On the south side the east window has floral designs, and above:-M.R. The centre window is plain, but has tracery in the top. The west window is plain, but has above:"on a torce, or and sable, a cock gules, crested and wattled or," which is one of the family crests. All the stained glass is modern. At one time the windows were filled with numerous shields, but they are all gone. I have been able, however, to give a list of them. The Vavasour arms are over the vestry door. The Altar and Communion Platepaten, chalice, chrismatory, monstrance and pyx-are of silver, and all modern. There is no old plate whatever. There is a beautiful ante-pendium of white French silk, adorned with the emblems of the Passion, stitched in gold, It was the gift of the late Archbishop Harcourt, of York.5 On the north side is a stone, carved in relief, and in four divisions: 1. Full figure of a bishop, vested and holding a crook (St. Leonard); 2. Half-figure of a man, below him a cavity; 3. Virgin and Child crowned; 4. Female also crowned (St. Anne ?). The altar is curiously carved, and on either side are two handsome Corinthian pillars, whilst a fine painting of the Crucifixion forms an altar-piece. On the side-altar is a beautiful statuette of the Blessed Virgin and infant Jesus. The font is octagonal and poor. An almsbox is close by the main door, and its front is faced with stone carved in relief. On On the floor are many inscribed stones, and on the walls are marble tablets. There are several ancient monuments, but some described by Torre are no longer to be seen. the wall is a modern brass effigy in memory of Sir Edward Marmaduke Vavasour, who died very suddenly at Chanceux, in France, 16th March, 1847, in his 61st year. The gallery is fitted up as the family pew, and contains a nice organ. In the churchyard is an old cross, at the four corners of which are statues, but the heads have got knocked off. The Registers date from 1808; if there were any earlier it is not known where they are, and so much valuable matter is lost. The dedication is to St. Leonard, Bishop and Confessor, and has never been changed. I know of only one local tradition. When the Battle of Towton took place on Palm Sunday, 29th March, 1461, the shouts of the combatants and the clash of arms were distinctly heard in this chapel whilst the congregation were at Mass. The places are barely two miles apart." CHAPEL OF S. LEONARD. Haselwood. (From Torre's MSS. Deanery of the Ainsty, p. 215.) The town of Haselwood contained 3 carucates of land, where 14 carucates made a knight's fee, held by William le Vavasour of the Barony of Spofford. The chapel of Haselwood was formerly granted with the church of Tadcaster, to the Abbey of Sally (Sauley) by the Lady Maud de Percy, Countess of Warwyk, by the councel of William le Vavasour. There were two chantries founded in this chapel, the one on 10 Kal. Mart. 1332, by Sir Henry le Vavasour, at the altar of S. Mary out of the Church of Fryston, which he gave to be appropriated to the college of the vicars of St. Peter of the Cathedral Church of York, which was of the patronage of the succentor and vicars of the same college, as were other two chantries ordained also in the Cathedral Church. The other chantry was founded in this chappel at the altar of S. Nicholas by-le Vavasour, which family were always patrons of it. 10 Aug. 1351. 12 March 1353. 15 April 1364. 16 Nov. 1366. 23 June 1378. 10 July 1419. 24 March 1424. 12 Dec. 1442. 9 Feb. 1443. 9 Feb. 1449. 11 Jan. 1478. 15 May 1504. 22 Nov. 1510. 23 Oct. 1515. PRIESTS OF THE FIRST CHANTRY. S. Mary. Richarde Wandesford, cap. Presented (as all the tefract. John de Dalton, cap. Deprived. Walter Milford, presbyter. Resigned. Thomas Copley, cap. Resigned. Richard More, cap. Thomas Langton, cap. William Cleveland, presbyter. Resigned. Thomas Giles, cap. Died. William Byngley, cap. 7 Prolia Eboracensia, p. 103. 27 Jan. 1361. 5 Dec. 1372. 1 March 1398. 17 Feb. 1412. 6 Aug. 1414. 19 April 1428. 11 March 1484. 5 Oct. 1484. 4 Jan. 1489. 30 May 1514. 7 Nov. 1515. 22 Sept. 1523. Nov. 1545. PRIESTS OF THE SECOND CHANTRY. S. Nicholas. John de Heton, cap. William Golde, cap. lapse. Resigned. Collated to both chantries by Collated to both chantries by John Hesilwoode, son of John Hewylson of the same. sour, miles. Collated by Lady Mar Collated by Sir Henry Richard Litster, cap. Presented by Sir Henry Vavasour, miles. William Owstyn, cap. (ibid.). Died. Henry Vavasour, cap. (ibid.). Died. Christopher Bolton, cap. Presented by Henry Vava- James Wilson, presbyter (ibid.). Died. John Haggit. Died. John Beverley, presbyter. Presented by William MISSION PRIESTS. For nearly a hundred years during the dark days of persecution there is no record of those who served this church. Francis Vavasour, O.S.F., was here for many years both before and after 1636. The mission at this period appears to have been served by the Franciscans. John Smith, alias Thompson, 1646 to 1651. Ellis, 1678-79. Paul Stevenson came 1689, and was living here 1693. George Anslem Carter, O.S.B., came some time after 1716, and died here in 1727. Edward Dunstan Rogers, O.S.B., succeeded 1727 to 1731. George Crosland, brother-in-law to Sir Walter Vavasour, was attending in July 1728, and died Oct. 12, 1729. George Henry Heddon came 1740 and was living 1752. William Daniel, alias Foster, 1772-74 James Foster, 1774-77. John Barrow, 1777—80. James Melling, 1780. Died 26 April, 1806. William Alexius Chew, O.S.B., 1806. Died 25 Feb 1832. Robert Tate, 1832 to Sept. 1839. (1st time.) Joseph C. Fisher, 1839-53. Robert Tate, 1853-63. (2nd time.) Michael C. Fryer, 1863-64. Philip Vavasour, 1864-73. Gustavus I. Thonon, 1883-93. John Bradley, 1893. TESTAMENTARY BURIALS (FROM TORRE). 19 March 1412. Henry Vavasour, knight, made his will (proved 29 March in the same year) giving his soul to God Almighty, St. Mary and All Saints, and his body to be buried in his church of Hesilwod, and no one to be invited to his funeral. (Test. Ebor. I. 361.) 27 June 1394. Margaret Vavasour, Lady of Hesilwood, made her will (proved 6 Aug. 1415), giving her soul (ut supra) and her body to be buried in the chapel of Hesilwood against the corps of her husband, and bequeathed 20 marks for trentalls for her soul and the soul of her husband Henry and all the faithful dead. (Test. Ebor. I. 362-4.) 20 Nov. 1447. Henry Vavasour, Esq. (proved 15 Jan. 1452) "to be interred in the chappel of S. Leonard of Hesilwood." (Test. Ebor. II. 162-3.) 8 Sept. 1499. Henry Vavasour, Knyght (proved 15 April, 1500) " to be beried within the chapell of Saint Leonard in Hasilwod wher my wiff lieth." (Test. Ebor. IV. 164-7.) "Also I will that in every Esture weike during the lives of William Vavasour, John, and Leonard, my sones, my chawntre prestes, and other prestes and clercs that happeth to be ther in the said Estur woykke, to comme unto my grave, standing abowte my said grave, singing ther the psalme called In exitu Israel de Egypto; and every chawntre preste to have iiijd; and every other preste that happeth to come with his surplesse iiijd; and every cleric ijd totiens quotiens, to the said strangers; and they to stand as I limitted them in my live days." 14 Nov. 1509. Henry Vavasour off Hessellwode, esquyer. "To be buriede in the chappell of Hessell wode nye the tombe 10 Dec. 1565. William Vavasour of Hesilwood, Knight, made his will (proved 2 May, 1572) giving his soul to God Almighty through Jesus Xt and his body to be interred among his ancestors at Hesilwood. 8 For the above list of Mission Priests I am entirely indebted to the kindness of Mr. Joseph Gillow, Woodlands, Bowdon CHANTRY CERTIFICATES.' The Chapell or Parysshe Churche of Seynt Leonarde within the parysshe of Toddecaster. John Beverley, incumbent there. Of the foundacion of th'ancestors of William Vavasor, knyght, beryng no date. To th' entente the sayd incumbent shulde mynistre all sacramentes and sacramentalles to all th' ynhabitantes wythin the mansion place of Hasylwoode, and to burye, wedde, and christen wythin the sayd chapell, according to the forsayd graunte. The sayd incumbent hathe yerely out of the ferme of the milles of Sturton, lxvjs viijd for all grosse tythes of the said parisshe of Haselwood, as the sayd incumbent allegieth. And further the sayd incumbent hathe, over and besides the sayd viiijs (sic), all offerynges and pety tythes, whych revenue is wythin the sayd mansion place, wherby it shulde seme the same, rather to be a parsonage than a fre chapell or chauntery, and paeth tenthes after the rate of iiijli xvijs iiid for the sayd annuities and tenthes. The same chauntery is distaunt from the parysshe church of Toddecastre, whyche they calle the Motherchurch, ij myles and above. The necessitie therof is to mayntene prayer, and alledged to be a parysshe church, as afore is mensioned. There is no landes, tenements, solde ne alienatyd sythe the iiijth day of February, anno regni regis Henrici VIIJ, xxvijmo. Goodes, ornamentes and plate perteynyng to the sayd chauutery, as apperyth by inventory, that is to say, goodes valued at xiijs viijd, plate none. Firste a certen yerely rent comyng out of the myllnes of Sturton to th' use of the sayd incumbent, as affore is mensioned lxvjs. viijd. Item, one mansion house with a garthe and a garden, in comyn amongst thre incumbentes ther, xjs. vjd. Wherof paiable yerely to Some of the sayd chauntery, lxxviijs. ijd. the Kynges Majestie for a tenthe, ixs. xd. ob. And so remaneth, lxviijs. iij. ob. The Chauntery of our Lady within the sayd churche or chapell. William Byngley, incumbent ther. Of the foundacion of Henry Vavasor, knyght, beryng date in the kalende of Marche in the yere of our lord God MCCCXXXII. To th' entente to pray for the soule of the sayd Henry and Constaunce, hys wyef, and all cristen soules, and to ministre dyvyne service wythin the sayd chaunterye at Haselwood. Whych incumbent hathe yerely payd by the vicars choralles of the mynystre of York, by reason of the impropriacion of the churche of Water Freston, belongyng to the sayd vicars, v marcs. The same chauntery is wythin the sayd chapell or church. The necessitie is to doe dyvyne service and mayntene praer, as afore is mensioned there is no landes ne tenementes sold ne alienatyd sithe the iiijth day of February, Anno Regni Henrici VIIJvi xxvijmo Goodes, ornamentes, and plate perteynyng to the sayd chauntery, as apperyth by inventorye, that is to say, goodes valued at xs. viijd., plate none. Firste, a certen yerely rent payd to th' use of the sayd incumbent by the vicars choralls of the minister of Yorke, by reason of the impro 9 For these my best thanks are due to Mr. Wm. Page, F.S. A. |
