38. THE PRIORY OF WORMEGAY
The Austin priory of Wormegay, dedicated to
the honour of the Blessed Virgin, the Holy
Cross, and St. John the Evangelist, was founded
by William de Warenne in the reign of
Richard I.
The prior and convent of the church of the
Holy Cross, Wormegay, obtained licence for
alienation in mortmain in 1355 of the manor of
West Dereham from John de Houton, chaplain, of a messuage, 40 acres of land, 5 acres
of pasture, and 5s. of rent in Fordamhithe,
&c., from Gilbert de Hethill, parson of the
church of Tottenhill; and of 10 acres of land
and a moiety of a messuage in Great Sechithe,
from John Simand, chaplain, to find two of the
canons as chaplains to celebrate daily mass in
their church for the souls of Roger Carpel and
his ancestors and heirs, and for the souls of the
three donors. (fn. 1) In the same year the priory
received a grant of 10 marks of rent from John
Bardolf of Wormegay, on condition of finding
three canons for daily mass for the souls of his
ancestors. (fn. 2) In 1337 the priory had licence for
the appropriation of a moiety of the church of
Fordamhithe of their advowson. (fn. 3)
A mandate was issued by Innocent VI, in
1355, to the prior of Pentney, and two others to
cause the ordinances touching apostates to be
observed in regard to John de Valington, canon
of Wormegay, who had left his order to come to
the Roman court; and now desired to be reconciled to it. (fn. 4)
Licence was granted by Richard II, on
23 January, 1388, to the sub-prior and convent
to hold a new election oh the death of Prior
Robert de Fordham; the patronage of the
priory was at that time in the hands of the
crown, owing to the minority of Thomas Bardolf, whose ancestor was the founder. (fn. 5) On
8 February the king intimated to the bishop his
assent to the election of Hugh de Fyncham, one
of the canons, as prior. (fn. 6) For another eighty
years this poor house continued to struggle on, but
in 1468 its poverty was such that the bishop of
Norwich united it to the priory of Pentney, of
which, from that date, it was reckoned a cell.
Priors of Wormegay
Ralph, (fn. 7) occurs before 1234
Nicholas, (fn. 8) occurs before 1286
John de Boylound, (fn. 9) 1300
Nicholas de Elme, (fn. 10) 1302
Robert de Craneworth, (fn. 11) elected 1315
John de Cauntley, (fn. 12) elected 1330
Simon de Leverington, (fn. 13) elected 1349
Michael de Thornham, (fn. 14) elected 1349
Robert de Fordham, (fn. 15) elected 1370
Hugh de Fincham, (fn. 16) elected 1388
Hugh Watlington, (fn. 17) elected 1416
Robert Walsyngham, (fn. 18) elected 1448
John Methwold, (fn. 19) elected 1461