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

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

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

The place: WOODKIRK.     Church dedication: OR WEST ARDSLEY. -SAINT MARY.     Church type: Perpetual Curacy.

Area, 2,250 acres. Agbrigg wapentake, L.D. -Population, 1,450; Church-room, 500; Net value, £265. -Formerly a cell to Nostell Priory.

Patron and impropriator, the Earl of Cardigan.

In Pope Nicholas's Taxation, the Church of Woodkirk is valued at £10 per annum. In the Parliamentary Survey, vol. xviii. page 320, it is stated : " The Lord Savill allows to the present minister £30 per annum, but we conceive that payment arbitrary. All the tithes are the inheritance of the Lord Savill."

Augmented, in 1721, with £200, to meet a benefaction from Messrs. Copley and Hodgson of lands worth £10 per annum.

An Inclosure Act was passed 7th Geo. IV.

The glebe house is fit for residence.

The Register Books commence in 1652.

Charities:
Greenwood's Hospital, for three poor women, founded by Richard Greenwood, by deed, dated 28th August 1593, and endowed with a rentcharge of 20s., and augmented with an annuity of 20s. under the will of William Naylor, dated 22nd April 1682.

Taylor's charity. Rent-charge of 5s., distributed to the poor in bread.

Joshua Scholefield's charity, by will, dated 27th January 1807. Dividends of £121. 0s. 7d. three and a half reduced, for educating children of the name of Scholefield or Kitson. -Vide 16th Report, page 406.

Post town: Wakefield.

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References:
Mon. Ang., vol. vi. page 99. Abp. Sharp's MS., vol. L, page 178. Scatcherd's Morley, page 214. Torre's MS., page 25.

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Further information:
WOODKIRK PRIORY. -In this parish was a Priory of Austin Friars, 7 founded temp. Henry II. by William Earl Warren and others. It was a cell to Nostell Priory.