From this book I extracted the following catalogue of the Ministers
of the parish.
| John Clerk chaplain. | Anno | 1450. |
| John Risceby vicar. | 1460. | |
| Thomas George chaplain then. | ||
| Robert Jelow. | 1469. | |
| William Greyborn vicarius perpetuus. | 1474. | |
| Sir John Welby priest. | ||
| Sir John Lyard perpetual vicar. | obiit | 1496. |
| Baxter. | 1508. | |
| Ds. Neel capellanus. | ||
| Richard Wytte. | 1520. | |
| Sir John Scapull. | ob. | 1524. |
| Sir Robert Manning. | 1550. | |
| Sir Thomas West. | 1561. | |
| Thomas Gybson precher. | ||
| Othoneel Bradbury. | 1600. | |
| Matthew Clarke vicar of Holbech. | 1610. | |
| Henry Williamson. | 1630. | |
| John Grante. | 1633. | |
| John Bellenden. | 1640. | |
| John Pymlowe. | 1647. | |
| John Pymlowe. | 1687. | |
| George Arnett. | 1720.[22] |
In 1529, a new organ cost 3l. 6s. 8d. The organ in the church was taken down 1568. Anno 1453, Wm. Enot, of Lynn, epi. and Henry Nele of Holbech, gave the saints bell. Another guild of St. Thomas; another of our Lady. The vestry on the south side of the choir was taken down 1567. There was formerly a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary at Holbech hurn, near the ancient seat of the Littleburys; standing 1515: another chapel thereabouts, dedicated to St. Nicholas: another in Wignal’s gate, near Holbech hall, by the river side, dedicated to St. Peter. About 1719, I saw many corpses dug up in the yard at making a ditch there. Another in the fen ends. An ancient guild of Corpus Christi stood near Barney pit, where is now a house once belonging to Moses Stukeley, who owned the estate thereof. An hospital founded by John de Kirkton, in his own messuage, by licence of king Ed. III dat. Nov. 16, for a warden, chaplain, and fifteen poor people: he endowed it with several lands in Holbech, which he held of the abbot of Croyland, who by licence permitted the same to be annexed to this hospital of All Saints in Holbech, for which he paid 20l. This stood, as I imagine, where now is the Chequer inn, over against the church. I remember the old stone-work arched doors and windows with mullions, pulled down when rebuilt by my father, and many of the carved stones were laid in the foundation of the houses he built by the river side at the bridge. See Dugdale’s Monasticon. A free-school was founded here, about 1669, by George Farmer, esq. who endowed it with lands, which with others since given are now worth about 50l. per annum; which I am bound in gratitude not to forget. A. D. 1699, there were belonging to the fifty-four bounds of this parish, paying rates, acres 6234; in the marsh, acres 6532; and since added for the last intake, acres 170. The old cross in the market-place was pulled down 1683. 1253, Thomas de Multon, lord Egremont, obtained a market and fair toTAB II. 2d Vol. Holbech, 31 Oct. 37 Hen. III. at Windsor, and probably built that cross.
2·2d.
Holbech Cross Lincolnshire
Ob amorem erga Solum Natale, Temporum Ignorantia direptam restituit Ws. Stukeley 1722
Whaplode.
Quaplode, called anciently Capellade, i. e. Capella ad Ladam s. fluvium, has a very ancient church, founded by the abbots of Croyland: the tower stands on the south side. In the upper and south windows are these coats of arms. Barry of six azure and argent; Azure, a bend gules, charged with three roses argent; Argent, two lions passant gardant gules, Littlebury. In the east window of the north chapel, Littlebury, and Or, a fesse between two chevronels gules; and Sable, a fret argent, Harrington: Azure, on a bend gules, three roses argent, as before. I have a copy of the foundation of this church. Here is a large monument of the Irbys.