= Former Vicars of St. Matthews Church, Pentrich =

Photograph showing the ‘List of Pentrich Vicars Plaque’, was kindly taken & supplied by David Townsend © Copyright 2004

Also see the ‘Clergy of the Church of England database, whichi includes details for Clergymen during the period 1540 to 1835

Go to - http://eagle.cch.kcl.ac.uk:8080/cce/index.html

The ‘Vicar’s List’ as shown inside St. Matthews Church

List of Pentrich Vicars, name & dates taken from plaque inside

St. Matthews Church, Pentrich, Derbyshire

Church built & consecrated 1150AD

Black Death came to Pentrich in 1349; three above vicars all died within the same year

Resigned from his position.

John Loughborow became Vicar on death of John Altoft

Nicholas Key became Vicar on death of John Loughborow

Resigned from his position.

on the death of Henry Proctor, Christoper Proctor became Vicar

Patrons Sir John Bynn & Nicholas Holborne, citizen & griocer of London, by the gift and concession of the lately dissolved Abbey of Darley ... George Howe, followed on the death of Christoper Proctor

>> NATIONAL ARCHIVES DOCUMENT: C 1/1313/75 (details): Christopher PROCTOR, vicar of Pentrich, v. George ZOUCHE, knight, late sheriff, and William DAMPORT and Charles ELTON, his servants.: Extortion of a lease of complainant's vicarage by false imprisonment of himself and Richard Proctor, his servant, at Codnor. [Date 1551-1553]

Patron - Sir John Zouch of Codnor ... & George Howe resigned position

Resigned position

He followed Paul Hearon, according to Parish Registers a note says that ‘Though at first conforming to Presbyterianism, he was afterwards ejected by the Parliament’, Also see Protestation Rolls 1641 ... He died at Pentrich on All Saints Day, 1652

Supposedly born in Nottinghamshire, but brought up in Cambridge. His income is said to have been ‘not above £15 per annum, but that he was loved by local gentry so much - that they raised his income to nearer £50’. Robert Porter was ejected from Pentrich Parish & the vicarage in 1662, due to his religious beliefs ... but he stayed for some years & continued to help villagers privately & often preached in his own house. He went on to build the Congregational Chapel in 1662; but retired to Mansfield (at the coming of the Oxford Act) he often returned to Pentrich & preyed with his former flock, though he died at Mansfield in 1689. The Congregational Church was used from 1700 onwards, and most recently it was used by the United Free Church Methodists but it was pulled down in 1971.

>> NATIONAL ARCHIVES DOCUMENT; State Papers Domestic: Supplementary SP 46/108/fo 244 (details): Order of the same to the Sequestration Committee for co. Derby that Robert Porter, minister of Pentrich, have the arrears of his former augmentation, ordered by the Committee for Plundered Ministers out of Lord Deincourt's estate since compounded for [Date: 1651]

>> NATIONAL ARCHIVES DOCUMENT; Quit Claim: divers goods causes DD/H/33/3 i) ... (details): Robert Porter of Pentridge, Derbys., clerk, William (cordwainer) and James (tailor) Porter of Nottingham. (ii) Henry Wells of Nottm., carpenter All interest in messuage in St. Mary Gate, Nottingham in possession of H.W. being houses of John Vrin [Date: 1654]

On the death of John Potter - William Licet followed.

>> The Revd John POTTER may have died without having written a ‘Last Will & Testament’; as we have found a dated reference to his Probate Administration documents, which are dated 1669 (Probate & wills held at ‘Lichfield Record Office’)

William Licet died in 1712 & was buried at Pentrich

Patron - Christian, Countess of Devonshire

Samuel Milward died, he was buried at Pentrich, 24th Aug 1754

Patron - Duke of Devonshire

Resigned position

Thomas CARR was born in Alfreton, on 22nd December 1748 and was son of the Revd. Anthony CARR of Swanwick; Revd. Thomas CARR married Ann HAYNES, of Darley and they had three children - John, Ann & Thomas (son Thomas also became a Vicar). Revd Thomas CARR took up his position at Pentrich, in 1774 after Miles Halton’s resignation. Revd. CARR remained the local parish vicar for 23 yrs, he resigned from his position in 1797 and died thirty years later, on 14th July 1827.

Thanks to Steven Edwards, who is a descendant of the CARR family; he has provided information regaridng Thomas CARR and also informs us that the CARR family produced many vicars down the years mainly based in Derbyshire, and the CARR family were related to the GELL, LEWIS & EVANS families.

Rev. Mawer is not named on our (church’s) list of former vicars; however he was recently found mentioned in Pentrich related documents at Lichfield Joint Record Office. The document was dated 1777 and it named ‘Reverend Kaye Mawer of Pentrich’ ... I have checked the web site ‘Clergy of the Church of England’ but I can find no mention of the Revd. MAWER ever having held a position at Pentrich ... so I wonder whether he just filled in for a very short time, perhaps during a time of illness or sabbatical. Revd MAWER is stated as being a Deacon, having qualified at Trinity College, Cambridge, and was ordained in Dec 24th 1758. He was the son of John MAWER of Middleton Tyas in Yorkshire.

Rev. Joseph MILWARD was appointed Vicar of St. Matthew’s in January 1797, after the resignation of Revd. Thomas CARR. Revd MILWARD had previously served as Rector at Marton. Joseph was the son of Thomas MILWARD, of Longmarton and it was at Longmarton that Jospeh served his very first clerical appointment, as Rector .... The following are Newspaper articles, related to Revd. Joseph Milward:

>> ‘Sun-London’ newspaper No 2065, dated - May 6th 1799 .... Article reads:... The Rev. Joseph MILWARD, Vicar of Pentrich, is presented to the perpetual Curacy of Denby, in Derbyshire, by William Drury LOWE, Esq., vacant by the death of the Rev. Anthony CARR.

>> ’Derby Mercury’ newspaper, dated - Sept 20th 1810 ... Article Reads: ... ‘WANTED IMMEDIATELY -  A Clergyman to take the Duty of our Church, (single duty).  For particulars apply to the Rev. Joseph MILLWARD, Pentrich, Derbyshire, 27th August 1810’.

Revd. J. Wood resided at Swanwick Hall, married to Emelia Susanna ... John Wood resigned from his position .... The following are Newspaper articles, specifically related to Revd. John Wood.

>> ‘Jackson’s Oxford Journal’, issue 3406 - dated Aug 1st 1818 ... Article Reads: ... PREFERRED  The Rev. John WOOD, of Wing, Rutlandshire to hold by dispensation the Vicarage of Pentrich in the County of Derby, together with the Rectory of Kingsley in the County of Stafford, patron the Duke of Devonshire

>> ‘Derby Mercury’ Oct 31st 1855, issue 3340 - PENTRICH  Testimonial to the Rev. John WOOD  Owing to advanced age and consequent infirmities, resigned the vicarage at Pentrich, which he held for 38 years.  The inhabitants of the parish presented him with a testimonial of their gratitude and esteem

>> See our transcribed Newspaper extracts, for more articles that mention Revd. john Wood ... the newspaper extracts were kindly transcribed & supplied by Trish Symonds, Go to - ‘Pentrich in the News 1700-1900’ ...

The following are Newspaper articles, specifically related to Revd.C.S. Hope, who we assume was Curate for some time.

>> ‘Derby Mercury’ newspaper - Sept 29th 1830, issue 5125 - On Sunday afternoon the 26th instant the Rev. C.S. HOPE preached an eloquent and highly appropriate sermon from the 25th Matthew 40th Verse in behalf of the Charity School at Pentrich, after which the sum of £18.19s.9d was collected.

>> See our transcribed Newspaper extracts, which were kindly transcribed & supplied by Trish Symonds, ‘Pentrich in the News 1700-1900’ ... in two extracts, dated Jan 1834 & Jan 1835 - mentions the Revd. H (Hugh) Wood of Pentrich ... & I wonder if Revd Hugh Wood was covering for John Wood, during this Year long period; which would indicate Revd John Wood was probably on sabbatical, or he was curate to John Wood.

The Revd. Hugh Wood is mentioned in later newspaper extracts:

>> ‘Derby Mercury’ May 30th 1866, issue 6991 ... Petty Sessions – May 28 – Wm WHITEHALL was charged by Edward WALTERS, gamekeeper to the Rev. Hugh WOOD, M.A., of Swanwick Hall, with poaching in fields adjoining the village of Pentrich on the night of the 21^st inst., - Fined 1s, and costs; in default, three weeks’ imprisonment with hard labour.

>> & mentioned again in ‘Derby Mercury’ on August 7th 1867, Issue 7096 ... Thomas HOUSTON of Ripley was charged by Edmund WALTERS, gamekeeper to the Rev. Hugh WOOD of Pentrich, with having on the 20th and 24th July, trespassed in the day time, on land in the occupation of the Butterley Company. Fined 48s and 12s 6d costs for each offence

>> again in ‘Derby Mercury’ of February 16th 1868, Issue 8025 ... Ripley Petty Sessions, February 17th – Samuel GODBER and George BAMFORD were charged with having, on the 6th inst at Pentrich, been on land occupied by Mary TOPHAM. As it turned out, Mrs TOPHAM had given the defendants leave to be on her land on the day in question for the purpose of taking a rabbit. The charge was withdrawn by Edmund WALTERS, keeper to Rev. Hugh WOOD, who has the right of shooting over the ground.

>> See our transcribed Newspaper extracts, for more articles that mention Revd. Hugh Wood ... the newspaper extracts were kindly transcribed & supplied by Trish Symonds, Go to - ‘Pentrich in the News 1700-1900’ ...

>> Revd P.B.Collings is first mentioned in the ‘Derby Mercury’ August 22nd 1849, and then in March 13th 1850; & is again mentioned in Jan 1851; May 1851; in March 1852 (is also named Rev JB Collins) ... we assume he was Curate for this period.

>> (Derby Mercury newspaper) Noiv 20th 1852, issue 2028 ... MARRIAGE  COLLINGS-BIRD.  November 16th, at Broughton Monchelsea, by the Rev. G.J. BIRD, the Rev. P.B. COLLINGS, M.A. of Pentrich, Derbyshire, to Elizabeth Jane, only daughter of John Jackson BIRD, Esq., of Boughton Monchelsea, Kent.

Revd. Clarke is mentioned in newspaper extract for notice of marriage  shown below. Go to - ‘Pentrich in the News 1700-1900’ ... for more newspaper extracts.

>> ‘Derby Mercury’ - Dec 29th, 1852, issue 1782 ... MARRIAGE  At Pentrich on Thursday last, by the Rev. Jas. CLARKE, Mr John WOOLLEY to Miss Anne SLATER, both of Ripley

Revd. Horsfall is mentioned in various ‘Derby Mercury’ newspaper extracts:

>> JUNE 7, 1854, issue 3268  .... MARRIAGE - At Pentrich on Wednesday last, by the Rev. HORSFALL, Mr Henry SHAWCROFT to Miss Ann SPARROW of Heage.

>> JUNE 28, 1854, issue 3271  ... DEATHS  At Pentrich on the 16th instant, after a few days’ illness, the Rev. John HORSFALL, curate of Pentrich, aged 27, deeply lamented.

JULY 19, 1854, issue 3274 ... ECCLESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE.  Vacancies  The Curacy of Pentrich, Derbyshire, diocese of Lichfield, in the gift of the Rev. John WOOD.

Revd. William Maycock is mentioned in the following  newspaper extract ... (Morning Chronicle, London)  August 1st 1854, issue 27333 ... MARRIAGE  On the 26th ult, at Dawlish, the Rev. William MAYCOCK, curate of Pentrich, Derbyshire, fifth son of the late James Dottin MAYCOCK, Esq., to Ellen, fourth daughter of the late Rev. Theobald WASH, of Grimblethorpe-hall, Lincolnshire.

>> ‘Derby Mercury’ newspaper - January 9th 1856, issue 3350 .... MARRIAGE  At Pentrich church, on the 1st inst., by the Rev. G.H. POCOCK, Emma, eldest daughter of the late Mr William TOPHAM of Barnston, to Mr Edward Thomas WRIGHT, of Radford, Notts.

G.H.I. Pocock resigned from his position in 1874 & was presented with a Silver Salver, by the villagers. His resignation & presentation, are confirmed by the two newspaper extracts below -which come from the ‘Derby Mercury’ ...

October 7th 1874, Issue 8359 ... Pentrich – The Duke of Devonshire has presented the living at Pentrich, vacant by the resignation of the Rev. G.H. POCOCK, to the Rev. W.J. LEDWARD, curate of Belton Abbey, Yorkshire

November 11th 1874, Issue 8364  ... Pentrich – Presentation to the Rev. G.H. POCOCK and Mrs POCOCK. Mr POCOCK, having resigned the living of Pentrich which he has held for 19 years, the parishioners presented him with a beautiful silver salver; Mrs POCOCK was presented with a silver pencil case. The following address was read:- “On behalf of my fellow parishioners and myself, I have to express our very great regret at the circumstances of your being about to remove from among us, and to tender you our heartfelt thanks for the Christian and gentlemanly treatment and universal courtesy you have always displayed towards us; and we respectfully beg your acceptance of this small memento as a mark of our esteem and the very great regard we entertain and feel towards you, and in sorrow at the parting. We heartily wish Mrs POCOCK and yourself Godspeed in your future career in this world, and which we trust will be of a pleasant and cheery nature to both of you, and we hope hereafter again to meet you in that bright and happy kingdom where parting is unknown. Signed – Ferdinand BOOTH, John BEIGHTON, Edwin TOPHAM, William SMEDLEY – Church Wardens”

The following ‘Derby Mercury’ newspaper (Issue 8704) confirms the death of Revd Pocock. Article dated - November 9th 188 ...  District News – Pentrich – Death of Rev. G. POCOCK – Many persons residing in Pentrich and Ripley will learn with regret the announcement of the death of the Rev. G.H.I. POCOCK. The deceased gentleman was appointed to the vicarage of Pentrich in 1855. He resigned in 1874, and since that time has generally spent the winter in the South of France. He died at Nice.

The Revd. G.H I Pocock is mentioned in several newspaper extracts for this period, they can be viewed by going to - ‘Pentrich in the News 1700-1900’ which were kindly transcribed & supplied by Trish Symonds.

In May 1869, the Rev C. Jones is mentioned in Pentrich burial records and may have been a temporary vicar or working as Curate to Rev. Pocock? ... he is not listed on the church’s List of former Vicars.

>> The Revd. C Jones is also mentioned in the following newspaper extract, from the ‘Liverpool Mercury’,  Issue 6647 dated May 15th 1869  ... Determined Attempt At Suicide By A Clergyman – Mr E.A. DAY, a retired clergyman who was on a visit to the Rev. C. JONES at Pentrich Parsonage on Tuesday night, attempted to commit suicide by slitting his throat in a premeditated act. Earlier in the day he met with his attorney and instructed him to change his will. 9 o’clock in the evening he retired to his room accompanied by his wife. She returned downstairs for a few minutes and on returning could not open the door and heard groaning within, so gave the alarm. The unfortunate gentleman was found with his throat cut from side to side, and two large gashes across his arm and on other parts of his body. Mr George GARNHAM, surgeon of Ripley, was immediately sent for, who sowed up the wounds. Very slight hopes entertained of his recovery.

The following newspaper extract confirms that in 1870, Revd J.M. Brown was Curate at Pentrich .... >>> from the ‘Derby Mercury’ & dated April 20th 1870, Issue 8135 ... MARRIAGE – At Pentrich on the 12th inst, by the Rev. J.M. BROWN, B.A., curate in charge; Mr George POOLE of Pinxton, to Ellen, only daughter of Mr Wm BOOTH, of Pentrich

The Clergy List of 1898 confirms that Robert Waters was curate at St. Matthew’s church from 1871-73.

The Revd. Robert Waters is mentioned in a few newspaper extracts for this period, they can be viewed by going to - ‘Pentrich in the News 1700-1900’ which were kindly transcribed & supplied by Trish Symonds.

Revd. Ledward resigned & retired from his position at Pentrich at the end of April, 1912 ... he died aged 87, on 8th Feb 1915.

Revd. Ledward’s appointment is confirmed in this Derby Mercury newspaper extract, date October 7th 1874 (Issue 8359) ... Pentrich - The Duke of Devonshire has presented the living at Pentrich, vacant by the resignation of the Rev. G.H. POCOCK, to the Rev. W.J. LEDWARD, curate of Belton Abbey, Yorkshire

Revd. Dallen died aged 82, in July 1943

Left Pentrich in late 1974, to become Priest-in-charge of Longstone, prior to this he was vicar of Swanwick & Pentrich ... sadly Revd. Lewis passed away on  29th November 2004

Was previously vicar of St Mary & St. Mark’s, Hitchin, St. Albans - - took over as vicar of Swanwick & Pentrich in January 1975

Not named on list of former vicars, but was previously vicar of St. Aiden’s, Southcoates, Hull - took over as vicar of Swanwick & Pentrich in July 1980.

Nonconformist Ministers

List of Nonconformist Ministers name & dates taken from various resources.

Robert Porter was ejected from Parish church due to his religious beliefs & went on to build the Congregational Chapel in 1662. The Church was used from 1700 onwards, and most recently it was used by the United Free Church Methodists; it was pulled down in 1971.

Parish Clerks (PC) & Churchwardens (CW) of Pentrich

This is a very small list at the moment as I am only adding names when I come along written proof in available dated documented sources .... if you have any dated evidence of a former Parish Clerk or Churchwarden,  then we’d be delighted if you’d forward details on to us.

‘From the @Derby mercury’ newspaper, dated january 8th 1890, Issue 9130 ... PENTRICH – DEATH OF AN OLD PARISHIONER – Mr Ferdinand BOOTH, aged 82 years, an old churchwarden residing at Pentrich, died on Sunday at his residence.