclesiastice per nos vel successores nostros provisum fuerit." (4 b Bronescombe's Register).

The above entry was made prior to the appropriation of Mylor to Glasney College, which took place in the year 1288, and it refers to Thomas de Windsore as having been rector of Mylor. He was therefore in possession of the great tithes. Mr. Thurstan C. Peter mentions a former one, who was the first of whom there is any record, viz., Walter Manclere, who was collated by King John. The entry above quoted, translated, means that on the 22nd June, 1258, Thomas de Windsore resigned all rights to the rectory, the bishop on the same day collating Walter de Fermesham, charging him with the payment of twenty marks a year to Master John de Agnavia, who was a former rector; at the same time a letter was addressed by the bishop to Windsore, authorising him to receive ten marks a year from the episcopal treasury until he or some suitable nominee of his should be provided for in a competent benefice.⁽⁵⁾

VICARS OF MYLOR AND MABE.

The earliest vicar of which we can find any record is Sir Simon de Trelees, priest, who was instituted (at Chudleigh) 11th January, 1353. Patron, Richard de Gomershall, provost of Glasney. Died 1378.

Radulphus Frankeleyn, priest, was collated (in London) on 27th April, 1378, per mort. Sir Simon Trelys (Brantyngham, vol. ii, fol. 53b). Died 1401.

Richard Treles, chaplain, was instituted 16th March, 1401-2, on death of Richard Frankelyne. Patron, William Culling, provost of Glasney. (Stafford 2, 21).

John Rescasa on resignation of Richard Trelees 12th February, 1421, on presentation of William Culling, provost of Glasney. (Lacye 27).

William Perys on resignation of John Rescasa, 14th April, 1429. Presentation of Walter Trengols or Trengose, prebend of Glasney. (Lacye 90).

Sir John Renaudyn, chaplain, succeeded Sir William (Perows) or Perys, 23rd June, 1456. (Neville 2).⁽⁶⁾

Thomas John alias Denys, in person of John Evelyn, proctor on resignation of John Renaudin, the last vicar, on presentation of Glasney, 3rd June, 1473, (Bothe 20).

Sir John Tregithioe, chaplain, on death of Thomas Denys, 1st April, 1514, on presentation of Master John Tyacke, B.D., master of decrees and John Skeweys, gent., patrons for that turn.

Sir Mathew Brokk, on death of John Tregethow, 14th Oct., 1527, on presentation of John Cock and John Killigrew by a concession from the college of Glasney. (Beysey 34).

Mathew Broke is named as a canon of Glasney and is one of those pensioned on the suppression of the college. This ends the Glasney presentations,.and from henceforth the patronage is with the bishop.

Philip Nicolles, M.A., on death of Matthew Brooke, 28th Nov., 1591, by collation of bishop. (Woollton 49).

John Digbye. There is no record of his induction in the bishop's register. He appears as vicar at the visitation of Kirrier held on 11th April, 1622.

Thomas Peters, M.A. (vicar of Mylor et Capella de Lavabe) on resignation of John Digbie, 3rd Dec., 1628. Collation of bishop. Buried at Mylor (see tombstone in churchyard) 1654, aged 57. (See Appendix D).

(The record of institutions is here interrupted. There are few recorded in the Exeter Registers from 1646 to 1660).

Thomas Tregosse. Instituted October, 1659, ejected 24th August, 1662. Died at Penryn,

Jan. 18th, 1670. Buried at Mabe (see Mabe Register). (See Appendix E).

Vicars of Mylor and Mabe. 97 Edward White. 26th Feb., 1662. Then vacant. Presentation of bishop (Gauden 52). Buried at Mylor, 1 8th April, 1678.

William Taubyn, B.A., on death of Edward White, 16th July, 1678. Buried at Mylor, 16th June, 1701.

Francis St. Barb on death of William Taubyn, 8th Aug., 1701. (Trelawney 66). Buried at Mylor, May 6th, 1739.

George Turner, M.A., on death of Francis St. Barb, May 1, 1740 (Stephen). Buried at Mylor, NOV. 3rd, 1761.

William Osborne, B.A., on death of George Turner, 11th Nov., 1761.

Richard Milles, M.A., on death of William Osborne. 6th Nov., 1779. Also vicar of Kenwyn, 1781 to 1823.

Edward Hoblyn, B.A., to Milour alias Melor and Lavapper on resignation of Richard Milles, 15th April, 18 Died Feb. 8th, 1868, aged 85. Buried at Mylor. Mylor is now separated from Mabe.

Jeffreys Wilkins Murray, M.A., on death of Edward Hoblyn, 6th July, 1868. Resigned 1874.

Samuel Rosenthal on resignation of J. W. Murray, Oct. 20th, 1874.

Alfred Grey, M.A., on resignation of Samuel Rosenthal, 2 7th Sept., 1881.

Charles William Sackville Taunton, B.A., on resignation of Alfred Grey, Sept. 13th, 1890.

Edward Arthur Cosens, M. A., on cession of C. W. S. Taunton, March 31st, 1897. He died on 12th May, 1898, aged 38. Was buried at Mylor.

Richard Gaseley Parker, B.A., on death of E. A. Cosens, 12th Aug., 1898.

There is a monument in the church in memory of the Rev. William Whitehead, late curate of this parish, who died on the 13th August, 1823. He was probably curate-in-charge for Mr. Milles, who seems to have been non-resident. He also had the living of Kenwyn.

CHURCHWARDENS.

It is much to be regretted that this is such a meagre one, and that the parish books carry us no further back than 1845.

The office of churchwarden was formerly a very important one, and holders of such took a leading position in the parish. By statute of 27 Hen. VIII, c. 25, they ranked co-equally with mayors, governors, and head officers of every city, borough and town corporate. They were not simply ecclesiastical officers, but temporal officers chosen by the laymen of the parish to take charge of the temporal estate. " Wardens of the goods " pertaining to the church is the designation given in Rolls of Parliament as early as 1341. It has been the custom in this parish for the minister to choose one and the parishioners the other. There is no law for this but only custom, and it was not the custom before the Reformation. The change took place by a canon of Convocation in 1603. They were formerly " overseers " by virtue of their office, but recent legislation has curtailed their duties and made them more essentially church officers.

For list of bishops of Exeter and Truro see Appendix F.

(1) There were two provosts before Fermesham, viz., Henry de Bolleghe and William de Bodrigan (see note p.93). Perhaps this ordinance only legalised an existing fact. (Walter de Fermesham was also rector of Mylor.)

(2) This is probably the principal portion of the present glebe, and the oldest portion.

(3) There was probably a chantry attached to Mylor Church in the Clinton aisle, which was broken up with the other chantries and monasteries in 1538.

(4) Sir W. de Fermesham was one of the first provosts of Glasney, being at the time Rector of Mylor - Thurstan C. Peter.

(5) " Mylor Church made Parochial about 1308 and dedicated to S. Miloris. I think before that date there were other chapels in the Parish, especially at Restronguet. " - Oliver's Monasticon.

(6) Mr. Peter gives the following (Glasney, p. 77) : "Master Richard Reddew (or Rew) Inceptor of the sacred page collated as Provost of Glasney, 23rd Oct., 1436, on resignation of Master Walter Trengose. He was presented to Mylor 1st June, 1456." I find a similar entry in Oliver's Monasticon giving reference to Lacye's Register, vol. ii, p. 146, but I am unable to trace it, and this statement does not agree with the succession shown.

Back to Olivey's History of Mylor index

Web Scribe Richard Milsom Copyright 2003, All rights reserved.
Genealogists may use the information provided here freely.
This page, and the information it provides, may not be copied for commercial use of any kind.
Last Updated 25 August 2004