gures, but are neatly ornamented. The effect of the whole is appropriate and sublime. The situation of the present church is to the north of the old chapel; the ground to the south, is the ancient chapelyard; but that being found too small, another piece of ground on the north was added in 1762, and consecrated by Bishop Trevor, 20th of July, 1770. The soil of the churchyard, consisting of a stiff watery clay, had been for many years in a neglected and lamentable state; but the singular attention of Mr. Robert Wilson, who has continued in the office of churchwarden for several years, by the introduction of sand on each interment, and spreading a neat turf over the place of graves, has greatly improved the decency and respectability which ought always to attend a spot where the remains of our friends and fellow-men repose. Though it is rather out of the way of the parochial historian to deliver his private opinion, yet as I have sometimes assumed that liberty I may be allowed to add, that places of burial should in general be in unfrequented and sequestered spots, or at least not in the centre of any town, particularly if that town be populous. The reasons are so obvious, that it is hardly necessary to mention them. Natural decency requires that every care should be shewn to the remains of the departed; which can never be the case in a place of public thoroughfare. And if to this we add, a proper attention to the health of the living, there can be no doubt but such places should be chosen as are most remote from the busy haunts of men. It was a maxim of the Roman law, "In urbe ne sepelito;" with much more propriety may it be said, “In ecclesia ne sepelito." Happily, the latter custom has never been introduced into our church; it were well if it were abolished in other places. The regulation of the parish is particularly explained in the act of parliament, which declares that the borough, town, and township of Stockton, and the several villages or townships of East Hartburn and Preston, according to their usual and known boundaries, shall, from the 24th day of June, 1713, be a distinct parish of itself, and be called by the name of the parish of Stocktonupon-Tees. To this act, and another explanatory of the former 1st Geo. I., I refer. The direction of parochial affairs is vested in the vicar and 12 vestrymen; to whom the Lord Bishop of Durham, Lord of the Manor, by the said act is empowered to grant, for the augmentation of the vicarage, a parcel of ground there specified, or any other parcel or parcels of waste ground within the manor, without fine, and under the custom and yearly rent of 1d. provided the same be not of more or greater yearly value than 207. at the time of making such grant. By this act the new constituted vicar of Stockton became entitled to all such tithes, offerings, &c. within the townships of Stockton, East Hartburn, and Preston, as had been usually paid to the vicar of Norton; and the patronage of the living was solely vested in the bishop of Durham. As a recompense to the parish of Norton for this separation, and in lieu of all further contributions or demands for or towards the repair of Norton church, and all or any other taxes or cesses to the parish of Norton, the inhabitants of Stockton agreed to pay to the inhabitants of Norton the sum of 1007. A parcel of ground on the east of the church was originally appropriated for the building of a vicarage-house. and bricks were made on the spot for that purpose. The whole of this ground has been inclosed with an iron railing and planted with ornamental trees; and a house bought for the vicar on the north side of the allotted ground; for the purchase of which 2007. were left by Bishop Chandler, Bishop Cree's trustees gave 50%. in 1750, and 807. were raised by the sale of the bricks. In 1783, the Rev. Christopher Anstey, vicar, at a considerable expense repaired and enlarged the house. In the vestry is a collection of books, many of them on subjects of polemical divinity, written in the 17th century; with good editions of some of the Fathers, given by Mr. John Stock, formerly a schoolmaster in Stockton. This collection was made the foundation of a very useful Divinity Library in 1799 (the Rev. John Brewster, vicar) and is still supported by a sinall subscription. The vestry room has been neatly fitted up for its reception. A district committee of the venerable society for promoting christian knowledge is also holden here, where there is a depòt for the society's books. The worthy vicar and curate are so obliging as to undertake the offices of treasurer and secretary of the district committee. The bishop of Durham, as it has been observed, is the patron of the church; the value of the vicarage is said to be about 2007. per annum. In consequence of being a a parish by a late act of parliament, it is not in charge or certified; but it pays a third part of the first-fruits, tenths, procurations, and synodals for the parish of Norton. List of the Vicars of Stockton. 1. June 17, 1713. George Gibson, M. A. died at Stockton. 1714. William Eden, M. A. res. for Elwick Hall, R. 3. Mar. 16, 1715. George Walker, M. A., died at Lambeth, 1742. 2. 5. 6. 7. Mar. 18, 4. June 12, 1742. John Skelly, M. A., died at Alnwick. 1772. William Vaughan, M. A., res. for Norton, V. 1773. Alexander Cleve, B. A. res. for Wooler, V. 1780. James Greville, L. L. B. res. for Whickham, R. 1782. Christopher Anstey, M. A., res. for Norton, V. 1786. Edward Wilson, B. A., died at Wolsingham, May 28, 1779. 8. July 20 9. Sep. 2, 10. July 20, 1799. John Brewster, M. A., Lincoln College, Oxford, res. for Redmarshall, R. 11. June 26, 1805. George Stanley Faber, B. D., late Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford, p. res. Brewster, res. for Remarshall, R. 12. 13. 14. 1809. Thomas Baker, M. A., Oriel College, Oxford, p. res. Faber, resigned for Whitburn, R. 1810. John Gilpin, B. D., Christ's Coll. Cambridge, p. res. Baker, resigned 1815. William Nicholas Darnell, B. D., Corpus Christi College, Oxford, res. for St. Margaret's, Durham. 15. Dec. 16, 1820. James Cundill, p. r. Darnell. Curates of Stockton. 1712. Matthew Lambe. George Irwine. 1719. John Hall. ་་་་་་་་ Todd. 1726. James Horseman. 1730. Stephen Teesdale. 1740. John Wood. Nov. 16, 1776. John Brewster, M. A. Sep. 1, 1796. Robert Spencer, B. A. Dec. 21, Aug. 1797. John Starkey, M. A., Brasenose Coll., Oxford. 1805. William Ewbank, M. A. 1809. John Gilpin, B. D. 1810. James Cundill. 1821 John Dickenson, B. A. Lecturers of Stockton. 1760. George Johnson, B. D., Fell. of Mag. Col. Oxon." Jan. 5, 1777. John Brewster, M. A.t 1799. John Starkey, M. A. 1810. James Cundill. 1821. John Dickenson, B. A. * Vicar of Norton, August, 1776; Rector of Lofthouse, June, 1780; Prebendary of Lincoln, October, 1781, died at Norton, Aug. 26, 1786. + Vicar of Greatham, 1790. Licensed to the Lectureship by Bp. Thurlow, 1788. Rector of Boldon, 1809. Rector of Egglescliffe, 1814. The curfew-bell, formerly the signal of servile dependance, but now of peace and security, is tolled every evening, at 8 o'clock in winter, and at 9 in summer; and every one whose contemplative mind enjoys the serenity of an evening walk, accompanied by solemn sounds, will wish for its continuance. Milton opens his beautiful poem of "Penseroso" with mentioning the melancholy music of the nightingale in a moonlight night. The sweetness of the scene is considerably heightened by the introduction of the curfew: "Oft on a plat of rising ground, I hear the far-off curfew sound A morning bell is likewise rung, in winter at 6, in summer at 5 o'clock; a useful notice to the industrious to pursue their work, and a salutary hint to those who would procure health by enjoying the sweet hour of prime. CHAPTER XXXI. Epitaphs and Inscriptions in Stockton Church and "Tendimus huc omnes, metam properamus ad unam "The tomb Th'appointed place of rendezvous, where all OVID AD LIVIAM. BLAIR'S GRAVE. ROM the church the transition is easy to the tomb. In a parochial history memorials of departed friends, though melancholy, cannot be without interest. "The tomb of a good man," says Dr. Samuel Johnson, "supplies the want of his presence, and veneration for his memory produces the same effect as the observation of his life." |