ST NICHOLAS CHURCH
The old pre-reformation Gothic Church was a fine structure with a tower. Taken from a Norton Chronicle - September 1891.
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THE OLD CHURCH NORTON - and its friends of the Past.
During the recent "thorough-cleaning" operations at the church of St. Nicholas, Norton, an interesting old M.S. was found giving some particulars of the receipts and disbursements, and other facts relative to the Church, extending over the period from 1790 to 1825; and as some of these are very interesting, as giving a little insight into the past history of the Church in Norton, we need offer no apology for making the following extracts :- The first entry in the book tells us that it is the " Norton and Sutton with Welham Church Book; cost 4/6d this 11th day of May 1790. William Wise Junr., and Christopher Wood , Church Wardens." The book gives a full list of rates laid for maintenance of the fabric etc., over the period before named, and they seem to have ranged from ld in the pound to 1/9d, the latter for a special purpose, as well be seen later on. On the 11th May 1790, we have the first rate, with the amounts paid by 70 parishioners; the whole amount realised by a 3d, rate being £18,4s 3½d. In the same list is given the "rent per year" of each contributor, and it is interesting to learn that at that date the largest assessment (£138.10s) was that of "Richard Hutton," who had to pay£1.14s 7½d. William Hodgson is assessed on £101 and "Robert Bower Esq," on £26.5s,only. In this first assessment, just 101 years old, it it interesting to find names yet strong in the Parish "George Searle," we take it, was the celebrated trainer of old (who appears in the first list at the modest sum of 3d, for a £l rental, which by 1803 has risen to 15/10d on a rental of £63.9s.6d 'Robert Bower needs on explanation; a "William Horsley" we have yet; the "Naltons" are, we believe, gone, but only recently; and "Stamper," "Wray," "Robert Wise," and "King" promise to last for many years yet. If details of the assessments hace been well kept, so too have the disbursements and under this head are still more interesting entries. This it seems to have cost from 2/- to 4/- per time when "officers were chosen" – churchwardens, we presume. In 1791 £38.10.0d went in "Mr. Jackson's bill" for the "church wall". Each churchwarden had a guinea a year "for visitations"; "sesslying" annually cost 2/-, "building fence wall" (in 1799) £26, "ringing supper" (same year) 10/6; "foot basses" (the church it seems provided "kneelers" in 1802),£1; "Mason jobing in church" 2s. "Robert Coy's bill for lowances 3/6d" (seems the churchwardens were not tee-totallers); "ringing 5th of November 10/6"; " lanthoran for church 3/-" (this in 1805), "pulpit mending and oiling 9/-" "church windows mending 17/6." In 1816 we read "chips for kindling" cost 6d. (most economical they were in those days); "half a choldron of coals," 10/-; and "Stamper for washing the church 3/-".
THE CHURCH REBUILT. Coming to the early part of 1814 we find more important entries which we extract verbatim, as follows:-
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COPY OF NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that a General Vestry Meeting will be holden at this church on Friday next, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, to take into consideration the rebuilding and enlarging of this Church, and other matters respecting the same, by order of the churchwardens. George Parker – Wm. Slade, - Churchwardens. Norton Feby 12th 1814. This Notice was read in the Parish Church of Norton on Sunday the 13th Feby., by me, William Stamper, parish clerk, We the minister, churchwardens, freeholders, and other parishioners of the Parish of Norton in the County and Diocese of York, whose names are hereunto subscribed, being a majority at a vestry meeting assembled on due notice, this 18th day of February in the year 1814, to consider of the taking down, rebuilding and enlarging the Parish Church of Norton aforesaid. Do order, that the said church be taken down, rebuilt, and enlarged upon such a plan as that the expenses do not exceed four hundred pounds, to be assessed upon the parishioners after the present rate of the Property Tax. John Richardson, minister; Wm. Slade, churchwarden; Wm. C. Wise, Robt. Owston, Thos. Paul, John Foster, Rg Green, James Hill, Thos. Waddy, Geo. Willoughby, Richard Thomlinson, W. W. Watson, Robt Cobb, Thos. Flintoft, Robt Wise, Chris Wood, Wm. Fawcett, Geo. Hall Junior, William Thorpe, Saml Dale, Thos. Kidd, John Shepherd and John Ingleby. The next entry shows that "a rate was laid after the property tax," and ordered at 1/4 in the pound, and realised £421.6s.4d. Of this we find that largest contributor was Robert Bower Esq., £179., next, George Parker £20; Robert Owston £14.19s.4d.; and about 60 other names are mentioned as contributing the remainder. On Wednesday, the 27th of December 1815, another vestry meeting was held, when seems it the work of restoration was further pushed forward, as the vestry resolved to "make a rate to discharge the expenses of flagging and pewing the said church, also for making a pulpit and reading-desk, railing to the alter table, and other articles necessary to prepare the said church for the performance of divine services therein". This rate was 2/- in the pound, and raised £482.18s. ; but this evidently proved insufficient, for at another vestry meeting in September 1816, we find a third rate at 1/9 in the pound, laid, but its exact purport was not given. Later still, however, we find the annexed balance sheet which gives full details of the cost of the 'unsightly' structure which is called the "parish church of Norton."
Account of the rebuilding of Norton Church.
Cash Received (£, s, d)
Of Robt Bower Esq. for the Chancel. 200 0 0
lst Rate @ 1/4 in the £421 6 4
2nd Rate @ 2/-din the £482 18 00
3rd Rate @ 1/9din the £ 414 15 10
For Pews 321 10 0
Total
£1840 10 2
Cash Paid £1827 13 11½
£ 12 16 2½
Due to the parish for a bell sold to Mr. A. Gibson. £ 6 16 6
£19 2 8½
Cash Paid on account.(£, s, d)
To:- Mr. Willoughby 827 12 6
To:- Mr. Sunman 747 9 3½
To:- Messers Watson and Pritchett 120 0 0
To:- Mr. Walker for Bond & Co 3 12 3
To:- Mr. Asquith for faculty and other incident charges 10 13 0
To:- Interest at East Riding Bank 12 6
To:- Mr. Walker for Law Expenses 21 3 0
To:- Mr. Collier for Painting 17 18 0
To:- Sweeping Flues etc. 13 3
To:- Mr. Fawcett's bill for repairs,etc. 11 2 6
To:- Mr. Jackson for plumber's work 29 11 6
To:- Prince & Clowi's Bill Ironmongers. 19 6 0
To:- Auctioneer for selling pews 10 6
To:- Mr. James Tomlinson's bill 16 17 9
To:- Blacksmith's bill;-Pockets 1 11 11
Total
£1827 13 11 ½
SIGNED:-
Robt Wise. F. Holliday. Wm. Bell. Thomas Elmer. Wm. Fox.
An item in the balance sheet – an important one, too-bears on the "warm" question of pew- ownership in the old church. We will close with just one more extract from the "Norton and Sutton with Welham Church Book".
It is this :-
On Friday next, the 27th inst., will be sold by auction (by the authority of the Archbishop of York). Further particulars may be know on application to the minister and churchwardens, being the commissioners empowered by the Archbishop, to sell the Pews. The sale to begin at this church, at seven o'clock in the evening.
NORTON CHURCH, JUNE 22nd 1817.
This notice was read in the church on Sunday the 22nd day of June 1817. Robert Bower. George Parker. Churchwardens.
The Church was rebuilt in 1814 by monies raised by subscription, in the Romanesque style, consisting of chancel, nave, transept and vestry: in the church are two antique chairs of carved oak, presented by Mrs. Bower, of Welham Hall, in September 1856; on the vestry wall are two ancient brasses beneath rich canopies of carved stone, to Captain William Courley, ob. 1591 reads Here (worthy Captayne William Gourley lyes, Who ser'd the mpero Charles, Fyft of that name, Henry the
second King of France lykewise, and lost his legge in Ireland with fame, In service of the Queene his sovreigne Dame, Courteous he was & faithful to his friend, Valient his life, & godly was his ende. OBIIT 17 June An 1591. and to Thomas Westrop esq., ob 1604; reads Here lyes the
corpse of Thomas Westrop Esquire, A valiant soldiour in campe, a faithful servitor in court and bountyfull housekeeper in ye coutry, His worthie parted my muse might more comend, But vertue from oblivion will defend, And in
dispite of tyme preserve and keepe, His praise in memorie though his Prson slepe OBITT 12 Die Aprilis 1604, Anno aetatis SVE 67timo. Vertue, bountie, witt, sweete favour, comlie grace, Untied were in her whose
corpse lyes in this place, Ann Strange her name which birth & baptisme gave, But twise estranged from Strange as hyems hest did crave, Brave mynded Gourley did her youth possesse, Westropp her age with equall happines. Her life in loyall love, successively Unto these worthie captaines was affied, Seemes unto them it selfe here to deride There souls in heaven make up a Ternion, Thwere bodies substance, symphathize in one. OBITT vicesimo nono die Decem, 1604 Ao EATATIS SVE 59no ( Around the Strange inscription are these words. DUX ERAT ET CONJUX QUI DUXERAT ALTER & ALTER, AMBOQ SUCCINCTA VIRIDANTIT EMPORA LAURO VICTRICINATALE SOLUM ORNAVERE TROPHAE Q HIC TANDEM PLACIDA COMPOSTIMORE E QUISCUNT CIRCUMSEPTA SUO DUPLICI JACET ANA MARITO. (Here lies Anne between her two husbands. Each of them was captain and spouse, and both, their foreheads crowned with victories evergreen laurel, adorned their native soil with a triumph. Here at length they rest, laid to sleep in peaceful death). In the west transept are monuments to the Bower and other
families, there are sittings for 200 persons, it was lit by small windows near the roof, but in 1858 a new large window was inserted in the wall over the communion table. The three lights were filled with stained glass. The design was by Mr. James Teale of Malton and executed by Messrs. T. Baille & Co. (The central light was a memorial window presented by Mr. Wm. I'Anson of Spring Cottage, and exhibits a full length figure of St. John as a scribe, surrounded by a glory and dove. Beneath was the motto, St James, and an
inscription commemorative of one lately deceased. The North light was a figure of St. Peter, presented by Mr. R. Searle, of Norton and the south light contained a figure of St. Paul, with the Bible and naked sword, presented by R. Bowers, Esq., of Welham). A tablet of white marble on a black marble ground and adorned with sculptured flowers and foliage, was erected on the north wall of the nave. It bears the following inscription – In memory of Robert Cobb Esq. of Sutton House, Norton; who died April 29th 1839, aged 63 years. Also of Thomas third son of the above, who died February 23rd 1841 aged 31 years. And of John George youngest son of the above Robert Cobb Esq., who died June 4th 1841, aged 23 years. This was erected in August 1854. Previous to 1872 there were no night services during winter months as there was no lighting but in that year the first night service was held on the 1st December. January 31st 1857 Malton Messenger – For Sale to Pay Income Tax A pew in Norton church. The property of Mr. John Woffinden- apple to Mr. William Wilson – Assesor, Norton. On 20th February 1873 opening of the New Organ, which Mr. H. H. Forster of Norton Grove presented to the church.
The Churchyard was closed circa 1850 for interments. and a new cemetery of limited area (three roods) was formed in July 1852 with walling, Chapel &., cost about £400, and was later enlarged, in 1886.
