Somersham.info

The church in Somersham was obviously wealthy by the start of the thirteenth century as it apparently supported a Parson, a vicar and a clerk. This document is the earliest reference we have to a vicar in Somersham, although the fact that the church could support three clergy suggests either that it was well established or perhaps that the building was only just completed. In the writ below the Bishop of Lincoln promotes the clerk and offers him a benefice (ie the funds from certain activities). 13th century Somersham is in a slightly ambiguous position in as much as the church lies within the Bishopric of Lincoln, yet at the bottom of Church Street we find the residence of the Bishop of Ely! The second document gives us some more evidence and shows that Robert remained in post for at least five years.

Item 1
The clerk Robert of Somersham is presented by Master G grim parson of the church of Somersham and Samson the vicar of the same church to the benefice of all the altar dues of the church of Somersham and all the chapel (income) belonging to the same church, and he is invested and ordained in the title of deacon in the same place. It is further provided by the Lord Bishop (Hugh of Wells, Bishop of Lincoln) that the same Robert in the rank of deacon should remember to serve the church and that by reason of his title his rank is not so high that he cannot serve the said church. And the aforesaid is ordered according to the terms of the said Archdeacon (of Lincoln).

From the Rolls of the Bishop of Lincoln, Bishop Hugh of Wells

Item 2
Witnesses to a charter granted to Geoffrey Bishop of Ely
"witnessed by Master Peter of Derham, Master William de Baucis, Master Adam of Horning, Robert the vicar of Somersham, Adam de Triguntus, William de Stratham and many others."

From the cartulary of the Monastery of Ramsey dated 1225-1228