ALLOTMENT OF A SEAT IN THE BLACKBURN CHURCH By John Livesey HE following documents are translations or copies of faculties and decrees of the bishops of Chester concerning seats in Blackburn Church. The first shows that two pews on the south side of the chancel (or the chancel aisle) were claimed by the archbishop of Canterbury as rector, Audley or Haudley Hall being the seat of his rectory manor; as his grace never came to Blackburn, and as his deputies, the farmers of the tithes, very seldom resided in the parish, the unoccupied seats were allowed to Ralph Livesey of Livesey, both of them unless the farmers of the tithes should be present, in which case they should take the front pew and Ralph the back one. Cartwright, the grantor of the faculty of 1687, does not seem to have visited Blackburn, but his printed Diary ends in October. The second document (from Register Book, iv. p. 149, at the Chester Diocesan Registry) is a licence to erect a gallery at the west end of the church, granted in 1712. The petitioners were to erect it at their own cost, but might sell seats therein to any who would pay a proportionate share of the cost. The third is a decree establishing the claimants' title to a seat at the north side of the chancel, John Livesey and others claiming it against Thomas Ainsworth of Feniscowles. FACULTY FOR A SEAT GRANTED TO To all and sundry the faithful of Christ to whom these our letters of testimony come or whom the things following concern or may concern in any manner whatsoever in time to come THOMAS, by divine permission Bishop of Chester, sendeth greeting, goodwill and blessing. We hereby certify and inform you that whereas our chosen in Christ, Thomas Wainwright, Doctor of Laws, lawfully appointed our vicargeneral and chief officer in spiritual affairs, in a certain matter of the confirming of two specific benches, stalls or seats situate and existing in the chapel or chancel of the parish church of Blackburn in the county of Lancaster and diocese of Chester, the one (namely the larger bench, next adjacent and contiguous to the choir on the south side of the said chapel or chancel) being three yards and two feet in length and three feet and six inches in breadth or thereabout, the other (namely the smaller bench, next adjacent and contiguous to the same aforedescribed bench towards the south) being five feet and six inches in length and two feet in breadth or thereabout, whereby a claim has been preferred and set forth, proceeding with due legal formality in his presence, by the very reverend father in Christ and lord, the Lord William, by divine providence Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate and Metropolitan of all England, lord and owner of a certain manor-house, commonly called Haudley Hall, within the parish of Blackburn aforesaid, against all and sundry persons whomsoever in general having or pretending to have any right, title or interest whatsoever in the said benches, stalls or seats, and against Ralph Livesey of Livesey, of the parish of Blackburn aforesaid, in particular: has decreed that the same benches, stalls or seats be confirmed to the aforesaid very reverend father in Christ and his successors and their tenants (his final decree interposing in their favour having been declared judicially) for the use of standing, sitting, kneeling, praying and hearing the sacred word in the same on Sundays and feast days and on other suitable occasions. And whereas we, knowing also the merits of the said matter under judgment and being desirous to protect the right and justice on that side with our favour and goodwill, have assigned, conceded and confirmed the said benches, stalls or seats to the foredescribed uses to the same very reverend father in Christ and lord, the Lord William, by divine providence Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate and Metropolitan of all England, and his successors, and their tenants (all else being excluded except his or their licence be first obtained) by our letters of testimony bearing date the fifteenth day of the month of February in the year of the Lord One thousand six hundred and eighty six. But whereas not only the aforesaid very reverend father in Christ the Archbishop, residing for the most part in his most holy and archiepiscopal seat, but the farmers or collectors of the tithes belonging to the rectory and church of Blackburn aforesaid, holding of the said very reverend father and his successors, altogether or at least very frequently are absent from the parish of Blackburn aforesaid and very probably in time to come will have a fixed home and pass their lives in places remote from thence; and whereas the aforedescribed larger bench is spacious and situate in a prominent part of the said church and is specially suitable for persons of higher rank and estimation of the said parish; and whereas degree ought to be observed and retained in the church: and whereas the aforesaid Ralph Livesey, of Livesey within the parish of Blackburn aforesaid, Esquire, is now (as his ancestors have been from time immemorial) lord and owner of a large and ancient house or seat and demesne and patrimony existing in the said parish, of praiseworthy and distinguished station among his people, a devout son of the English Church, and a faithful subject of his royal majesty, yet is provided with no bench or seat whatsoever for the aftermentioned divine uses in his parish church aforesaid either in his own right or virtually, but he himself and his ancestors in their day have used and enjoyed the aforedescribed larger bench for the same uses (the aforesaid very reverend father and his predecessors in their day granting their permission in that respect, or at least in no wise withholding it); whereas in short the aforesaid very reverend father in Christ, having all premises investigated and wishing to support the said Ralph Livesey accordingly with his goodwill in the premises, has vested, granted and conceded his consent, goodwill and authority to us and our aforesaid vicar-general in spiritual affairs sufficiently and fully in this matter: We, therefore, the aforesaid Bishop of Chester by these presents (always saving the right of the aforesaid very reverend father in Christ) strengthened and supported by the aforesaid decree judicially declared, allot, assign and confirm the place of sitting, or the first and foremost part, in the said larger bench, aforedescribed, to the Lady Catharine Fletewood, present collector of the tithes of the rectory (and) church of Blackburn aforesaid (of which the said very reverend father is lawful owner), and her husband, and to future collectors of the tithes and their spouses, as often as and whenever they come to the said church to hear the sacred word and worship; and the part of the aforesaid larger bench remaining at such times to the aforesaid Ralph Livesey, his wife and household; but in the absence of the aforesaid Catharine Fletewood and her husband, and of future collectors of the said tithes and their spouses, the aforesaid larger bench, stall or seat, whole and entire, to the same Ralph Livesey Esquire, his wife and household, to the use therein of sitting, standing, kneeling, praying and hearing the sacred word on Sundays and at certain seasonable times (others being excluded). In assurance and witness of all which things we have caused to be affixed to these presents the seal of office of that venerable man, our vicar-general in spiritual affairs aforesaid (which we use in such cases). Given the fifteenth day of the month of December in the year of the Lord One thousand six hundred and eighty-seven and of our consecration the second. HENRY PRESCOTT, LICENCE TO BUILD A WEST GALLERY Thomas Wainwright, Doctor of Laws, vicar-general & official principal to the right reverend father in God William by divine permission lord bishop of Chester, to all Christian people to whom these presents shall come, greeting. Whereas by a credible certificate made to us by the vicar, churchwardens and several of the inhabitants of the parish of Blackburn in the county of Lancaster & Dioces of Chester, it appear'd that Ralph Livesay of Livesay in the said parish, Esq', Thomas Greenfeild of Witton in the same parish, gentleman, and Randle |