The Parish of Astley

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Priests Duties

The dean had to reside in the Rectory house at Astley, and he was also put into possession of the glebe land and tithes that belonged to it. Also certain lands and tenements situated at Withybrook and Hopsford were handed over to him, plus some property situated at Wolvey. He was bound, from this income, to distribute to the poor 37 shillings on certain occasions in the year. Besides this amount, he had to be responsible for the cost of providing candles to be burned in the church on certain occasions in the year. These were the anniversaries of the founder (Sir Thomas Astley), his wife, and mother. He had also to provide a candle to burn during one of the daily services, and another during the latter part of Holy Week (Maundy Thursday to Easter Day).

The dean had to provide candles for burning in the Church on these fixed days, the canons had to make a much   more   elaborate   contribution   towards   the lights   required for burning in  the   Church. Everyday they had to provide two great wax tapers, called  torches, which were lit during high mass at the elevation of the Host; they had also to provide two wax candles to burn whilst high mass was being celebrated, and at the two daily services of mattins and evensong one wax candle, and also a lamp. Also every Monday, at two of  the lesser services, called placebo  -and  dirige, they had to provide one candle and one lamp, whilst at the final service every day, called compline, one wax candle with  a 1amp had  to be provided by  them. On Sundays and on festivals they had to provide two wax candles  for burning at  mattins and evensong.  All these candles and other lights had to be provided out of the money they received in payment for the various lands assigned to them, which payments went to make  up  the chief part  of their  income. Another charge, in  addition  to the  money required to be found  for this elaborate system of illumination, which  fell on the canons, was a stipend of five marks of silver for the Vicar of the Church of Hillmorton, because the income from that parish had been given to the Collegiate Church.