Page:Notes on the churches in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.djvu/141

Rh term "mynstre" generally, if not always, signifies not a church merely, but a monastery.

217. .—The site of the old church is occupied by the stables of Mereworth Castle. (Gust. Roff.) The present church is an incongruous building in what perhaps would be called the "classic" style.

Brasses: Will. Shosmyth, citizen of London, and wife Juliana, 1479; Sir Tho. Nevell, 1542. (Reg. Roff.) These were noticed in the old church.

218. MERLEA. (D. B.)—describes a church in a part of the manor of "Bogelei, which is denominated Merlea." This, the last quotation below proves, is the estate now called Marley, in the parish of Harrietsham. Adam, the occupant under K. William I, (who is stated in D. B. to hold Bogelei under the Bishop of Bayeux), gave the tithes of Marley to Anschitill, archdeacon of Canterbury (he is named in D. B. likewise as archdeacon), who, with Eudo brother and successor of Adam, gave them to the priory of St. Andrew in Rochester. At the dissolution of religious houses possession was confirmed by K. Henry VIII to the newly-created dean and chapter of Rochester; to which all the said tithes now belong (Hasted); principally, if not entirely, from the Rochester records. "Robertus filius Hamonis dedit terrain de Merelaue, scilicit dimidiam virgatam: Robert son of Hamo gave the land of Merelaue, namely, half a virgate;" (Spelman says that a virgate of land varied from twenty to forty acres); which is mentioned apparently as having formed part of the "terra Eudonis dapiferi" above spoken of. (Reg. Roff., 195). In another document "Merile" is expressly declared to be "in parochia de Herietesham." (Ib. 410.)

219. .—In 1455 this parish was so devoid of inhabitants, as to have no cure of souls; wherefore licence of non-residence and excuse from duties was granted to the incumbent by the bishop, save on the festival of St. Egidius, the patron saint. (Reg. Roff.) From the above period therefore must be dated the gradual decay of the church. However, notwithstanding this, Merston is estimated as a chapelry in (Val. Eccl.) Hasted asserts, that it was considered only a chapel to Shorne. The (Clergy List) still names it, but as a sinecure rectory.

220. .—Of this church ruins only exist, whence it appears to have been very small. The manor with a church under the title of "Midelea" is mentioned in (D. B.) so