There was an holy Chappell edified, His holy things both morn and eventide . Which from a sacred fountain welled forth alway." Spencer's Fairy Queen, B. 1, Canto 1, Stanza 34. NORTON CHURCH. The church of Norton consists of a nave, transept, and chancel in the centre there is a tower, plain and not handsome, resting upon four circular arches. The north transept is called the Blakiston porch, from having been the place of interment of the family of Blakiston, of Blakiston hall, within the parish; and more recently of the family of Davison of the same place. The mansion-house was demolished about thirty years ago on the removal of the family (having assumed the name of Bland) to Kippax-park, in the county of York. In this porch are several mural monuments, and a recumbent figure, crosslegged, in armour, with uplifted hands, supposed to be one of the Blakiston family, circ. 1484. The south transept, which has been shortened, was formerly denominated "Pity porch ;" from an image, or altar, of our Lady, as the Virgin Mary was designated, which in the days of popery was placed there. The chancel appears, from its length and some embellishments, to have been fitted up with stalls in the usual manner for the prebendaries. A few years ago, several great alterations were made, both in the structure and accommodation of the church. From the increased population of the parish, increased numbers of sittings became necessary. This has been accomplished by means of two galleries, running between the arches which constitute the nave; the roof of the side aisles being raised for the purpose. A large and beautiful Gothic window has been made on the west; the south wall has been rebuilt with handsome windows in the same stile, and another of the same nature in the south wall of pity porch. The church is well pewed, and in excellent order. The font has been removed from the usual place, and fixed in a niche, or ancient piscina, near the altar-rails; by the munificence of the late incumbent the church has been ornamented by a painting of the breaking of bread at Emmaus, placed over the communion-table, and with an excellent barrel organ erected on a gallery under the tower; he presented also to the church a service of communion-plate.* In this place I must record a penance performed in Norton church and Stockton chapel, for a spiritual offence. "Die Jovis, 1625, 15 Dec. infra ædes ven. viri Ri. Hunt S. T. P. Decano coram ipso et ven. viris Joh. Cradock S. T. P. Canc. Dunelm et Jo. Lively S. T. B. * The liberal and munificent spirit of the late valuable vicar (deceased Dec. 19, 1827) was not confined to public demonstrations of his charitable disposition, but with the most friendly heart and open hand, he supplied many of the poor of his parish with seasonable labour, and relieved the necessities of many others under the infirmities of sickness and old age. It is a circumstance equally creditable to him and his respectable parishioners, that they presented to him an elegant silver tureen and stand, bearing the following inscription. "Presented To the Rev. C. Anstey, A. M., Vicar of Norton, By his grateful parishioners, To whom he has endeared himself During a ministry Of thirty-two years. A. D. 1817." "Offic. contra Joh. Harperly de Stockton pro incest. cu Eliz. Wright sorore uxoris suæ. "Wh day hour and place he being precognized appeared and confessed, & was enjoined acknowledgement in penitential manner in the churches of Norton and Stockton wh he performed, & had also been ordered to perform the like penance at ye market crosses* of Durham and Darneton wh he commuted & paid £6. for ye. same, & therefore desired that he might be no further proceeded against-ordered to enter into recognizance in £40. & sureties £20. each, and to certify before 12 June next."+ Norton is a manor of the See of Durham; but there is a manor within it in right of the vicar, who holds a court, possibly derived from the collegiate establishment, GRAMMAR SCHOOL. I am unable, from the loss of deeds and memoranda, which are remembered to have been in existence, to give an account of the foundation of this school. The establishment consists of twelve acres of land, cottages, and a bake-house for the use of the parishioners, amounting in value, communibus annis, to fifty-six pounds and up * "Provided always that the order be given by the ordinaries when they assign penances that if the penitents do shew themselves irreverent, or impenitent, that then their penances be re-iterated, and be removed from the church to the market-place.-Archbishop Grindal at the Synod of Canterbury, 1580. Wilkin's Consil. Tom. IV. + Communicated by Mr. Surtees. containing the schoolThe village of Norton wards; besides, a good house, room, and an excellent garden. offers one of the finest situations in the county for a public school; and probably has enjoyed that advantage for many years; as, we find, that Dr. Claymond, vicar of Norton, A. D. 1498, founded a scholarship at Brasenose College, Oxford, for the education of a scholar from Norton or Stockton; the particulars of which will be given in a biographical memoir. Patron, the vicar. Late master, John Burdon, Ob. 1782. Norton has always afforded a pleasant residence to many independent families; and has been a place of retreat to others, who have found here a rest after the turbulence of more public life. Lord Weemeys* resided here several years after the rebellion of 1745; and the following modest inscription, on an altar tomb in the churchyard, records the memorial of one who is said to have been a sufferer in the deep speculation of the South Sea Scheme in the year 1720, and who afterwards, under an assumed name, kept a small shop in this village. "D. O. M. Post vitam brevem Difficilem, inutilem, Hic Quiescit in Domino "March 22, 1756, bur. the heart and bowels of the right honourable James, Earl of Weemeys. The remains was buried with his ancestors at Weemeys castle, in Scotland, the 8th day of April."— Parish Reg. |