CHURCHSTOW

Two rates survive for this South Hams parish located less than two miles north-west of Kingsbridge. A note from three men, who were presumably the churchwardens, was written on 20 June 1613 and recorded that ‘for the repairing of our church and the rate for the poor this we can signify & nothing else: first our rate for repairing is uncertain but there is gathered yearly to the value of £9 or £10 agreed as a composition between the parishioners according to every man's singular living. Rents belonging to the church 20s 6d. Rate for the poor Item our rate amounteth yearly to £5 and upward, some years more saving some years decreasing. Item there is given in fee for ever 20s by Mr John Petre’. Three years after the rate the vicar, Nicholas Costerd, faced a defamation case in which he was called a rogue, rascal, woodcock, ass, knave, sinner and ‘shutman’ [spendthrift]. In 1616 fifty individuals, approximately 23 per cent of the population, contributed to the church rates in contrast to only seven men who were assessed for military equipment twenty-four years earlier.

1. Churchstow, Military Rate, c.1592

DHC, 3799M/3/O/4/50, no page numbers

Note: This rate is recorded in a volume with pages approximately 7¾ inches in width and 12 inches in length. About a decade before, in 1581, eleven parishioners paid the subsidy and their surnames were Birdwood, Brown, Gilbert, Head, Knowling, Lapthorne, Leigh, Lidstone, Nichel, Putt, Tirrey and White. Five names also appear in the military rate. The armour for the survey comprised almain rivets, bandoleers, corslets, head pieces, jacks and morions while for weapons there were bills, bows, calivers, daggers, halberds, muskets, pikes, sallets, shear hooks, splints

2. Churchstow, Church Rate, 1616

DHC, Devon Glebe Terriers

Note: This rate was written on a piece of vellum which measures approximately 7 inches in width and 18 inches in length. The numerals are Roman with the exception of the year. At the bottom and the reverse side of the document is a terrier. An agreement made in 1414 stipulated the mandatory attendance of Kingsbridge's parishioners at their mother church of Churchstow on the Feast Day of the Assumption. They paid a penny if married and a half penny if single. Many of the surnames in the military rate appear in this church rate.