Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/471

 The vicar on his part was required to pledge himself to pay all ordinary taxes and expenses incumbent upon the church, excepting "the covering of the chancel of the church, the payment of 40s. to the Archdeacon of Richmond, and the Tenths payable to the King for ever," for which the Master of the College agreed on behalf of himself and his successors to be answerable. The foregoing grant and regulations were confirmed in 1425 and 1485 by Henry VI. and Henry VII. respectively. After the Dissolution the right of presentation was exercised by King Charles in 1629, who appointed Nicholas Bray to the vicarage. Subsequently the patronage of the living has descended through several private individuals, and is now centred in the present vicar, the Venerable Archdeacon Hornby.

The parish church of St. Michael's contained two chantries, one of which, dedicated to St. Katherine, occupied the chapel still existing in the north aisle. This chantry was founded some time about the middle of the fifteenth century by John Botiler, or Butler, lord of the manor of Out Rawcliffe. Canon Raines says that a portion of the body armour either of him or one of his immediate descendants remained suspended in the chapel until long after 1700.

Alice Butler, the daughter of Sir Thomas Radcliffe, and widow of Nicholas Butler, the eldest son of the founder, bequeathed by will, dated the 20th of November, 1504, "her sowll to God and hys Blessyd Mother and all the holye Cumpanie of heven, and her bodye to be beryd in Christian wyse in Saynt Katrine's chapel, where her husband laye;" also "to the lyght brenning there 20d; to Thomas Walton, or some wel dysposed priest to synge for my sowll for one yeare £1 13s. 4d., solemn mass of requiem, and other obsequies to be done as becometh one of my degree, but not too moche expendsive so that my executors let not (hinder not) my dowters advancement in marryage; and to S^r John Butler, Clerk, 40s. a yeare togider with meate and drynke whiles he is on lyfe." In the reign of Henry VIII., William Harrison was the officiating priest of this chantry, and at that time its tenants, possessions, and annual rentals were, one