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Transcription of the original 1839 notice regarding the proposal to unite the Parish churches of Elmsted and Hastingleigh
under one benefice, with a shared Rector/Vicar. The orginal is among the Elmsted Church records held at Canterbury Cathedral.
Statement of facts and notice by the undersigned William Lord Arch-Bishop of the Province of Canterbury respecting the proposed Union of the Vicarage of Elmsted and the Rectory of Hastingleigh both in the County of Kent and Diocese of Canterbury, into One Benefice for Ecclesiastical purposes only under the provisions of the Act of Parliament 1st and 2nd [years of] Victoria c.10 [10th year of her reign] Where as it having appeared to us William Lord Arch-Bishop of the Province of Canterbury that the Vicarage of Elmsted and the Rectory of Hastingleigh both in the County of Kent and Within the Diocese of Canterbury / which are contiguous to each other and of which the aggregate population does not exceed one thousand five hundred persons and the aggregate yearly value does not exceed five hundred pounds / might with advantage to the interests of Religion be united into One Benefice under the powers of the Act of Parliament 1st and 2nd Victoria c.10th
We made enquiry into the circumstances of the case, and it having appeared to us on such enquiry that such union might be usefully made and would not be of inconvenient extent and we the said Arch Bishop being in Right of our See of Canterbury, the Patron of both the said Benefices and being consenting to the Union thereof. We do thereby in pursuance of the said act of Parliament make the following statement of facts Vizt
The two Parishes of Elmsted and Hastingleigh are contiguous
The population of the said Parish of Elmsted according to the latest returns of Population made under the Authority of Parliament amounts to Five Hundred and two persons and the population of the said Parish of Hastingleigh according to the same returns, amounts to two hundred and sixteen, making an aggregate population of seven hundred and eighteen.
The Net yearly value of the said Vicarage of Elmsted estimated according to the directions of the said Act of Parliament of the first and second years of her present Majesty amounts to One Hundred and Seventy pounds and the net yearly value of the said Rectory of Hastingleigh, estimated in like manner amounts to one hundred and fifty pounds, making an aggregate yearly value of Three Hundred and Twenty pounds.
There is a House of Residence and Glebe belonging to the said Rectory of Hastingleigh, but there is no house belonging to the said Vicarage of Elmsted, only Glebe land.
And we the said Arch Bishop do hereby give notice to any person or persons interested in the Union which is proposed to be made of the said Benefices, that he, she or they may within six weeks from the day of affixing this notice on this Door, show cause in writing under his, her or their hands to us the said Arch Bishop against such union. Witness our hand this twenty seventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and and thirty nine.
Signed [in the presence of Christopher Hodgeson secretary ] W Cantuar (?)
This notice was affixed there on the Church Door on the twenty seventh day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine
By me Gostwyck Prideaux, Vicar and so remained till the eighth day of October 1839 [signed] G. Prideaux-Vicar
And as no cause or impediment was declared why the above named livings of Hastingleigh and Elmsted should not be joined together, they were duly united by the good old Bishop Dr. William Howley, Arch-Bishop of Canterbury.
