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

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

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

The place: THORNHILL.     Church dedication: ST. MICHAEL.     Church type: Rectory in charge.

Area, 7,600 acres. Agbrigg wapentake, L.D. -Population, 6,271 *1; Church-room, 2000 *2; Net value, £988.

Patron, the Earl of Scarborough.

An ancient Rectory, of the patronage of the Thornhills from many generations, and from them of the Saviles.

Dr. Whitaker says this was one of the portions of the old Saxon parish of Dewsbury, and probably the first which was severed from it, as it had a priest and Church at the era of Domesday; he also gives a view of the interior of the Chapel containing the monuments of the Savile family in the Church of Thornhill, and a list of the Rectors.

Valued in Pope Nicholas's taxation, at £40 per annum ; in the King's books at £40. 0s. 6d. per annum; and in the Parliamentary Survey, vol. xviii. page 268, at £197 per annum. " Mr. Jonah Wytton, master of arts, is parson there, a godly and painful preacher, chaplain in the wars to the late Lord Fairfax." Synodals 4s.; Procurations 7s. 6d.; and pension to the Vicar of Dewsbury, 13s.

Trinity Term, 21st Geo. II., decree as to tithes, unreported.

55th Geo. III., an Act for inclosing lands in the manor of Thornhill ; and 56th Geo. III., Act for inclosing lands in the manor of Breistwistle.

Torre gives a list of the Rectors.

A Chantry is mentioned in the Valor Ecc.

12th February 1763, faculty to erect a gallery.

25th April 1785, ditto to erect an organ.

2nd May 1778, ditto to erect galleries.

A brief was granted in 1766 for repairing this Church.

The glebe house is fit for residence.

The Register Books commence in 1580.

Charities:
Thornhill Free School, founded by the Rev. Charles Greenwood, Rector, by will, dated 14th July 1642, for the better bringing up of youth. About eleven free scholars are instructed in reading, writing, and accounts. The income consists in the in-threat of £400, and rent of 1r. 4p. of land and a garden. The Commissioners recommended an investment to be made of the £400 in land.

Poor's estate. 104a. of land, let for £120. 14s. per annum; purchased with £100 left in 1688 by Richard Swallow, and £300 left in 1698 by Margaret Trappes. The rents are distributed at Midsummer and Christmas amongst the most necessitous persons.

George Nettleton's dole, 1640. £2 per annum.

Matthew Copperthwaite's dole, 1726. £2 per annum. He is also supposed to have left 10s. per annum to the minister for a sermon on St. Thomas's day, but it has neither been paid nor demanded for more than forty years.

Rev. Mr. Copley's charity, 1732. Dividends on £100 three per cent. consols. Laid out in Bibles and Prayer-books.

Mrs. Mary Bethia Elmsall, who died in 1810. Interest of £180 (duty being deducted), laid out in Bibles and Prayer-books. The Commissioners recommended that the principal should be invested in stock.

Richard Walker's Free School, founded by deed, dated 20th May 1712, for instructing children of both sexes in reading, writing, and arithmetic as far as the rule of three, but no further. The estate consists of 2a. 1r. of land, ten cottages, six-sevenths of the hay of a close containing about one acre. About eighty-two children taught on the National plan.

Sunday School. Interest of £100 left by Richard Walker, by will, 5th August 1812. -Vide 17th Report, page 680.

Post town: Dewsbury.

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References:
Torre's MS. page 611. Abp. Sharp's MS. vol. i. page 194. Loidis et Elmete, page 310. Bodleian MS. Nos. 6,078 and 5,101 ; and Ashmolean MS. No. 8,618.

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Notes:
*1 Viz. Flockton, 995; Shitlington, 1,893; Thornhill, 2,371 ; and Lower Whitley, 1,012. There are 350 coal miners within this parish.

*2 In 1818, the return was only 950.