Many years after the church was granted to Godefrid, Bishop of Worcester, and his successors. A Vicarage was endowed in Nov. 1281; the advowson still remaining in the Bishop of London. Lloyd, in his Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus, classes this vicarage among those discharged from the payment of first fruits, and gives the clear yearly value at one hundred pounds, and the yearly tenths at one pound twelve shillings.

The interior of the Chapel, though capacious, is neither elegant nor commodious. There is a gallery at the western end, built in the year 1716. The Chapel was ceiled and beautified in the year 1734, during the wardenship of William Cowper and George Harman, and further adorned in 1771 by John Medlam and Joseph Busby, Chapel-wardens.

An Organ was erected in 1815, by voluntary subscriptions: the total amount of the expense was two hundred and forty-one pounds.

The following are the inscriptions on the Branches in the Chapel:

"Christofer Blunt and John Harmond Chappell Wardens 1695."

"This branch is ye gift of Mr. Robert Burton Whitesmith in Lond". to ye Chvrch of Vxbridge for euer, and the iron work is ye gift of Mr. Jos. Winch White smith of Vxbridge 1735 Wm. Cowper Geo. Harman Ch Wardens"

Vicars.

The following list of the Vicars of Hillingdon may be interesting to the curious. The first list is previous to the time when the chapel of St. Margaret was annexed to the Vicarage.

The Vicarage of Hillingdon, with the Chapel of Uxbridge annexed.

We find that Mr. Philip Taverner was appointed to this Vicarage by the Lords Commissioners in 1650. He was subsequently ejected for non-conformity. With two other Divines he held a disputation with some Quakers at West Drayton, Jan. 18, 1657, an account of which was published. He was buried at Hillingdon.

The following is extracted from the Valor Beneficiorum, as given in Newcourt's Repor

The Bishops of London, ever since the year 1469, have collated to the vicarage of Hillingdon with the chapel of ease annexed. The Curate, who performed the duty in the chapel before the dissolution of Abbeys and Monasteries, was generally a secular priest, of one of the religious houses belonging to the town. He was paid by the Vicar of Hillingdon thirteen shillings and four pence for his services, and "the rest of his maintenance was the free gift of the inhabitants."

The Chantery roll, bearing date 1548, and deposited in the Augmentation Office, calls Uxbridge a Vicarage, valued at £8. per annum. But the return to the Parliamentary inquiries in the year 1650, states it more properly to be a chapel, the maintenance of which arose from the tithes of orchards, &c. being only £8. per annum. The jurors then petitioned that this might be made a separate parish, and the minister allowed a competent maintenance.

The Monastery.

Connected with the chapel, there was anciently a monastery, but when it was founded, or of what value, we have not been able to ascertain. It is stated in some old manuscripts, that Oliver and others "founded a Guild or fraternity in the chapel of Saint Mar

garet, to consist of themselves and certain others of the town of Uxbridge (both men and women,) in honor of the Virgin Mary and Saint Margaret." They were by the king's charter of that date* incorporated by the name of "the warden bretheren and sisters of the fraternity of the Virgin Mary and Saint Margaret in Uxbridge." The revenues of this guild were valued at £10. 14s. Od. per annum in the year 1548. In the fifth year of the reign of Henry VIII. (1513) John Osmond conveyed "one tent and 4 stalls in the market place, to John Ward and John Byche, wardens of the Chapel of St. Margt. w'n the towne of Woxbrygge, and James Stanfeald and Wyllm°. Symond, wardens of the Fraternitie of o'. blessed lady w'n the same towne"†.

The Chantry.

A perpetual Chantry was founded in the chapel by Sir Walter Shiryngton, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, which was amply endowed by his executors in the year 1459. The revenues were valued in the year 1548 at £11. 4s. 4d. including sixteen shillings for a house. The Provost and Fellows of Eton College were Patrons.

*26 Hen. 6. (1447.)

M

+ See Appendix, No. 3.