of the same pious family, by the name of Henry of Tuange, who confirmed the gift of the tithes of Tuange, or Thong, in Shorne, made by his grandfather Smalman or Ordmær.*

So much for the church and family of Ordmær. The name of Dereman we find owned by Walter Dereman who, by a charter without date, gave to the church of Rochester two acres of marsh, lying between his marsh of Delce (which is in the parish of St. Margaret's Rochester), and the marsh formerly belonging to the monks. (Reg. Roff. p. 536.)

On the whole, it would appear that those churches of Ordmær and Dereman were founded during the first halfcentury after the Conquest. The earliest date connected with the persons mentioned, that can be gathered from the confirmatory charters, is from a confirmationt of Henry Wlfward's gift of the Combe portion of tithes in Hoo, granted by Bishop Gundulph in the year 1091. We have thus ascertained a very early date for the church, or chapel, of St. Mary in Hoo; and, whatever that date may be, we know a still earlier must be assigned to that of St. Werburga. In a charter of Laurence bishop of Rochester dated in 1274, the chapels of Halstow and Hoo St. Mary are stated to have been tributary to their mother church of St. Werburga, from beyond memory—

"Capellas de Halgestowe et sanctæ Mariæ de Hoo nostræ dioc. a tempore cujus non exstat memoria, pensionarias fuisse ecclesiæ sanctæ Werburgæ de Hoo, scil. nostræ dioc. tanquam suæ matrici ecclesiæ, capella viz. de Halgestowe in duabus marcis, et capella sanctæ Mariæ in dimid. marc."

which payments the bishop then confirmed.‡

About twenty-one years before, the

same bishop had appropriated the church of St. Werburga,-to which the chapel of Allhallows was united still more closely than the two chapels last noticed; for master William de Lichefeld, the last Rector of Hoo, had possessed "ecclesiam sancte Werburge de Hoo cum capella Omnium Sanctorum,"-to the prior and convent of Rochester, on the plea of increasing their means of hospitality in their almonry. This appropriation was confirmed by a bull of Pope Alexander.||

At the taxation made in the province of Canterbury by the bishops of Lincoln and Winchester, (commonly known as Pope Nicholas's taxation,) the church of Saint Werburga was rated at 201. and that of All Hallows at 6l. 138. 4d.; the vicar of these united parishes received the same sum at which the latter was valued, the whole 201. going to the priory. At the same time the other churches in the hundred were thus rated. £ s. d. Ecclesia de Stoke Vicarius ejusdem Eccl'ia B'e Marie in Hoo Eccl'ia de Hilgestowe

800 4 13 6 10 0 0 13 6 8

In the year 1337 bishop Hamo de Hethe accorded new ordinations of both the vicarages of St. Werburga and All Hallows. At St. Werburga's the rectory manse with its lands and the glebe meadow of the church, and all tithes of corn as well from lands dug by the foot (terris pede fossis, from which we may infer some spade husbandry was then in practice,) as from those cultivated by the plough, were to remain to the religious of the priory of Rochester; and they were to bear the burthen of repairing the chancels and rectory houses, and of furnishing a lamp in the church according to ancient custom**, and also of furnishing books, vestments, and other

+ Reg. Roff. p. 87.

ornaments not belonging to the due of the parishioners, except only surplices, rochets, albs, and other linen habits and ornaments (which it is afterwards stated were the part of the vicar); and were besides to give the vicar, from the rectory granges, when they sowed wheat one quarter thereof, when palm barley one quarter thereof, and when peas two bushels thereof, for porridge, and also a cart-load of straw for his bed;* all to be carried and delivered at his house. The Vicar was to enjoy, for his portion, the vicarage manse, with its adjoining garden and yard, and all tithes of rushes, hav, lambs, wool, calves, cheese and milkmeats, pigs, geese, flax, hemp, mills, dovecotes, falling wood, eggs, fruit, bees, curtilages, rabbits, fisheries, gardens, pannage, herbage, fowlings, businesses, and all personal tithes whatsoever, and offerings at funerals (mortuaries) in the parishes of the churches of St. Mary and Halghestoo, and other parishes of the churches in Hoo, which, from old custom, were bound to bring their dead for interment to the churchyard of St. Werburga, (quorum corpcra ex antiqua consuetudine in cimeterio dicte ecclesie sancte Werburge teneantur et debeant sepeliri) and all other offerings whatsoever. The Vicar was to bear the charge of procurations to the Archdeacon of Rochester; and was to provide the linen surplices, &c. and the repair of his house and of the books, vestments, &c. before mentioned as provided by the religious; also to provide bread and wine for the sacrament of the altar, processional tapers, and other lights of the ministers of the church, and other necessaries for divine worship not due from the parishioners. At the time of this ordination Sir John Reginald, of Chatham, was the vicar.t

On the rating of the Valor Ecclesiasticus in the reign of Henry VIII. the farm of the rectory of Hoo, parcel of the property of the Priory of Rochester, together with the glebe lands and fixed rents there, was returned at 17. 168.; and the value of the vicarage, of which Thomas Shawe was incumbent, was 187. 138. 6d.‡ a proportion much more favourable than ordinary to the "working" clergyman. The monastery of Boxley had a valuable manor in Hoo, which, with its appurtenances in the marshes, was worth the yearly sum of 23l. 3s.§ ; and other ecclesiastical foundations, as Dartford priory, and the College of Cobham, possessed property within the hundred.

In the reign of Queen Anne the clear yearly value of this vicarage was 461. 38. and it was consequently discharged from the payment of tenths. The net income returned in 1831 was 395l. The present incumbent is the Rev. Daniel Francis Warner, B.D. of Magdalen hall, Oxford, Head Master of the King's School, Rochester, who was presented by the Dean and Chapter, and instituted on the 6th Jan. 1836.

THE present Church of St. Werburga of Hoo is a very spacious structure, consisting of a nave, north and south ailes (both of ample dimensions), a chancel, a tower and spire at the west end, and porches both on the north and south, the latter being now converted into a vestry.

The external length of the nave is about seventy feet, and that of the chancel about thirty-seven feet; the width of the former about sixty-eight and a half feet, and that of the latter about twenty-six feet. The height of the tower is 55 feet; that of the spire (which is covered with shingles,) 60 feet, and from its point to the summit of the ball is 7 feet more, making a

ance.

Valor Ecclesiast. i. 102, 109.

§ Ibid. 79.

total of 122 feet from the ground. The spire of Hoo has been fired by lightning, some say three times, but certainly twice; that is, on the 2nd Aug. 1822, and again on the 5th June 1837. A great crack down the tower is a memorial of the former catastrophe. On the last occasion the fire was extinguished after it had destroyed some yards of the upper part of the spire. There is now a lightning conductor, which is carried down the west front of the tower.

The style of the building is uniform throughout, and of the Decorated period, with the exception of the chancel, which is somewhat later, and must be classed as Perpendicular. It appears from arches now filled up at the extremities of both the ailes, that they each originally extended further towards the east.

The tower contains a very musical peal of six bells, cast in 1825, 1641, 1662, 1738, 1781, and 1558; this last has round it the legend "By me Gyles Reve Bell founder." There is a rose, surmounted by a crown on it, together with a griffin or lion.

The tower is parallel with the walls of the ailes, excepting a staircase turret at its north-west angle, the form of which is octangular. Its parapet is embattled, as is that of the tower. At the eastern angle of the north aile is another small staircase turret, which is now blocked up. The church is now entered by the north porch, which is wide, and has a small unglazed window on each side the door. Its parapet is embattled, but it is the only portion of the north side of the church which remains so ornamented; on the south side the embattled parapet remains perfect.

The windows of the church are all of the original architecture of the building, and their mullions exhibit various elegant designs of Decorated tracery; they also contain considerable remains of the stained glass, with which all of them were filled. The remaining portions consist chiefly of architectural canopies, pinnacles, &c. and there are several heads, both male and female; but no entire subject remains, except in the great east window, in the upper lights of which may

be recognised the figures of Christ crowning the Church, and also this shield of arms, Barry argent and azure. In the south aile is again the same coat, and in the windows of the north aile are these:

1. Or, three hands erect azure, part of a label with a black-letter legend below, ....ermye.

2. Vaire (apparently).

In the east window of that aile,
1. Barry argent and azure.

2. Argent, three bars azure, each charged with two fleurs de lis or.

3. Barry argent and azure, a bend or (or of the first).'

It is also evident that the whole of the interior of the building was painted in fresco. The nave is on each side divided from the ailes by three correspondent pointed arches, rising from circular columns, which have plain moulded capitals. The clerestory windows above them are large and bold, and throw a fine flood of light into the interior of the edifice: they are square-headed. The arched beams supporting the roof of the nave rise from timber pilasters ornamented with grotesque heads, to some of which are added plain shields. On a square painted tablet in the gallery is this record:-"This Church was Ceiled in the year of our Lord 1786. JOHN WAINE & THOMAS DAY, Churchwardens."

The font is a plain octangular basin, resting on a base of the same form.

In the chancel, south of the altar, are three sedilia, each having a uniform canopy of cinquefoil tracery, and they are divided by two light columns of Purbeck (or Bethersden) marble; eastward of them is a small niche or closet, with a correspondent head. Against the screen, within the chancel, have been six wooden stalls, of which the three on the north side have given way to a pew; but those on the south remain. At their backs are holes perforated to the nave.

Fixed on the west wall, above the singing gallery, are the royal arms, somewhat singularly displayed in two distinct correspondent paintings, on panel, alike dated

16 JR 07

One of them contains the quarterings of France and England only, with the old supporters of Queen Elizabeth, the lion and dragon; the other has France and England quarterly in the first and fourth quarters, quartering Scotland and Ireland, and for supporters the lion and unicorn. Each is without crest, but surmounted by a crown, and surrounded with the Garter; and the motto below, DIEU ET MON DROIT.

On the same wall is affixed a board recording several Benefactors, as fol

lows:

"A Table of Benefactions to the Parish of St. Werburgh, otherwise Hoo, in Kent. Erected anno 1781.

"Thos. Walker of the Parish of St. Werburgh, Hundred of Hoo in Kent, Yeoman, by his will dated 21 August 1629, and proved at Rochester, 24 April 1640, gave to Thos. Fearness and to his heirs for ever, the house that he then dwelt in, with two parcels of land thereunto belonging, eight acres more or less, always provided that the said Thos. Fearness, his heirs, executors and assigns, should pay yearly out of the said house and land, fifty shillings by the year for ever at the feast days of the birth of our Lord God, and the first day of Whitsuntide in the afternoon, at the Church porch of St. Werburgh, to the Churchwardens and Overseers for the poor of the Parish of St. Werburgh aforesaid, to be distributed to the poor of the said Parish according to the discretion of the said Churchwardens and Overseers for the time being, five and twenty shillings on each day.

"The said Testator also gave to John Fearness a parcel of land called Puckles, which his father purchased of Mr. Damport, containing 24 acres more or less, provided that the said John Fearness, his heirs or assigns, should pay yearly for ever the sum of fifty shillings at the feast days aforesaid, to the said Churchwardens and Overseers immediately after evening prayer, in the Church porch aforesaid, to be distributed to the poor of the said Parish at the discretion of the said Churchwardens and Overseers for the time being, five and twenty shillings on each day. And in default of payment of the annuities, the Churchwardens and Overseers have power to enter upon the premises and hold the same until the arrears thereof shall be paid.

"Note. The house in which the Testator dwelt, and the two parcels of land thereto belonging, are situate upon the

hill, near the windmill in Hoo, and the same are now the property and in the occupation of Wm. Gilbert.

"The parcel of land called Puckles lies near Dean Gate in Hoo, was late the estate of Robert Carl, deceased, and now belongs to his children, and with other lands in the occupation of James Pelham, as under tenant to Tobias Hammond."

There remain in this Church several ancient sepulchral memorials, particularly brasses, of which a concise account will here be sufficient, as the inscriptions of most of them will be found in the series of Church notes appended to Thorpe's Custumale Roffense, p. 471.

In the nave is a brass slip to the memory of John Beddyll, who died 7 June 1500.

Also two small figures of men in gowns, with hanging sleeves and pointed shoes, their hands in prayer, to the memory of Stephen Charlis and Richard Charlis, the latter of whom died 28 June, 1446.

At the entrance of the chancel a similar small figure, standing on a dog, the inscription now gone.

In a row before the altar rails these five stones :

1. A man between two wives, the plates removed.

2. A half-length priest, to John Broun, vicar; but probably about 1450, as it closely resembles that of William Gysborne, Vicar of Farningham (no date).

3. Figures of Mr. James Plumley, "who lived in the parsnig of this parish," and died Aug. 26, 1646, and Ann his wife. They are represented standing with their hands joined in prayer; he bareheaded, in a cloak, doublet, and shoes; his wife in a hat and raff. Below are groups of three sons and four daughters, dressed like their parents.

4. A fine figure of a priest, his head now gone; to the memory of Richard Bayly, vicar, 1412.

5. A single slip of brass, and now gone.

Within the altar rails is a brass

plate of a whole-length figure, turning to the right, with hands in prayer, to the memory of Dorothye, wife of John Plumley, who died in 1615. by James Plumley her son."

"Done

In the south aile are the figures in brass of Thomas Cobham esquire, who died on the 8th June, 1465, and Matilda his wife. He is represented in armour, with a sword suspended from a belt in front. The lady is in a wimple, long mantle and cordon, and a little dog at her feet. Their hands are raised in prayer. Four small shields have been removed from the corners of the stone.* This member of the distinguished house of Cobham, probably resided at the manor-house of Belluncle, in the parish of Hoo.

Near this is the most ancient memorial in the Church, a stone carved with a cross flory, five feet in length, of which a representation is here given.

One other sepulchral stone is recorded by Thorpe, as existing in the north aile, but it is either now removed, or concealed by pews. Its inscription was

"Of yor charitie pray for the soule of W'm Alton and Gelyane his wife, and all his wifes soules, his childrens soules and all chrystyn soull. Jh'u have m 'ci."

"All the wives" of this person were four in number, but their figures and that of himself were gone, but those of his fifteen children remained.

Near the Cobham monument is a stone with these quaint verses, which Thorpe has not printed.

"Here lyeth the body of Joseph Miller now at rest,

Whose soul with Crist wee hope is blest,
Long after him wee shall not stay,
Let us prepare against that day.
He lieth here under this heap of dust,
Waiting the resurrection of the just.

He was the sonn of Joseph & Hannah Miller, who departed this life the 10 of January 1678, aged 7 years."

This inscription is engraved on a solid stone in capitals; and there is only one other of that period, to Thamar, wife of Edw. Holmwood, Gent. and daughter of Edward Blagrave, Gent. who died 6th Sept. 1677, aged 37 years.

The remainder are comparatively modern. There is a tablet in the south aile to the memory of the Rev. THOMAS THOMPSON, B.D. Rector of Staplehurst and Vicar of this parish, who died the 28th March 1786, aged 74; and two others thus inscribed,

"Sacred to the memory of Lieut. CHARLES JORDAN, R.N. who, after having signalised himself by his gallant conduct in the West Indies, was unhappily shipwrecked in the North Seas in the month of Dec. 1779, aged 22. This tablet is erected to his memory by his most affectionate brother, Richard Jordan, A.M. Vicar of this parish."

"To the memory of the Rev. RICHARD JORDAN, A.M. Vicar of Mountfield, in the county of Sussex, Chaplain to the Most Noble the Marquess Camden, Senior Minor Canon of the Cathedral Church of Rochester, and 34 years Vicar of this parish. He died at Rochester 21 Aug. 1835, and was buried in the vault of his father in the parish church of Maidstone, in the 77th year of his age."

Of all the ancient population who once pursued their daily toil in the peninsula of Hoo, and who as we are told were accustomed to bring all their dead for interment in this churchyard, almost the only remaining mo