List of Cople Vicars

Plaque to Henry East Havergal in Cople church February 2008

The advowson| of All Saints, Coplewas granted to the Gilbertine priory of Chicksands by Simon de Beauchamp in the latter 13^th century and confirmed in the early 14^th century by his son William.  After the Dissolution, the advowson was granted to the Dean and Chapter of Christ Church, Oxford, who still hold it.

Since 1969 the Vicar of Cople has also been incumbent of Willington| and, since 1998, of Mogerhanger| too as part of the Ivel Group Ministry, though the churches retain their own parochial church councils and services.

 
Crucifixion in Cople church east window February 2008

• Adam de Herlingdun - 12th June 1237 [chaplain];
• Geoffrey;
• Thomas de Haregrave: 8th October 1276 [chaplain, on death of Geoffrey];
• Nicholas de Camelton: 16th September 1294 [chaplain, on death of Thomas];
• William de Camelton: 20th Oct 1318 [priest, on death of Nicholas de Camelton];
• Roger de Hoxon: 27th July 1339 [priest, on resignation of William de Camelton];
• William de Trusthorp: 25th February 1342 [on resignation of Roger de Hoxon];
• William Austyn: 10th December 1349 [priest, on resignation of William];
• John Heye: 11th May 1362 [priest, on death of Walter Austyn];
• John Marchall: 2nd April 1433 [priest, vacant];
• William Midleton: 28th October 1433 [priest, on the resignation of John Marshall];
• Robert Clerke: 10th July 1435 [chaplain, on resignation of William Myddilton];
• William Gunwardby: 22nd December 1441 [Bishop of Dunkeld, vacant];
• John Irener: 31st October 1442 [priest, on resignation of William Gunwardby, Bishop of Dunkeld];
• William Coupill: 3rd January 1454 [monk of Warden, on the resignation of John Irener];
• Alexander Wode: 3rd October 1463 [priest, on death of John Irener];
• Thomas Noke;
• Thomas Barker: 17th August 1489 [priest, on the resignation of Thomas Noke];
• Thomas Bamford: 20th December 1501 [priest, on resignation of Thomas Barker];
• Thomas Stykney: 17th May 1525 [on death of Thomas Bamforth];
• Reginald Hogeson: 18th December 1526 [chaplain, on resignation of Thomas Stykney];
• Adam Mowlesworthe: 7th August 1532 [chaplain, on resignation of Reginald Hogeson];
• John Rossell: 1567 [clerk, on death of Adam Molesworthe];
• Richard Hodgeson: 10th December 1579 [clerk, vacant by death of John Rossell];
• Roger Hudson/Hodgson: [vicar, buried 7th January 1607]
• William Greenough: 24th February 1607 [M.A., on death of Roger Hudson. Patron Nicholas Luke Esq.];
• William Spencer: 1622;
• John Gwynn: September 1633 [M.A., married Margery Smith 15th May 1634];
• Samuel Milborne: 1658-9;
• Joseph Gascoyne: 1668;
• Robert Hawkins: 1706 [curate in plurality with Goldington];
• Benjamin Holloway: 1717 [curate in plurality with Renhold and Willington];
• Barwell Collins: 17th June 1725 [on cessation of Benjamin Holloway, L.L.B.; in plurality with Cardington];
• Charles Potter: 21st January 1728 [on cessation of the last];
• John Betts: 9th June 1730 [clerk, on cessation of Charles Potter; in plurality with Willington];
• John Pemberton: 27th September 1745 [clerk, on death of John Betts; in plurality with Cardington and Keysoe];
• Thomas Birt: 18th September 1746;
• Angel Silke: 5th June 1761 [clerk, on cessation of Thomas Birt];
• John Graham: 31st December 1795 [M.A., on death of Angel Silke];
• Jonathan Trebeck: 18th July 1826 [M.A., on death of John Graham];
• Robert Chomley Price: 14th July 1846 [M.A., on death of J Trebeck. Resigned 5th April 1847];
• Henry East Havergal: 2nd July 1847 [M.A., on resignation of R C Price];
• Harry Hocken: 11th April 1875 [M.A., on death of H E Havergal];
• Joseph John Atkins: April 1915;
• William Hambley Norman: September 1936;
• Julian Leslie Stewart: April 1938;
• Richard Charles James Bunter Colthurst: May 1939;
• Horace Spence: April 1946;
• William Chipchase Stainsby: May 1948;
• Theodore Reginald Thomas Bennington Hayes: October 1950;
• Edward Arthur Nobles: 1969;
• Christopher Philip Huitson: 1977;
• John A Terry: 1990;
• Nicholas T.MacNeill: 1998;
• Lynda Klimas: 2004.  

 
A garden party at Wood End House 1919 note Rev Joseph John Atkins [Z50/33/1]

Volume 81 published by the Bedfordshire Historical Records Society (2002) is devoted to returns made during episcopal visitations| to the county by the Bishop of Lincoln in the early 18th century, edited by former County Archivist Patricia Bell. The entries, made by the Vicar or Curate, throw and interesting light on the state of the church in the parish at the time. In 1709, for example: "One Un-baptized comes to Church, and some few not confirmed. Communicants above 60, of these 56 received Easter last". In 1712 it was reported: "The Curate does not reside; he lives at his Parish of Goldington. None Un-baptized come to Church. Divine Service once every Lord's day; the other time at Goldington. Communion 4 times a year. 60 Communicants. About 50 received at Easter last".

By 1717 Benjamin Holloway had become curate and: "I have taken an House in this Parish, and shall also make use of my vicarage House, which is near my other dwelling". He went on: "I know of none that come t ochurch unbaptized, and all that are of a competent Age either have been, or are ready to be confirmed. Publick service is read in the Church once every Lord's day, because the vicarage does not afford a competent maintainance, and when there is no service in this church, the Parishioners hear it very conveniently at Willington or Cardington...The Sacrament is administered four times a year. Here are usually about forty communicants, particularly we had about that number at Easter last. I give open and timely warning of the sacrament before Administration. The parishioners do not send in their Names, but they shall be admonished so to do. I have not refused the Sacrament to any".

In 1720 Holloway confirmed: "I do reside upon my Cure: But not in the vicarage House which is not capable of my Family. I have a Curate for the churches of Renhold and Willington, Mich: Arnald A.B. He boards at Renhold in a Farmer's House near the Church. He is duly qualify'd and I allow him £24 Per Annum" The curate thus had a curate. Holloway continued: "Publick service is perform'd in our church once every Lord's day, the other time the Inhabitants go to Church at Willington or Cardington, which lie near and commodious. The Poverty of these Churches is the unhappy cause of this Defect here, and in the neighbouring Parishes...The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is Administred in our Church 4 times every year, viz: at Christmas, Easter, Whitsuntide and Michaelmas. We have usually about 50 communicants. We might have above twice so many".

On Sunday 30th March 1851 a census of all churches, chapels and preaching-houses of every denomination was undertaken in England and Wales. The local results were published by Bedfordshire Historical Records Society in 1975 as Volume 54, edited by D.W.Bushby. The figures given for Cople were 58 attending in the morning and 100 in the afternoon, with 72 Sunday Scholars in the morning and 70 in the afternoon - grand totals of 130 and 170. The average for the preceding twelve months was given as 65 and 75 in the morning and 130 and 75 in the afternoon for grand totals of 140 and 205 - the census day was very wet and cold, not enticing people to travel far.

The Vicar, Henry Havergal noted: As the greater part of the morning congregation do no tattend in the afternoon or evening the average number of those who attend at one or other service may be reckoned at 240 or 250 distinct individuals". He gave seating accommodation in the church as 170.