Data from the 'Collectio Rerum Ecclesiasticarum' from the year 1842.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

Data from the 'Collectio Rerum Ecclesiasticarum' from the year 1842.

The place: RUFFORTH.     Church dedication: PATRON SAINT NOT KNOWN.     Church type: Perpetual Curacy.

Area, 2,420 acres. Ainsty. -Population, 302 *1; Church-room, 140; Net value, £147. -The Patron Saint is not known, but Guy Wright, of Rufforth, gent., by his will, proved 2nd October 1574, gave his soul to God, St. Mary, and All Saints, and his body to be buried in the Church before the image of All Hallowes.

Torre is silent as to this Church. A space appears to be allotted in his MS. for the insertion of any information which might occur.

This Church was appropriated to the Hospital of St. Leonard, which paid to the incumbent an annual pension of £4. 13s. 4d.

Archbishop Sharp says : " My book makes the King patron of this Vicarage, but I do not find they of the Great Seal lay any claim to it ; indeed, there has been no instituted Vicar here time out of mind. Mr. Torre finds none in our Registry."

Mrs. Grace Thompson is patron and impropriator.

The Church is valued, in Pope Nicholas's taxation, at £5. See also the Nonae Roll, page 228.

In the Parliamentary Survey, vol. xviii. p. 533, it is called " A Vicarage, £10 per annum maintenance." The Commissioners add : " Now, in regard that Rufforth is near unto Acomb, and may fitly go to that Church, as appointed by us ; and that Knapton, a quarter of a mile off the Church, is but of the town of that parish ; we think fit that Rufforth and all Knapton be annexed unto Acomb, and the Chapelry of Dringhouses divided from thence and annexed to Bishopthorpe."

In the King's books, this Church, though called a Perpetual Curacy, is valued at £4. 13s. 4d., and discharged from tenths.

The Living was augmented, in 1739, with £200, by lot ; in 1764, with £200, to meet benefaction of £200 from Peter Johnson, Esq.; and in 1769, with £200, to meet benefaction of £200 from William Thompson, Esq.

An Inclosure Act was passed 34th Geo. III.

6th October 1792, a faculty was granted to lay a part of the church-yard to the road.

There is no glebe house.

The Register Books commence in 1655 .

Charities:
Poor's Land. -House, garden, and about nine acres of land at Upper Poppleton, supposed to have been the donation of £1. 12s. 6d. per annum recorded in the benefaction table, made by John Hawkins in 1726. 2s. 6d. per annum is paid to the Curate, and the residue of the rent is distributed to the poor on Good Friday and St. Thomas's day.

Rent-charge. £2. 6s. 6d. per annum. £1. 4s., part thereof, is paid to the Minister for two anniversary sermons on Good Friday and St. John's day, and the residue is distributed with the abovementioned poor's land rent.

Lady Hewley's charity. £4 per annum is paid to the schoolmaster for teaching eight poor children, who are appointed by the overseers. -Vide 10th Report, page 721.

Post town: York.

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References:
Torre's MS., page 285. Abp. Sharp's MS., vol. 1. page 73. Monasticon Angl., vol. vi. page 607. Drake's Eboracum, page 393.

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Notes:
*1 In 1834, the Population was returned at 320.