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émulate the example, by the construction, in some conspicuous place, not far distant from the scene of Oswy and of Chad's religious labours, of a temple in honour of the Gothic superstition; and this place, it is extremely probable, was the lofty hill of HANTUNE, where was doubtless a Druidical temple from the earliest times.* I am led to this conclusion alike by the fact that a Christian establishment was formed here at this period, and by the name of Wulfere

away during the Danish incursions, or fell before the effects of that system which the first Normans instituted, to enfeeble and paralyze the influence of the Saxon clergy. Their loss, however, is not to be regretted, since they have been replaced by edifices of a much superior character, both for beauty and durability.

* The reasons for this conjecture will be considered at large in chap. iii.

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† Popular tradition is at variance with the above account; for it describes the original foundation of thischurch to nobile matronæ et religiosa fæmina Wlfruna; (Dugd. Mon. See also Camd. Gibs. Col. 529.) but there is no doubt in my mind, that though this noble lady might and did liberally endow the church or monastery, it was of much earlier foundation. Thus Tanner says, "in Archbishop Sigeric's Privilege to Wulfruna, there is not only a recital of her donations, but a confirmation of those estates which the church had possessed in ANCIENT TIMES; which inclines me to think that it was established before her time." Wulfruna's building, however, fell into decay soon after the Norman conquest, although it was composed of durable materials. It stood on the High Green, and the foundations, which were visible only a few years ago, appeared calculated to bid defiance to the encroachments of time. Shaw, who inspected them in 1801, says, that they were handsome and spacious rooms or vaults, about thirty feet square, with strong and massy groins in the centre at the top, the whole unmutilated and very perfect stonework. These might have formed a part of the base story of a building of considerable magnitude. The walls are of great thickness, near three yards, in which are still visible the remains of doorways or passages. On the east and west sides are some small remains of carved cornice stones.' How the superstructure, which would doubtless be of corresponding strength, came to ruin, history does not inform us. The monastic buildings might indeed be in existence, together with the church, up to the period when the seculars were expelled in the reing of John, although perhaps in a dilapidated state; but as the Archbishop of Canterbury projected the erection of a new establishment for his monks, we can scarcely conceive it probable that they were then in a state fit for habitation.

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being given to the town where the temple was built; for there are reasons for believing that it was subsequently called after him, WULFERE-HAN-TUNE, the town of Wulfere's divinity, the Sun, although it was not received by that appellation for some ages subsequently to his death. The temple would be turned into a Christian church after his conversion,* the patronage of the hill be transferred from Ceridwen or Frea, the Celtic and Gothic female divinities, to the Blessed Virgin; and he would endow it with some portion of its present possessions; and there is every reason to believe that this was the first Christian church erected at Wolverhampton.

In 680, pursuant to a new ecclesiastical arrangement, the bishop and his clergy resided together in a spacious building erected for the purpose at Lichfield. From hence the bishop made periodical visitations to the people under his pastoral care, to preach

* The account of his conversion is thus given by Plot, (p. 407.) "St. Ceadda had not been long at Lichfield, whither he had fled after the murder of Wulfere's two sons, before the king was struck with such remorse for his wicked deeds, that he could enjoy no calm repose, until, with the advice of his queen, Erminilda, a Christian lady, daughter of Egbert, king of Kent, he went to St. Ceadda, and declaring his repentance for his sin in murdering his sons, he became a Christian, abolished all idolatrous adoration out of his dominions, and upon the death of Jarumannus, which happened soon after. made St. Ceadda bishop of Lichfield, and founded many places of worship, the Abbey of Stone in particular, being not far from his seat called Wulfercester, now Bury bank." There are records to prove that Wulfere took St. Chad under his especial patronage, and empowered him to found seven churches and religious houses, one of which was probably at Wolverhampton.

+ It is quite clear from the following passage in the charter of Sigeric, that the church had possessions both in Wolverhampton and the neighbourhood long before the time of Wulfruna. Propterea flexis precibus tuis, per hujus præceptionis nostræ paginam, ac præsente septimâ indictione, si justè et rationabiliter nobis petisti, et ab aliis hominibus minimè detinentur, statuentes decernimus ut cuncta loca urbana, oppida, vel rustica rura, sicuti omnia præfatum tuum monasterium Hantun detinuit a priscis temporibus, et nunc cum magnâ securitate quietiùs debeas possidere," &c.

Bede, 1. iii. c. 7.

in consecrated places, and perform the offices of religion at Wolverhampton and elsewhere; while the clergy attended to the instruction of youth, that the rising generation might be exempt from those prejudices which had impeded the progress of Christianity in the minds of their parents. And this is the most effectual manner of converting heathen nations. To remove a prepossession from an adult, may be a very difficult task; but to prevent its introduction in an infant, is comparatively easy. At this period the entire jurisdiction of our bishop was called his parochia or diocese,* and the cathedral at Lichfield was the mother church; or, as it is denominated by Dionysius and other early writers, "the Baptismal Church," or the church where baptism and the eucharist were alone celebrated after Christianity had become sufficiently settled to render river baptism unnecessary, in contradistinction to the private chapels which had been substituted for the ancient places of heathen adoration. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered by the bishop himself weekly; or, in his absence, by some priest properly authorized by him; and an annual procession was made at Pentecost, and oblations offered by every communicant.

* Aliquando parochia dicitur totus Episcopatus. Parochia etiam dioecesis episcopalis dicitur. (Serm. Aug. lit. T. Malmsb. de gest. pont. l. i.

† Gratian. Caus. iii. q. 2.

This was the origin of the Chad-penny, or Chad-farthing, called in some districts the smoke farthing; for the pentecostals or customary oblations offered by the dispersed inhabitants within a diocese when they made their processions to the baptismal or mother church, came by degrees into a standing annual payment called by these names. And in the fourteenth century, orders were circulated to move the curates or parochial clergy to advise the people of their ancient and laudable customs of processions and oblations to the cathedral church at Whitsuntide. Nec non ab exigendum petendum, levandum et colligendum et recipiendum omnes et singulas oblationes hujusmodi quadrantes pentecostales, alias smock farthings vulgariter nuncupatas. (Cowel.) This payment has been sometimes confounded with the ancient shot for wax, but they were quite

In populous districts, like that under our consideration, this arrangement at length became burdensome, if not altogether impracticable;* for the great distance which intervened between the mother church and the extreme parts of the diocese, would either prevent innumerable Christians from communicating, or, if they were zealous in the cause, and regular in their attendance on the service of the altar, it would be impossible to dispense the elements to the crowds who would then assemble to participate in the means of grace.

To remedy an evil of such magnitude, a few collegiate churches and oratories or chapels of ease were erected near the residence of the principal thanes, to prevent the frequent absence of their dependents. And at this period, I should conceive that the church of Wolverhampton was made collegiate, by the influence of a pious lady named Wulfruna, who was the widow of Athelm Duke of Northampton, and a different, and payable at two several periods. Formerly Candlemas day was one of the highest festivals in the whole year, on which every parish church was superbly illuminated with wax candles, for the purchase of which each family contributed its quota or shot; and hence the money paid to the parish priest by each family was called shot for wax.

*The first step towards the formation of parishes in the regulation above alluded to, was effected by Dionysius, bishop of Rome, A.D. 266, and it was confirmed by the councils of Toledo and Worms.

+ At this time the whole kingdom of Mercia was subdivided into five parishes only, of which Lichfield was one.-(Flor. Wigorn. sub. an. 680. Bede, Eccl. Hist. 1. iv. c. 12.)

Besides, circumstanced as society then was, it would be altogether impracticable for the mass of the people to remain so long and so frequently absent from their lord's service, for no arrangements were yet made for the administration of this important rite

in

any other place than the mother church; and even after the present period the censures were very severe on that point. In the council of Ganga it was ordained, that if any one hold assemblies privately out of the church, and, despising the church, chooses to perform ecclesiastical offices where there is no presbyter appointed by the bishop, let him be anathema.—(An. 6.)

daughter or sister of King Etheldred;* and she endowed it with lands at the following thirteen places besides Wolverhampton: Bilsetneituna (Bilston), Willenhala (Willenshall), Wodnesfelda (Wednesfield), Weoleshala (Walsall), Ocgintuna (Essington), two Hiltunas (Hilton), Hagerthornduna (Hatherton), Kinwaldestuna (Kinvaston), Feotherstuna (Fetherston), two Earnleias (Arley), and Eswicha or Aswic.† Thus Wulfruna is reputed to have been the founder of a church at Wolverhampton for a dean and pre

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* Erdeswick gives the following account of this establishment: King Edgar, about 970, anno regni xi, at the request of his dying sister Wulfrena, as it is said, (from whom it is called Wulfrene Hampton), founded a chapel of eight portionaries, whom, by incorporation, she made rector of that parish, to receive the tithes in common, but devisable by a yearly lot. The head, or chief of these she made patron of them all, and sole ordinary of that whole parish: cum omnimodâ jurisdictione; and thereby made that church, cum membris, exempt, not only from Coventry and Lichfield by express composition, but also by the papal bull, from all his legates and delegates for ever. In which condition it hath since continued to these times, subject to no terrene power, but the supreme majesty of England, and under it to the perpetual visitation of the Keepers of the Great Seal."-(Harw. Staf. p. 263.)

It will be useless to attempt a description in English of the boundaries of the several portions of Wulfruna's noble donation to the church, as it would be altogether unintelligible; for the oaks, the alders, the thorns, the groves of broom, the horse pastures, the deer pools, and other local appendages which served as boundarymarks to the property, have entirely disappeared, not only from their original situations, but also from human memory The document, however, is exceedingly valuable, and I have inserted it in the appendix (A.) for the edification of the curious enquirer. Even the name of one of the estates (Haswic) is totally lost, although it must have been in the immediate vicinity of Wolverhampton. The property, I should conceive, added to former endowments, comprehended the greater part of the present parish, with that of Over Arley, and other lands lying dispersedly in more distant places. The above document makes no mention of the plough; we must therefore conclude that the canons first brought it into cultivation, as a considerable portion of it was arable at the Conquest. Corn, however, was plentiful in Britain, even in the time of the Romans; for the Emperor Julian employed 800 vessels to transport grain from hence.-(Ammin. Marcell. 1. xviii. c. 2.)

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