Drypool Team Parish, Hull, UK

Reproduced from

DRYPOOL - Being a History of the Ancient Parish of Drypool cum Southcoates
by M. Edward Ingram (1959)

34

preserved at St. John's College, Cambridge. This is from Henry Watkinson, Chancellor of York to Thomas White, Bishop of Peterborough. In this letter, Wilson is described as "a Man of S:::nse and Spiritt," who " had 2 or 3 small Livings not all amounting to 40 or about £50 per annum." One of these livings was Welwick to which he was appointed in 1683 and of which says Torre he was deprived in 1690. In July, 1690, Richard Kitson was instituted. He had b~en Master of the Charterhouse since 1671, and had rebuilt the chapel there, demolished during the siege.

THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

Kitson died in 1711, and with the eighteenth century we get two long incumbencies, during most of which time the vicar was non-resident: Edward Robinson (17111758), and William Huntington (1759-1783). The latter was presented by Robert Wilberforce, father of the Emancipator. Both were local men, and it would seem that Robinson came to Drypool straight after ordination in 1711, as he was instituted in that year. Whilst he never relinquished Drypool, he also held Marfleet (17151720), Roos (1726-1735), Hilston (1731-1758), and Winestead from 1755 until his death in 1758. During this long period there were others who assisted in the parish. Thomas Patrick (1733- I 739), who was Vicar of Scu1coates, Thomas Crowle; Philip Hall and Christopher Wray, also Curates at St. Mary's, Hull, and Thomas Stainton, curate and later Vicar of Scu1coates. These men in their day and generation served the parish according to their lights. The Register at this time contains little of interest. There is a page of receipts and in 1755 prompted either by a burst of patriotism, or merely by a wish to tryout a new pen, the clerk of the day inscribes" God Bless King George."

In 1743 Archbishop Herring carried out a Visitation of his Diocese, and Robinson's answers to the questions give us a passing glimpse of parish life at the time. He was then resident at Hilston, there being" no Parsonage

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house" at Drypool. The number of families in the parish was 23, six of whom were Presbyterians and Independents. They must have gone into Hull for meetings, as there was" no Licensed or other meeting house of any Sort." Nor was there any "Charity School or Alms-house." No land had been" left for the repair of our Church, or to any other pious use." There was, however, a" charitable endowment of a farm £15 15s. Od. per annum," which was administered by the Vicar, Churchwardens and Overseers, "no frauds and abuses that" he knew of.

As at Scu1coates, service was held only once a month, "as by Law required, and I do not find that it was performed oftner." Religious life, however, was by no means dead. The Sacrament was administered four times a year, there being about 45 communicants, a good number for 23 families. When Robinson died in 1758, he was succeeded by William Huntington, who had been at Ferriby and Kirk Ella since 1735.

There is rather more of interest in Register IV. A Terrier of 1786 shows the meagre furnishings of the church. There was" a Surplice, a pulpit Cushion, a Pewter Flaggon, a silver Cup, a Silver Plate, one Bell," none of which seem to have survived. The screen had disappeared after Archdeacon Oering's visit in 1720, and the chief object of interest would be the three-decker pulpit, furnished with its red cushion. Since the church was small, this was probably placed at one side of the nave. The living was endowed by glebe in Withernwick (Mickle Hill Close), and Beeford, both of which had been purchased by Queen Anne's Bounty to increase the endowment. In addition, Charles Poole, the Lay Improprietor, paid £10 yearly, and James Young of Southcoates had left £20 to endow a sermon on Christmas Day. The Incumbent was also due at Easter to "a Composition of one shilling paid for each house." The Clerk had a similar composition of sixpence. These have never been abolished.

The Stamp Act of 1783 granted a duty of 3d. on every entry in the Church Register, and this remained in force

Reproduced from

DRYPOOL - Being a History of the Ancient Parish of Drypool cum Southcoatesby M. Edward Ingram (1959)

DRYPOOL - Being a History of the Ancient Parish of Drypool cum Southcoates
by M. Edward Ingram (1959)