This History I desire to remain in the keeping of the Parish Clerk for the time being, in perpetuity. A typed copy to be preserved in the Vestry of the church.

D'Arcy de Ferrars, editor.
1927.

Laurence Merther was the first Vicar of whom anything beyond the name is known. He was an important person & was Penitentiary of his Deanery (Pydar) for many years. The fine brass to his memory is yet to be seen on the Sanctuary step in the church.
The later vicars seem to have been closely connected with their patrons, the Priors & Canons of Bodmin, & two at least were actually Canons of the Priory when they held the Living - which shows that the old lax custom of serving the Cure by a member of the Community had come again into practise.
The last Prior of Bodmin, Thomas Wandsworth, seeing that his House must inevitably fall into the King's hands resolved like the Unjust Steward, to make friends with the mammon of unrighteousness while it remained in his power to do so. In 1534 Thomas Cromwell, "The Hammer of the Monks" wrote to him asking for the valuable Fish tithe at Padstow for one of his servants. The Prior excused himself, as the tithe was already appropriated to the Priory Household (fish being the staple diet) but promised to give Cromwell's servant an annuity of five marks. To Cromwell he wrote, "we send you eight congers, & if anything in Cornwall can do you pleasure you may command me". In spite of this & other presents, Bodmin Priory was dissolved 27 Feb 1538-9 & its lands fell to the Crown. In 1544 the King sold its possessions to a contractor, who a fortnight later, disposed of Padstow Manor, with its advowson of the Vicarage, the Rectorial tithe, the Fish tythe, & all the jurisdiction that had belonged to the Priory, to Nicholas Prideaux Esq. of Soldon, Devon. He was succeeded by his nephew Roger Prideaux in 1560, whose son & successor in 1581 was Nicholas Prideaux, knighted in 1606. This Nicholas built Prideaux Place in 1592, probably on the site of the Priory Grange. His younger son John inherited the Padstow property, & bequeathed it to his nephew Edmund Prideaux, the direct ancestor of Col: Prideaux Brune, Lord of the Manor and patron of the Living of Padstow.
Thus, there have been Vicars of Padstow for 661 years. For 273 years the Rectors were the Prior & Canons of Bodmin: & for 388 years they have been members of the Prideaux family. During this period the number of Vicars has been about thirty-one, giving the unusually high average of a 21 years' incumbancy. Some vicars have had very long incumbancies, such as Vivian, 37 years: Whiskard, 36: Michell, 37: Bishopp, 35: Guy, 50: Rawlings, 46: and Tyacke, 59. Few Cornish benefices show such a record as this.

Compiled by Charles Henderson, B.A. Exeter College, Oxon. 1927.

Walter le Prior, to whom Bishop Bronescombe, while at his Manor of Pawton in St Breocke, gave the custody of the Vicarage of Aldestow, 29 March 1265, during the Bishops pleasure. He was not therefore a perpetual-Vicar.

Master Odo, called "Turethe", admitted to the Vicarage of Aldestow, on the presentation of the Prior & Convent of Bodmin, 14^th Oct. 1266, but not instituted until 13^th Aug. 1269, when the Bishop ordained that the Vicarage should consist of the whole Altalage (offerings on the Altar), & a competent Manse, but the Prior & Convent of Bodmin as Rectors were to enjoy the Tithe of Fish & Mills, & the Tithe of everything grown in the fields. The Vicar was to pay 40/^s yearly to the Prior, & bear all the usual burdens (Bronescombe Register, p161). In the Taxation of Pope Nicholas IV, 1290, the unfairness of the division of the Tithe is set forth, the Rectory of Haldestowe being rated at £5. 6. 8, & the Vicarage at only 13/4. It was not until the close of the 17^th century that augmentations were made to the Vicarage by the generosity of the (lay) patrons.

Sir* William de Alternon was instituted to the Church of St. Petroc of Aldestouwe on 29 March 1351-2: Patrons, the Prior & Convent. It is probable that the vacancy had been caused by the Terrible Pestilence known as the Black Death, which raged in Cornwall 1349-1351, & slew a very large number of the Clergy (Grandisson's Register, p1422).

John Morhay. His institution is not recorded. He occurs as Vicar of Aldestowe, alias Padylstowe, on 2^nd June 1384 when being only an "Accolite" he received Priest's orders.
In 1388 the Vicarage of Petrokystowe in Cornwall was under sequestration.

Sir John Stephyn, priest, was instituted on 10^th Oct. 1394 to St. Petroc of Padystowe. Patrons, the Prior & Convent of Bodmin. On his resignation,

Lawrence Merther, chaplain, was instituted to Padystow 16^th Nov. 1400. Patrons, the Prior & Convent of Bodmin. This Vicar was on several occasions appointed Penetentiary for the Deanery of Pydar, & in 1415 had license to celebrate Mass in the Chapels of Holy Trinity, St. Michael, St. Petrock, St. German, & St. Wethenya, all in the parish of St. Petroc of Padistow. The site of St. Michael's Chapel is on the top of the hill on the road to St. Columb, where several fields still bear the name of St. Michael's Parks. The site of the other Chapels is doubtful.
On the death of Master Lawrence Merther on 19^th June 1421, he was buried in the Chancel, where a Brass with his effigy yet remains, being one of the oldest Brasses in Cornwall.
                         His successor,
Sir John Lavyntone, was instituted to St. Patroc of Padelstowe on 28^th June 1421: (Bp. Lacy's Register p10) the patrons being the Prior & Convent of Bodmin. He was still Vicar in 1429 (Lacy p35)
In 1440 Bishop Lacy offered a Pardon or Indulgence of 40 days, to all the truly penitent, who (after confession) should contribute to the upkeep and the repairs of the parish Church of Padystow, & the lights & ornaments in it; or contribute by Will to the same. (Lacy's Register p770) At this time the Church was rebuilt.

Sir Richard Mayler, was instituted 1442 by the Prior & Convent of Bodmin (Lacy's Register p246)
He is named Vicar in the Manor Court Roll of 1451.

Sir John Gantell, Chaplain, was instituted on 7^th Aug. 1457 to Padystow on the death of Sir Richard Nayler. Patrons, the Prior & Convent of Bodmin (Nevylles Reg. fo.8^b) One, William Gantell, was a Cannon of Bodmin Priory & Receiver of the Priory Rents in 1454 & subsequent years, & the Vicar was perhaps his kinsman.

Sir David Courteys, Chaplin, was instituted on the Resignation of Sir John Gantell 1472 (Bp. Bothe's Register fo 21) to St. Petroc of Padestow: Patrons the Priors & Convent of Bodmin.
                                        On his death,
Sir John Richard, Chaplin, was instituted 23^rd Feb. 1478 (Bp. Courtenay's Reg. fo85^b) to St. Petroc of Padestowe. Patrons, ut supra. In 1492 we find John Richard, one of the Canons of Bodmin Priory, refusing to carry the Lantern, or obey the rules of the Order of St. Augustine, for which the Sub Prior reported him to the Archbishop's Commissary. (see Morton's Register fo.122)

Sir John Pawell B.D., was instituted 20^th Jan. 1497. (Bp. Redmayne's Reg. fo.2)

Sir Ralph Vivian, Chaplin, instituted 15^th April 1510 in place of Sir Robert Pawle. Patrons, the Prior & Convent of Bodmin, to "St. Petroc de Paddestowe" (Bp Oldhams Reg.40^a). Mr Ralph Vyvyan & his Curate, Sir John Peryn, are named in the Valor of 1536. The Vicar was probably a relative of Thomas Vivian, Prior, of Bodmin, & Bishop of Megara 1508-1533

Sir Richard Olyver, priest, was instituted to Paddestowe on the death of Sir Ralph Vivian 1547 (Bp. Veysey, fo.126) The patron was John Tregonwell Esq. who had purchased the advowson for that town from the late Prior & Convent of Bodmin. Tregonwell was evidently the same person as the notorious Vicar-General of King Henry VIII. Sir John Tregonwell, one of the chief of the King's instruments for the suppression of the Monasteries. Sir John came down & took the "surrender" of the great Priory of Bodmin on 27^th Feb. 1538-9, when the Prior & 8 Canons handed over their Convent and all its possessions to the King.
Richard Olyver was then Sub-Prior, & he received a pension of £8 a year. Thus the last Sub-Prior lived to become Vicar of one of the livings of which his House had once been wealthy patrons. The fact that Oliver obtained his benefice from a man like Tregonwell, & in the reign of the Protestant Edward VI, shows that he had thrown in his lot with the Reforming party. Sir Richard Oliver died in possession of his Vicarage, and

Sir John Morfey was instituted in 1563 (Bp. Alley's Reg. fo. 8) on the patronage of Roger Prydeaux Esq. This first Vicar of the independent Church of England was "presented" by the Jury at the Manor Court in 1564, for not serving his Cure, but leaving it without any priest. His name is here given as Murffyld. It was perhaps really the Irish Murphy.

Robert Archer was instituted on 8^th March 1570 on the death of John "Morthfewe". Patron, Roger Prideaux Esq. At the Manor Court that met on 9^th Oct. 1571 Robert "Archard", Clerk, was "presented" for assaulting John Hery, servant of John Kyllyow, gent: in Padstow on 20 Sep. previously.

Robert Whiskard was instituted 25 Aug. 1586 to Padstow-in-Rure on the resignation of Robert Arthur. Patron Nicholas Prydeaux Esq. (Builder of Place House) (Woolton's Reg. 28)

From an account made 1611 between Sir Nicholas Prideaux K^t, the Patron & lay Rector, & Robert Whiskard the Minister, it appears that Sir Nicholas paid the Vicar 52/10 in Tithe, & 2 gulls for the Tithe of the "Gull Rocke". The Vicar however was bound to pay 40/^s yearly to the Rector under the agreement which (as we have seen) was made by Bp. Bronescombe in 1269, when the Perpetual Vicarage was established.

Thomas Potter, B.A. was instituted 1 Aug. 1622 (Carey's Reg. fo.117) on the death of Robert Whiskard. Patrons, Sir Nich: Prideaux Kt. & John his son.

Ralph Michell, M.A., was instituted 12 Jan. 1632-3 on the death of Tho. Potter. Patron John Prideaux Esq. (Hall's Reg. fo 31)

Thomas Bawden instituted 7 Jan 1669-70 on the death of R. Michell. Patron Edmund Prideaux Esq. (Sparrow's Reg. fo.117)

James Beauford instituted 25 Jan. 1683-4 on the resignation of Thomas Bawden: Patron Edmund Prideaux Esq. (Lamplugh's Reg. 40)
He was the son of the Rector of St. Columb Major, by his wife, a daughter of Vivian of Trewan, & was also Rector of Lanteglos by Camelford from 1677 to 1690. He was then deprived as a Non juror for refusing to violate his oath to the exiled James II. Only one other Cornish Incumbent suffered with him, all the rest acknowledged William III.

Humphry Bishopp instituted 9 Sep. 1685, on the resignation of James Beauford. Patron John Prideaux Esq. (Lamplugh's Reg. 58)

Charles Guy instituted 1720 on the death of H. Bishopp: Patron Edmund Prideaux Esq.†
In 1745 this Vicar reported to the Bishop that his parish contained 234 families & no dissenters of any kind. There were no educational facilities. The charities consisted of lands given to the poor.
He resided on his benefice & had 100 communicants & more. He added, that of the 7 or 8 Chapels formerly in his parish, all were in ruins, & "ye names of almost entirely forgotten".
Mr. Guy died Vicar in 1770.

Thomas Biddulph instituted 1771.
In 1779 he reported 189 families in Town & parish but no dissenters. He resided in the Vicarage. He died 1790.

William Rawlings instituted 1790.
died Vicar 1836.

Richard Tyacke instituted 9 Feb. 1837.
who becoming blind in his old age, the Rev. Claributt acted as his curate.

Edward Frederick Nugent M.A. inst^d 1896: preferred (ultimately became RC)

William Craig Thomson, M.A. inst^d 1903 resigned for ill health

Montague Blamire Williamson, M.A. inst^d 1904: preferred

Charles Henry Piggot inst^d 1912

Charles Francis Trusted inst^d 1915: resigned became RC.

Thomas Henry Skinner, M.A., L.Theo. inst^d 1918

* Sir, was the usual title of a clerk who had not attained his M.A. degree.

† This Vicar signed the Terrier of 1727 wherein he states that the Vicarage (close to the Church) had 10 rooms: four below & six above, with a large porch. There were then 60 trees lately planted in the Churchyard; 20 sycamore, 30 elms & 10 ash.
In the tower were 5 bells & a clock.
The Vicarage had been augmented in 1682 by a bequest of 18 acres, called S^t Michael's Park, from Edmund Prideaux Esq. In 1687 his widow gave £50 by will. Their son Edmund, & grandson Edmund gave £20, & purchased the Way Field.
In 1727, £400 was given by D^r Godolphin, Dean of S^t Paul's London; and Edmund Prideaux Esq. and "G.A.B."