house, there is every evidence that one existed. Several old persons, who have died within the present century, remembered seeing the old ruins about fifty yards south of the church, where tradition said the officiating priests resided, who were masters of the school and performed daily mass in the church. In the year 1791, in making a sunk fence on the east side of the church yard, there were found urns, (filled with ashes and bones) painted various colours, and stones with the cross and other figures cut on them. In the church yard at the present time, there is a stone coffin, which has doubtless been brought to light during some of the excavations which have been made at various times; while in the south wall of the church is inserted one of these stones with the cross carved upon it. At the date of its appropriation to the monks of Bolton, the church must have been an old one, for special mention is made in the deed of the repairs of the church and the rebuilding of the chancel, which expenses the prior and canons were to bear. Very little is known of its history during this period; the only procurable information being from the compotus of Bolton Abbey. Frequent mention is there made of it, and the payments therein stated afford abundant evidence of its worth and importance. In 1517, during the incumbency of Fr. Percival Otley, who was the last vicar prior to the dissolution, the following return was made of the value of the vicarage : Ebor. Harwood Vicaria. P'eyvallus Otley, Incubens. Rectoria ib'm appropriat' est priorat' de Bolton in Cravyn. Vicar' ib'm valet in. Denar' annuatim in pens'co re't de priore) et conventu monasterij de Bolton in Cravyn, p' ann'...... £. s. d. xiiij. xiij. iiij. The monks retained possession both of the rectory and vicarage until the dissolution of the Monasteries, A.D. 1536-7, when the advowson reverted to the Lord of the Manor, the right of presentation having belonged to Bolton Abbey nearly 200 years. During this period there were 14 vicars. It is rather remarkable that, in 1354, there were three presentations, the first two vicars having resigned, probably from the poverty of the living. In 1369 also, there were two presentations. Torre's list of vicars closes with the presentation of Matthew Garfurth, in 1614, and the continuation of this list by Whitaker, Jewel, and others is most incorrect. Jewel says, "the living was vacant from 1666 to 1699, and omits Mr. Smith and Mr. Ogden, both of whom are proved by the following extracts to have been in possession of the living during these 39 years. Whitaker, in addition, omits Mr. Hepworth and Mr. Jackson, both of whom are interred in the chancel. The following extracts of this and neighbouring villages is copied from the Lansdowne Mss. vol. 459, fol. 68. Village. Harewood In the possession of 16 13 4 Incumbent Mr. Isaac Earl of Strafford. Smith, of civil con These were taken about the year 1654, an act being passed for ejecting so-called scandalous, ignorant, and insufficient ministers. Mr. Ogden's incumbency is clearly proved by the annexed extracts from the registers. "George Ogden, Minister of Harwood, came hither to dwell on July 16th, 1673. Matthew Garford, parish clerk, was the first to be buried. Samuel Ogden, brother to the said George Ogden, cloth-maker, became parish clerk of Harwood, February 25th, 1676, by the sole election of the minister, as Joshua Jefferson did before him, as may appear by his licence, both of their licences running thus,-per liberam electionem, Georgii Ogden, &c." "Upon diligent enquiry made by publicke authority, A D. 1676, there were these communicants in Harwood Parish. "Memorandum on April, 15th, 1677, it was then agreed upon by the minister, and the old and new churchwardens and chief of the parish, that the groats formerly due to the parish clerk, for registering children baptized be taken away, and in lieu thereof that six shillings and eightpence, be duely paid to the parish clerk at every Easter, for the performance of the work above specified " George Ogden, Minister of Harwood. 'All the corps buried within y Parish of Harwood, and in no other material wrapped nor interred, but what was made of sheep's wool only, since the first of August, Anno Dmi. 1678, according to ye act of parliament in that behalf made, with all affidavits brought, and entered within the time limited." George Ogden, Minister of Harwood. "There is a good Vicarage House which I found ruined, but left repaired, gardens, one croft, a cowgate in the castle park, a close in Bonegate about 2 acres, the church yard and surplice fees and mortuarys, and the annual stipend of 22 marks. To the truth of this I subscribe my name, George Ogden, Minister of Harwood. Mr. Ogden appears to have been the only Vicar accustomed to make notes in the register books. This used to be a very common practice in some parishes years ago, and in many instances, they have proved the only means of preserving to the present day, much valuable information, which would otherwise have been lost. The following is a correct list of the Vicars from the institution of the Vicarage, to the present time. 20 July, 1354 29 July, 1354 22 Aug., 1354 28 Mar., 1368 25 April, 1369 24 June, Fr. Laur de Wath. Can. domus de Bolton Pr et Con. de Bolton resig. Tho. de Manyngham. Will Bassett Can. 1369 John Burton. do. mort. John Gargrave. do. resig. 7 Oct., 9 Dec., 18 Aug., 1431 Rob. Morland do. 23 Jan., 14 Oct., 1517 Percivall Ottelay vel Walker do. mort. Rich. Lamb, Cl. 27 May, 8 June, 25 Mar., 16 July, 1673 George Ogden. mort. Died 1701 John Hepworth 1704 *William Cheldry Robert Knight, A.M.. 1751 Richard Bainbrigg, B.A. 1764 Chris. Jackson, B.A... Earl of Strafford. Sir John Cutler. by lapse. by lapse. mort. Boulter Tomlinson. mort. *Thoresby relates in his diary that parson Cheldry and a boy fell over Harewood Bridge on a very dark night, and were wonderfully preserved upon the piers of the bridge till help got to their relief. (May 22, 1703.) The present edifice is the second, if not the third, church on the same site. Of the original Norman structure not a vestige remains, all has disappeared. Whita |