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as also he requires as his due a quarter of a share out of all fishing vessels, which formerly was very advantageous to the Incumbent, when the town was in its prosperity but now 'tis of no considerable profit to him. The Parsonage Tythes are about £100 per annum, but they are in the hands of an impropriator, who allows the Vicar no benefit from them, by which means the minister's maintenance is very small and therefore the gentlemen of the neighbouring parts have made an augmentation to it, by subscription of £50 per annum, yet on this condition, that he shall instruct 50 poor boys of the town, in reading and writing. The Church stands about 40 rods from the town, at a little distance from the sea. There was formerly another Church, near the middle of the town, which it is said was burnt down some years ago by the French," alluding no doubt, to that of St. Bartholomew already treated of,
In 1794 the salary of the Vicar of Brighton was solely derived from the subscriptions of the nobility and gentry resorting to the place. Books for that purpose were placed in the Libraries, and the Vicar, prior to the Reformation, had to pay to the Vicar of Hove yearly the sum of 7s. 6d.
The Parish Church is supposed to be the oldest building in Brighton, being mentioned in the survey of the parish in Domesday Book, 1086, and stood within the manor held by William de Watteville, under William de Warrenne, son-in-law of the Conqueror. It was valued before the Conquest at £10, after the ravages of the Revolution at £8, and at the time of the great survey at £12 a year, and was thus described by an author of about half a century ago :—" It appears to have been erected and repaired at several different periods, as if it had been exposed to the ravages and depredations of the French for centuries, and during their hostile visits the churches were generally plundered and set on fire; hence we find this building exhibiting styles of architecture of different ages. The |
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