Vicar of Deopham 1146 – 1227
Contents
Biography
These dates for Robert holding office in Deopham come from Francis Blomefield‘s history. It seems unlikely however that he could have been in office for 81 years.
Blomefield describes Robert as the first Vicar of Deopham. It would appear though that the living was well established by the time he arrived. There was not only a church but also “free lands and tithes and offerings and all that pertains to the right of the same church”. This would not have been the church building that now stands in Deopham.
At about the time Robert became priest of Deopham, an arrangement was established whereby the monks of Canterbury were entitled to receive rent from the vicar of Deopham.
The story of how the monks of Canterbury came to have a hold over Deopham can be read here.
Robert had not been paying this rent and was therefore summoned to Canterbury. The outcome of this meeting has been summarised as follows:-
Confirmation of the settlement in the archbishop’s presence of a dispute between Christ Church, Canterbury, and Robert the priest about the church of Deopham.
Robert admitted that the church was given in perpetual alms to Christ Church by bishop William of Norwich at the presentation of Henry de Ria, and that he, Robert, held it as vicar of Christ Church, subject to a yearly pension of two marks, which he had withheld for about ten years. As he has now paid part of these arrears, the prior and convent have agreed to take no further action against him, and have confirmed him in the vicarage, subject to the pension of two marks. Robert has sworn that he will pay the pension and has done fealty to the prior and convent who, in turn, have promised to safeguard his possession of the church during good behaviour. May 1177.1
The following is a corrected Google translation of the full Latin text2 of the legal agreement between Robert and the monks of Canterbury on which the above summary was based:-
Richard, by the grace of God, the archbishop of Canterbury, chief of all England, and legate of the apostolic see, to all the faithful of Christ, to whom the present letter has reached, eternal salvation in the Lord.
A case which concerned the church of Christ in Canterbury and Robert the priest of Diepham over the church of Depham, in the presence of us and of many worthy of faith. Robert acknowledged that he had been and is the vicar of the church of Christ in Canterbury in the church of Depham, which had been granted and confirmed to the same church of Christ in Canterbury by the pious memory of William, formerly bishop of Norwich, for presentation and donation in good memory of Henry de Ria, in perpetual alms. He also recognized that from many past times he owed an annual payment of two marks, which had been in arrears for about 10 years. Having given a satisfactory account, and a portion of the arrears had been returned, and he mercifully agreed that as long as he remained faithful to the church of Canterbury, he would feel no exaction upon the arrears. Therefore the prior and the assembly of the same church of Christ in Canterbury granted and confirmed by their charter to Robert himself the aforesaid church of Depham in perpetual vicarage to be held by them on payment of 2 marks annually as a contractual obligation long ago. Robert swore by touching the sacred gospels that he would make that payment annually, faithfully and without difficulty to the prior and congregation of the church of Christ in Canterbury and by all means he would keep fidelity to them of the same church and to all others who are known to belong to the church of Canterbury.
Also, the Prior and the Assembly faithfully promised that they would grant him all authority and provide security for possession as long as the same Robert would behave faithfully towards them. That, therefore, those things which have been done before us may have a perpetual firmness, they are confirmed by the authority by which we act, and shared by the patronage of our seal.
In the presence of:
Archdeacon Herbert of Canterbury,
Waleran who was the archdeacon of Baio,
William the archdeacon of Gloucester,
master Walter de Augus,
master Robert de Inglesham,
Henry of Baiocense,
teacher Peter Gaius,
William de Sottind(on),
Roger of Norwich,
Robert de Wimundham,
Robert de Wiclewd, clerk.
Footnotes
- English Episcopal Acta Vol II Published for the British Academy by Oxford University Press, 1980, Pg 59
https://archive.org/details/englishepiscopal0000unse/ - Ibid, Pg 60
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| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 15/12/22 | Published |
Deopham History 