Читать книгу History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Shropshire [1851] - Samuel Bagshaw - Страница 24

Table of Contents

Charities.—St. Giles’ Hospital, situated near St. Giles’ Church, was originally established for the reception of persons afflicted with leprosy. Henry II., for the support of the hospitallers, granted 30s. yearly out of the rent of the county of Salop, and a handful of two hands of every sack of corn, and a handful of one hand of every sack of flour exposed for sale in Shrewsbury market. Henry III., in 1232, gave a horse load of wood, daily, from his wood of Lythwood. The right of nominating the inmates of the hospital is exercised by the Earl of Tankerville, and the following payments are made to them by one of his lordship’s agents:—To each of the four inmates, 1s. 6d. per week; 3s. at midsummer for coals; and 12s. 6d. at Christmas for a garment

Peter Langley, in 1650, gave £200 for charitable uses, and John and Jonathan Langley bequeathed £100 for the same purpose. These gifts were laid out in the purchase of lands and premises in Castle Foregate, which produced an income of £82 per annum at the time the Charity Commissioners published their report. The amount is distributed in sums, varying from 2s. to 10s., among the most aged and needy parishioners.

Mathusalem Jones charged an estate at Underdale with the payment of so much money, as should furnish five coats for men and five garments for women, to be given to ten paupers every 5th of November.

Elizabeth Prynce, in 1711, bequeathed £100, and directed the same to be laid out in lands or hereditaments, the yearly produce thereof to be distributed among the poorest inhabitants of the parish. There are no deeds in the parish relating to the laying out of this bequest; but the property supposed to have been purchased therewith consists of four cottages in the Abbey Foregate, producing a yearly rental of £4. 10s. each.

Thomas Doughty bequeathed £50, the interest thereof to be laid out in bread. This bequest, and five others, amounting in the whole to £85, were probably carried to the church account, as the interest, £3. 18s., has been considered as a charge upon the estate held by the parish. The amount is expended in bread, which is given away every Sunday.

Thomas Jenkins, Esq., in 1730, directed that six poor people, parishioners of Holy Cross, should be clothed once in every year. Three poor men and three poor women are supplied with coats and gowns at the expense of R. Jenkins, Esq., of Bicton.

Thomas Talbot Gorsuch, by a codicil to his will, bearing date 4th June, 1819, gave to the vicar and churchwardens of the parish of Holy Cross and St. Giles, £300 three per cent. reduced annuities, upon trust, to distribute the interest to such poor persons of the said parish as should be most regular in attendance at divine service in the parish there, and be the most deserving objects of charity. Not less than ten shillings to be given to each poor person.

There is an entry in the old churchwardens’ book, under the date of 1634, reciting that divers lands and messuages had been formerly given to the repair of the churches of Holy Cross and St. Giles, and so decreed by commission of charitable uses, James II. The amount of these rents, £127. 4s. 10d., with such payments as are received for opening graves and for pew rents, the two latter amounting to about £20 per annum, supply the place of a church rate, and are sufficient for the repairs and ornaments of the two churches in this parish.