An incumbent is a person who currently holds a particular office or position within the church, typically a parish priest or vicar. The role of the incumbent has evolved significantly over the centuries, particularly in rural parishes like ours.
Over the years, the responsibilities of incumbents have adapted to meet the changing needs of their communities. In the medieval period, for instance, incumbents were deeply involved in local governance, often acting as mediators in disputes and overseers of agricultural and economic matters. As society progressed through the Reformation and into modern times, the focus of incumbents shifted more towards spiritual leadership, pastoral care, and community outreach.
Today, the role of the incumbent in a rural parish encompasses a wide range of duties, including preaching, teaching, leading worship, and supporting social initiatives. They play a crucial role in fostering a sense of community and belonging among parishioners, guiding them in their faith journey while remaining sensitive to the unique challenges faced by rural populations.
Here is a record of the clergy who have been responsible for the parish, right back to the 13th century:
…. Walter de Saham
1292 William le Palmer
1308 John of Barrington
1329 William Loveryng
1349 Walter Flemmyng
1361 Thomas Lombard
1382 Edward Cooke
1426 John Saye
1430 William Colyns
1434 John Banks
1443 William Leyghton
1448 William Dayster
1452 John Rawlyns
1462 Thomas Beeke
1472 Malachi Burnham
1475 William Danyell
1482 Robert Melton
…. William Bucknell
1507 Henry Osborne
…. William Wye
1532 Thomas Vaughan
1547 Henry Lowe
1570 Henry Mall
1595 William Elmes
1603 Thomas Gough
1613 William Tyndall
1613 Nicholas Donnell
1632 Leonard Alexander
1642 Robert Kercher
1645 Owen Morgan
1661 James Garth
1669 David Standish
1681 Jonathan Falkner
1684 Thomas Gray
1693 Thomas Riley
1713 Walter Garrett
1737 Philip Tennant
1738 William Jourd
1777 John Dennis
1789 Sir Peter Rivers Gay Bt
1790 Thomas Rennell
1791 Robert Hare
1797 Nicholas Westcombe
1814 Thomas Rennell
1840 Henry Middleton
1844 William Vaux
1845 Francis Swanton
1872 Abraham Horwill Stogdon
1892 Ulric Zwinglius Rule
1909 Arthur Charles Franklin
1923 Frederick Rowland Dawson
1924 Gerald Claude Randolph D’Arcy
1958 Cecil Beaumont Verity
1969 John Humphrey Norman Llewelyn
1985 Derek John Cottrill
1993 William Robson
2000 Christopher Finch
2008 Mark David Bailey
2022 David Roche