Several medieval rectors held other livings with Cosgrove, or were given licence to do so such as Thomas Parker, rector of Althorp and Cosgrove who was given special dispensation by Pope Innocent VIII to hold a third benefice for up to three years. John Fraunceys was given licence to reside elsewhere for study. There were also several exchanges of clergy – in 1415 Henry Drayton, rector of Cheadle and William Yewdale, rector of Cosgrove, exchanged livings as did William Wattes, rector of Hannington and Nicholas Dowbrygge in 1421.

In the 16c Christopher Emmerson held Furtho and Cosgrove in plurality for 30 years (1563-92) as did John Mansel who was rector of Furtho for 50 years and of Cosgrove for 31 until he died in 1729 at the age of 86. John Whalley as rector for 38 years between 1601-39 before resigning in favour of his son of the same name who held office until 1660 and was remembered for giving two cottages to the parish for the use of poor families, although the benefaction was later lost. The 18th century rector Pulter Forrester (1756-78) was the outstanding rector of the time. He held Cosgrove in plurality with Passenham (as well as other offices) and was a generous benefactor to both livings, especially Cosgrove, where he refitted the interior of the church and rebuilt the parsonage.

Between 1835-69 the rector of Cosgrove was John Graham which was in a period where as elsewhere saw the establishment of a National school and also the restoration of the parish church, although H J Barton of Wicken, Barwick Sams of Grafton Regis and W H Newbolt of Paulerspury made a greater impact in their respective areas. After two further short incumbencies H N C Hewson was instituted to the living in 1893 (his family had purchased the advowson a year before), He remained there until his death in 1945 aged 93, apparently for the last two years of his life he was not capable of performing his duties. In 1943 the vicar of Potterspsury was asked to take a service in Cosgrove during the afternoon being paid to do this by the patron, Hewson’s son, however the parish had no morning service during these years. Throughout Hewson’s incumbency which began after the Mansels had left Cosgrove the leading supporters of the church were the Atkinson’s at the Priory. J J Atkinson was the rector’s warden for 40 years and was later succeeded by his son P Y Atkinson until he was removed in favour of the younger Hewson in 1939. After the elder Hewson died and his son left the district, Captain Atkinson resumed his position as the main pillar, social and financial of the PCC supported for a time by Joan Wake and Major Fermor-Hesketh, until shortly before his death in 1972. At this date there were fewer than 50 people on the church electoral role.

During the reign of Henry III, Henry clericus of Cosgrove made two grants totalling one and a half acres of land in Stansifurlong, in Cosgrove field, to Biddlesden abbey, which his widow Maud later quitclaimed. Also during the 13c Alice, daughter of William de Puxley and former wife of Hugh de Brochole, gave the abbey a rood of land near Watling Street. In 1330 the abbey released a rent of 5s due from John le Forester of Stony Stratford for the lands he held for them in Cosgrove and Stony Stratford.

What was described as “St John’s friary” in Northampton owned an estate in Cosgrove, let in five holdings in the 15th and early 16c, one of which was called the ‘Hall Place’. None of the friaries in the town was known by that name, although the Austin friars house stood opposite St. John’s hospital.

Records show that Hugh Revell, who held land in Leicestershire (Puxley, Cosgrove, Buckeby) and Warwickshire (Fenny Newbold/Newbold Revell) from as early at 1183 which suggests he was born around 1163. It is fairly certain that Hugh married a de Wappenbury around 1190, Hush’s father was Robert and he gifted the advowson of Cosgrove to the Knights Hospitaller. There seems to by general agreement that a Hugh Revell from Northamptonshire was a senior official of the Knights Templar from 1243 until he died in 1277, although the activities of this Knight Templar are well documented his birth is not..

Information gained from local historians, confirmed from Wikepedia web site, British Listed Buildings website and St John Museum.

The right of presentation to a benefice was attached to the manor after the Conquest. A Lord could give a manor or a benefice to a church establishment or a society, which happened when parts of Cosgrove were given to Snelshall Priory and to the Knights Hospitaller.

When a group thus obtained a manor or benefice by the King’s license and the Bishop’s consent, it became responsible as a spiritual corporation, to provide for the services of the Church, and to maintain the fabric out of the tithes, glebe and other dues.

It took the place of a parson or rector. It deputed a Vicar (from Latin “vice”, like a vice captain) to be its chaplain deputy or substitute, to perform services. Usually the vicar was a member of the priory or group, but not always. His stipend was at their discretion and they could remove him as they chose. He was therefore worse off than a stipendiary curate today.

C1403 Henry IV enacted a law to say that a vicar should not be a member of a monastery or society, that his job should be permanent, canonically instituted and authorised by the Bishop.

At the dissolution of the monasteries large sections of church property was handed over to Laymen by the State. The vicar was not in control of all revenue from Church lands any more.  In some parishes there would then have been both a vicarage, for the Curate who did the actual work and a rectory where a Layman who had been given the income and title of Rector by the State. This was called the “church living” and could be bought and sold to other people.

NB Cosgrove Priory was never a real priory, but was built on the site of a manor house and renamed in the 18^th century by tenants.

The Rectory, now Medlar House, was a rectory, but other houses on the Green also belonged to the church living – at times, vicars may have lived there and certainly at times the Rectory itself was rented out.

H. N. C. Hewson- Edward Carr by Divine permission Bishop of Peterborough

To the Churchwardens of Cosgrove in the County of Northampton and within our Diocese and Jurisdiction greeting

Whereas we have by writing under our hand and Episcopal Seal this day inhibited the Reverend Henry Newington Clarke Hewson Rector of Cosgrove aforesaid from performing any Clerical duty whatsoever within our Diocese and Jurisdiction

These are therefore to warn and require all Rectors Vicars Curates or Clerks and Churchwardens to whom the knowledge of these presents may come not to permit the said Henry Newington Clarke Hewson to officiate or perform Clerical duty in any Church or Chapel or elsewhere in our said Diocese

Given under our hand and Episcopal Seal this fifteenth day of July one thousand nine hundred and eight and in the twelfth year of our Consecration
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Rector is going to Northampton

THE Rev. Albert E. Bransby, R.D., who has been the Rector of Cosgrove, Deanshanger, and Passenham for the past five years, has been appointed Vicar of St. Giles', Northampton. Mr Bransby has been the Rural Dean for the Preston Deanery for four years. He is a governor of the Deanshanger Primary School and has played cricket for Deanshanger and Cosgrove, and for the local clergymen's team, the Towcester Crocodiles. Married with three children, Mr. Bransby came to South Northants from Battersea where, since 1955, he had been the Vicar of St. George with St. Andrew's Church. He received his theological training at Tynedale Hall Bristol, after serving almost five years as a navigator-bomber with the Royal Air Force. He was ordained deacon in 1949. Before the war he played soccer for Lowestoft Town. Mr. Bransby tells us that he will probably be taking up his new position towards the end of March. He regards the move to a much larger borough parish as a challenge. "My family and I have been very happy here and we have made many friends. We shall be sorry to leave but this is an opportunity that I feel I ought to take," he added.

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COSGROVE'S NEW RECTOR

Canon S. C. Woodward (left) who was instituted as Rector of Cosgrove at St. Peter's Church last Thursday evening. The institution was performed by the Rt. Rev. W. H. Stewart, as Assistant Bishop in the diocese, on behalf of the Bishop of Peterborough. The new Rector was inducted to the living by the Archdeacon of Northampton, the Ven. Basil Marsh.

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