[From Annals of Kirk Christ Lezayre]

CHAPTER VII - THE OLD CHURCH

The oldest reference is the Visitation of Bishop Foster in 1634. Unfortunately the document is in a very fragmentary condition. It was published in the Journal of the Manx Museum, vol. 2, No. 32, pp. 67-8

Document No. 33. Kirk Christ Lezayre

The fourth article is observed in all points accordinge to the ordinance of the Church of England, but the changes of the languaghe for the understandinge of or countrie people.

It. the sevanth wee doe answeae to this that soe far as wee doe knowe none weare married without Lycence or bannes askeinge excepteinge one Edmond Crowe and Jaine Crosse.

The box for the poore we doe not use, for they doe come to or houses and receive their almes there.

3 It. wee doe answear to the 3 thus, that it is well used . . . for Ayle houses and schooles. As for the Spittilos wee doe use none in or pish or countrie, and for the rest wee heare of noe complaints.

5. To the 5 wee answear thus that wee have none in or pish that . . . talke or sleepe in the church . . .

8. In the 8 wee doe Answeare thus that wee knowe none in or pish that have abused or drawn weppones in the church or church-yard, ether day or night, nether doe wee knowe any that dooth p'faine the Saboath . . .

9. It. wee doe answeare to the 9 thus that there are no beare or bulbatinges used in or pish nor yett in the Countrie, nor no unlawful pastimes, to the hynderance of Divine service; but at St. Ioyns' time the whole Countrie doe use to bourne Candles at the Chapple, as for the rest wee knowe of none.

(The marginal note following, in italics, is written in another hand, probably that of Bishop Foster.)

An Injunction publique to bee Published throughout ye whole Islande to curse & restrayne this Superstition.

(St. John's Day [24th June O.S.] was Midsummer Day. The above paragraph throws a light upon the divination customs indulged in on St. John's Eve. The " Chapple " was probably the Cabbal Ballameanagh in Glen Aldyn.)

11. It. wee do Answeare the XI thus that or Vic. General' by the common reporte of divers in the Pish haith oppressed by takeinge too much movie of them, and will have the poore people suspended for ijd. There is one Tomes Gayle who hath not receaived the Communion nowe for the space of three yeares and besydes he is suspended and excommunicated beinge a verie poore man.

12. It. wee doe accordinge to or oathes Answeare to the XII Article that .one William Caisment and Gennett ffoster by the common report of divers that they have had carnal' dealinges the one with the other . . alsoe wee doe heare a common reporte of William Standish and Ellinor Woods that they are suspected to have dealinges the one with the other whether it bee true or noe wee cannot well tell ; as for Drounkers we have non in or Pish nor swearers nor yet pfainers.

The said William Standish and Ellin Woods have (put) themselves upon oath from the said scandalous imputacon before the right Reverend Father the Lord Bopp of this Isle the xith of August 1634.

Wee doe psent these follow(ing) because they have taken more room in the church than was allotted to them: Nicholas Carrain, Wm. Kissaige, Ewan Crow, Wm. Standish.

There is a Bybill and a Communion booke wantinge: the reason is that manie of the pishioners is behind of . . . monie : tieth was laid upon them by the churchwardens.

Edmund Crow and Margrett Kinry psented for liveinge together as man and wife.

The Chapter Quest presented these for the church-yard

Wm. Crowe, Jno. Cowle, Wm. Co . . ., Wm, Kneall, ffinlo Cotter, Jo: Garrett.

Churchwardens, viz:

Edmund Gill (?Mullen Smeare), John Cotter (?Ballacottier) John Mac yl Carain (Close Vark), Edmond Curghie (in England) and Cloddagh Donald Garrett (name crossed out)

The Sydesmen John Garrett (? Aust), Thomas Christian, ffinlo Calie, Wm. Calister.

The Chapter Quest. Hu: Curghie (?Ballromma) Jo: Quayle, Balla skella, Wm. Crowe, Garey and Narymore, Nicholas Corlett, Loughan y-Yeij.

The only other references to the old Parish Church that I have been able to find are the following

1664. The Wardens were ordered by the Bishop to find a seat for Mr. James Christian suitable to his quality.'

1671. The Vicar, R. Fox, presented the Wardens for " that there is neither flagon nor chalice belonging to the Church, but an old chalice utterly unserviceable."'

1672. "Windows of chancell out of repair and much of the chancell wants plastering."'

1673. The chancell and flagon had not yet been bought.1 Moore2 states that in the seventeenth century " the general condition of the churches seems to have been very bad, there being entries in the records which tend to show that they were little better than barns, and in a miserable state of repair." From time to time efforts were made by the authorities to prevent the fabrics falling into decay. In 16573 the Council and Keys issued an enactment that " the assessment for the reparacon of the Churches in this Isle . . . ought to be made on the ffarmers of the quarter-lands according to their respective rents and upon all intack boulders, cottage boulders, Tradesmen and Townes inhabitants according to their abillityes, and this to bee made and levied by the church-wardens for the tyme being in each yeare." Another, issued by the Governor, did away with the ancient method of making up the church-y4rd fence by the owners of each treen, which had been generally neglected, and ordered " that the church-wardens of every year shall out of the assessment of the p'sh keep in good repaire the church and the church-yard hedge , . . and not to trouble the pshoners to make the said hedge no more than the church, but by paying their assessment.4

In 1683 it is recorded that there is " a great indecency and disorder in all or most of the parish churches for want of sufficient and commendable seats." The holders were therefore ordered " to take speedy course for the repairinge and making up of their respective seates and pewes, in some handsome and orderly manner according to their severall abilityes."5

The condition of the church of Lezayre seems to have been as bad as the rest. By the end of the century it had become ruinous, for in 1704 it was rebuilt on the ancient site by Bishop Wilson. Over the main door a stone was erected with the following inscription :-" To the honour of the Sacred Trinity. This Church was rebuilt, A.D. 1704, The Right Rev. Dr. Ts. Wilson, the Bishop, Mr. Rob. Parr, Vicar Generall, Minister ; James Christian, John Curghey, and Edmund Corlett, and Robert Curghey, Churchwardens."6

As rebuilt on the ancient site, 1704-1723; restored 1760; demolished 1835

Left -Drawing done some years after the demolition, purporting to show the 18th-century church from the S.W. Note west gable with belfry and main door, and south wall with 3 windows in nave and one in chancel. In this drawing one of the openings in the belfry, and the tablet of 1704 over the main door, are omitted. Reproduced from Manx Society vol. XIV, p. 26.
Right-A more faithful drawing, circa 1830, showing the north wall and east end of the Old Church. Note the chancel roof slightly lower than the nave; the north (chancel) door; the "stone let into the wall of the Church, north side, near the roof," recording the repairs of 1760; and (left) the east window.

THE OLD CHURCH 1

The chancel was not rebuilt until 1723, for the Bishop recorded that he gave personally 15 0s. 0d. and also £5 Ss. 2d. from the revenues of Bishopcourt for that purpose, and also 4/- for a door -probably the door in the north wall, at the west end of the chancel.

Not until February 10th, 1708/9, were the seats allotted.

" At a meeting of most of the Parishioners of Kirk Christ, Lezayre, before the Rt. Revd. the Lord Bishop, the Revd. the Archdeacon, and Mr. Parr, one of the Vicar-Genls, with the consent of the Church wardens, the seats in the Body of the Church were ordered and appointed to the Quarterlands of the Parish as under written, which regulation of the seats is to stand and continue in force for the future and it is hereby ordered that the respective Inhabitants of the Quarterlands do forthwith begin to make their seats as already marked out and if any of them refuse or neglect to do and finish the same before Easter next the Wardens of the Parish are hereby ordered and impowered to Build the sd seats and charge the costs thereof upon the Inhabitants & Tenants of the several Quarterlands so neglecting or refusing, and in case of disobedience the assistance of a soldr is to be desired from the constable of the next garrison, to commit them into St. German's Prison, there to remain till they submit to Law and pay all fees. The seats are to be made two foot nine inches wide, and publication to be made hereof in the Parish Church next Sunday that all the Parish may give due observation to this order & Regulation, sub pena juris.

10th February, 1708/9.

James Christian Thos. Sodor & Man
John Curghey Sam. Wattleworth, Archd.
Edmd. Corlett Robt. Parr." Robert Curghey

It is to be noted that the Church must have been seatless for nearly four years, and that each man had to make his own pew. This caused trouble later, as pews varied in height. The pews were allotted as follows :

The Southside of the Body of the Church.

Milntown.

(1) Ellan Bane, First Seat Edmd. Gill
(2) Ballacalley John Moore, Jno. Kewish Quarter & half
(3) Jno. Kneal, Patk. Kneal, Ewan Kneal, John Gill Quarter & half
(4) Ballie & Jno. Kneen Quarter & half
(5) Ballie & Thos. Cottier Quarter & half
(6) Ballamanagh Quarter & half
(7) Narradale & half Ballamanagh Quarter & half
(8) Glenmoar & Thos. Fayle Quarter & half Erre Kellue.
(9) Wm. Quayle & Wm. Knickell, do. Quarter & half
(10) Claughbane and half of Ballakerbery Quarter & half
(11) Kella Moar & Ballagarrow Quarter & half half, Ewan Corlett & partners.

The Northside of the Body of the Church.

(1) Ballakillingan 1½ Quarter seats
(2) Ballabrooie 1 1/3 do.
(3) Nappin (Bishop Crow for Glebe) 1½ do. Thos. Crow for Ballacree.
(4) Wm. Crow, Wm. Callin, Jas. Clarke, Wm. Crow, junr. 1½, do.
(5) Wm. Garrett, Jno. Garrett, Edmd. Corlett (Geary) 1½ do.
(6) Kella, Kewin, Edmd. Crow of Ballacottier 1½ do.
(7) Jno. Garrett, Skelly Quarter 1½ do.
(8) Cooilbane (John Corlett) 1½ d0.
(9) Baldrommey (Michl. Kewley) 1½ do.
(10) Balladoole, Jno. Crow, John Kneale 1½ do.
(11) Balladoole, Jno. Casement 1½ do.
(12) Ballacrink, Ewan Garrett, 1½ do. Nary ½ Quarterland
(13) Jno. Corlett, Michl. Kewney, Jno. Cottier.

Mem.

That the space betwixt the Body of the Church and the Door of the Church on the North side is allotted out for Capt. Nicholas Christian of Ramsey and Edmd. Corlett of Glentrammon; And the space opposite thereto on the South side of the Church and Chancel is allotted out for Mr's. Christian of the Nunnery and Mr. Robert Curghey of the Karrick-in which space are to be erected after the reparacon of the Church."1

" The reparacon of the Church " probably refers to the rebuilding of the Chancel, which took place fourteen years later. The list of seats, probably drawn up at this later date, shews on the south side twenty Quarterland pews and five in the Chancel, viz :-Ballakillingan, Kella, Grange, Robert Curghey of Carrick and Deemster Heywood for a small part of Lough Mollow, and Milntown.

On the north side are a pew for clergy, and two unnamed, then the door, pews for Glentramman and for the west half of Glen tramman with Deemster Taubman's intacks, a three decker pulpit, sixteen Quarterland pews, the Font and two Quarterland pews. The fourteen pews which had been added at the west end of the nave seem to have been allotted to various intacks. The dimensions of the church were :-length 84 feet inside, breadth at east end 19 feet, at west end 20½. feet ; the length of Chancel 22½ feet, Gallery 10½ feet.' Feltham gives the dimensions as 86 feet long and 20 broad .2

For the next hundred years we have many Visitation reports which shew that the Vicar and Wardens must have neglected their duties to an extent inconceivable at the present day.

1720. The Vicar wants a decent flagon, dish, and plate for Sacrament, and a new surplice (the old one outworn and undecent) 3

1732. The Impropriate Fund paid 9/2d. towards the repairs of the Chancel.'

1743. Vicar-Generals John Cosnahan and Edward Moore reported : " Having, upon the 8th day of July last, visited the Church of Lez Ayre, we find that many of the Latts upon the Chancel roof are Rotten and wants to be rendered in some places. That the Chancel window wants to be mended and secur'd. That the Communion Table wants to be made firm, and that several seats in the Chancel are broken and out of repair.

" We also find yt many of the seats in the church are broken and out of order. That the Church Bible and Com. Prayer Book are very ordinary and much decayed. That there is no Homily Book, and no Herse Cloth for the more decent interment of the dead. That there are several breaches in the slating of ye Church, And that the church-yard is not yet repaired.

The Wardens are hereby admonish'd under pain of Eccleci astical censure to take care that all things a wanting be sufficiently repair'd, maintained and provided after so orderly a manner as becometh the House and Service of God. And this within six months next ensuing. And then the Vicar and Wardens are to return Certificate of the performance of these presents.

To the Vicar of Lez Ayre. These to publish. John Cosnahan

Edw. Moore.

(Vicars. Gcnl.) "

The following are the details of the Notes made by Edw. Moore (Vicar General).

" Notes on Visit to K. Christ Lezayre.

Chancel roof out of repair, Latts rotten, and wants mending in many places. Several breaches in ye slating of ye church. Chancel door wants to be hung. And the great window to be secured and mended. Windows in ye Church to be repaired. Seats in ye Church and chancel broken and sadly out of order. Font of stone wants a cover; and a hole to be bored in ye bottom of it. Table to be made firm (ordered before and not done). No chict. Three biers for ye dead. Bell wants a chain. A quarto Bible very ordinary. One old folio Com: Prayer. No Homily Book. A Register Book. A Surplice. A blue shag carpet for ye Com: Table with a lace. Another green carpet ordinary. Linn. Cloth and 3 Napkins for ye Altar. No Cushn for ye Pulpit. No Herse Cloth. A Pewter Flagon. A Silver Chalice. A little Silver Patin. 2 Wooden Boxes for ye alms. Church-yard fence not yet repaired. Trees to be secured and preserv'd for ye benefit of Vicarage and of the houses thereon."

The Visitation of July 19, 1748, shews that some, but only some, of the directions had been attended to.

" The Chancel Roof, Wall and Windows in good repair. Some breaches in the slating of the Church. Several of the seats, both in the Church and Chancel, scandalously out of repair. The Font wants a cover. No chest for the Registers etc. Two Biers. No Herse Cloth. A Bell in good order. A Quarto Bible very ordinary. A new Common Prayer Book, fol. and an old one. No Homily Book. The Registers begin 1696. The Surplice old. A blue shag carpet for the Communion Table to be repaired. Another old green carpet. A fair linen cloth and three napkins for the service of the Altar. No cushion for the Pulpit. A Pewter Flagon. A small silver patten and silver Chalice. No dish or plate for the Elements. Two boxes for the Offertory."

On July 17th, 1754

" The roof, walls and windows of the Chancel in tolerable good repair. The roof, walls and windows of the Body of the Church ut supra excepting yt it wants poiting (sic).

By July 26th, 1757, the condition had changed for the worse.

" The Roof. The Wardens say it is in good repair, vist-ye body of the Church. That of the Chancel in a ruinous state. Walls-in good order as also ye Doors together with the windows, save one in the south side in the body of the Church. Floor of part of ye Altar very rugged and uneven, and of ye open space in ye chancel. Seats many of them in very bad repair, and ye space supposed to be allotted for ye Intacks, crowded with large stones and loose boards. Kneeling boards to be fixed to each seat. Pulpit and Desk in tolerable order save yt their floors want some small repairs .

A new communion Table, ye present worm eaten and loose in ye mortises . . . Old Register Book is now tattered and loose yt its commenct. or ending can't be ascertained without great trouble ... Rails of ye Communion (sic) Table quite loose, and large stones lying loose on ye Chancel. Steps to ye Com. Table very bad."

In 1758 the Wardens were ordered to have the church repaired within six months.

" The Wardens for the time being are hereby strictly admonished under pain of Fine and Ecclal. Censure to take care that all things awanting as above mentioned, be sufficiently repaired, maintained and provided out of the public Assessmt after an orderly manner, becoming the House and Service of God, and this to be done within six months after date, and it is recommended unto them that proper kneeling boards be fixed in the several seats for the greater Decency and better conveniency of all the Parishioners.

Certificate to be returned in six months."

The Wardens asked for an extension of time. " To the Lord Bishop

The humble petition of John Caley, Wm. Corlett, James Clarke, and Thos. Teare, Ch Wdns. of Kirk Christ Lezaire. Sheweth that soon after ye petrs were sworn Wardens on 12th. June last, an order from your Lordship was published in their parish Ch. giving directions for Sundry decent Reparations and amendmts to be made.

Your Petrs being all Labourers and tillers of the land and their Harvest work then shortly coming on, they at that season cd not procure workmen to do the sd Eccl. work.

Nor could they spare their own time and diligence then to procure the things requisite for the service of Ch, and materials for the sd amendments without neglecting their harvest work, which was their only dependance for the support of themselves and families.

So that yr. Lordship's order and directions are not as yet complied with.

And tho' yr Petrs acknowledge they justly deserve to be dealt with after an exemplary manner, for their neglect, yet (for the weighty reasons aforementioned) they humbly refer themselves to your Lordship's clemency and candid discretion.

And as it is now an unreasonable time of the year to do any such amendts to perfection and satisfaction.

Yr petrs therefore most humbly pray your Ldship to take the premises to your paternal and judicious consideration and to allow yr petrs time until ye weather mends and the days be a little longer to do the sd work . . . yr petrs faithfully promising not to be guilty of any wilful delays or negligence in their duty for the time to come . . .

And shall yr Ldship's eternal happiness for ever pray etc."

On December 18th the Bishop allowed the Wardens a further four months-to the first day of April-and the certificate had to be returned by April 8th. The Bishop had himself visited the church and found it and the furniture in a deplorable state.

The church was thoroughly repaired in 176o and a stone commemorating the fact was placed on the north wall, near the roof.' It bore the following inscription :-" To the glory of the sacred Trinity. The North wall and roof of this church was newly made, A.D.176o. The Right Revd. Mark Hyldsley, D.D., Bishop, Mr. Mathias Curghey, Vicar General, minister, Churchwardens, Thomas Arthur Corlett, John Caley, James Clark, Thomas Tear." This stone has been placed in the south wall of the porch of the present church. Unfortunately the stone commemorating the restoration of 1704 has been lost, as also has the ancient stone figure above the chancel window on the outside, mentioned by Feltham.1

Though the fabric had been repaired the furniture had been left as it was.

1762. " The Bible and Common Prayer so scandalously worn, defective and out of repair, that our Right Reverend Ordinary, who lately officiated in this church, was unable to proceed with the service, to the great offence and dissatisfaction of his Lordship and the whole congregation."

1764. The Kerroo Moar seat presumptuously erected. 1766. The report it good. " Fabrick in excellent repair, being lately roofed, floored and seated anew, except a few panes in the South windows and gallery window.

" The Pulpit to be raised 8 inches higher and a kneeling board therein, and Board on which ye Books lay to be made 4 inches broader.

" A new stock and rope for ye bell. Books all in good order save yt a Homily Book is wanting. Surplice in tolerable order and other articles save yt a Herse cloth is wanting. An Offertory Bason and Dish for the Communion wanted."

The Vicar, John Gill, reported on July 19th, of this year The fabric in decent order and repair excepting Mrs. Christian's of the Garey her seat, which being lately enlarged, is not finished."

1786. The Bishop ordered another Chalice to be procured, the walls of the church to be rough-carted and whitewashed, the seats in the Chancel to be reduced to an uniformity. " The Church aisle needs a few flags, and the surplice a new neck." Also an English Bible and Prayer Book were needed and windows wanted a few panes.

The certificate of the Vicar Thomas Corlett runs as follows: " I do hereby certify the Right Reverend Lord Bishop of this Isle that agreeably to his Lordship's Order of Visitation respecting the Church of Lezayre and its furniture on the 21st day of July, 1786, an English Bible and an English Book of Common Prayer have been procured, that the walls of the Church have been rough carted and whitewashed, that the Church Aisle has been repaired and also the Church windows. I do further certify that another Chalice has not yet been procured (the Assessment having fallen short owing to the purchase of a new bell), that the seats in the Chancel have not been reduced to an uniformity, and that the Surplice has not been repaired with a new neck.

Witness my hand this 4th. day of June 1789 Thomas Corlett, Vicar of Lezayre."

As no steps were taken to procure the additional Chalice, the Bishop issued the following order on August 7th, 1793 :

" Whereas we did at our last Visitation injoin that certain repairs should be made in your Church, and that some time ago a Certificate was returned to us, in which mention was made that another Chalice which we had ordered, had not then been procured nor the seats in the Chancel reduced to an uniform state, the Wardens for the time being are there'-ore hereby ordered and admonished under pain of Fine and Ecclesiastical Censure, that the said articles be repaired and procured three months after date. Of the performance of which Certificate to be returned to my Register."

On December 21st the Vicar replied that " the silver Chalice has been procured for the Church of Lezayre, that the Surplice has been repaired, and that the seats in the Chancel reduced in some measure to an uniform state, but require to be painted to make them more uniform."

The Visitation of October 21st, 1833, shows that the state of the church was worse than ever. "
FABRIC. Roofs and walls in a ruinous state. Doors, windows and floor in tolerable order.
FURNITURE. Seats, Pulpit and Desk in bad order. Font in good order. Communion Table in ruinous state. Bell and rope, Bier in tolerable order.
BOOKS. The English and Manks Bibles are good, being almost new. The English Prayer Book is toler able, but the one in Manks is torn and in leaves. .
VESTMENTS. Surplice in good order. Carpets, Linen and Napkins for the Communion Table, very indifferent.
VESSELS. Flagon, Chalices, Patten, Offertory Bason and Boxes are all in good order."

This was the last Visitation to the old church. It had already been decided to pull it down and build another on a different site.

PLATE 2 PLAN OF LEZAYRE OLD CHURCH circa 1766

Traced from Setting-Quest Book of John Teare of Glentrammon, 1823 (Manx Museum manuscript no 1017 C, page 155:
compare also pages 143-152 of the manuscript)
DIMENSIONS OF THE CHURCH: length inside 84 ft.; breadth, West end 20 ft.; breadth East end 19 ft.; length of Chancel 22½ ft.; length of Gallery 10½ ft.

KEY TO

(North Side)

West half of Glentramon Quarterland and Deemster Taubman's Intacks PULPIT READING SEAT CLERK'S SEAT

1 Ballakillingan Quarterland and a half
2 Ballabrooie and hvast Half of Carrick
3 Nappin and other half of Glentrammon
4 Glenduff aud middle half of Garey
5 Graies and the other half of Garey
6 Bella Kewin and J. Crow's half of Ballacottier
7 Ballaskella and Garrets half of Ballacottier
8 Cooilbane aud Corletts half of Cleanagh
9 Baldroma and Kewleys half of Cleanagh
10 Balladooil and East hall of West Aust
11 Ballacowle and East half of East Aust
12 Ballachrink and North half of Ballakirbrey
13 Narey half. West halt of West Aust and East half of East Aust
14 Intacks Deemster Heywood for Loughmallow,
15 Deemster Heywood, Thos. Christian of Jurby, J. Christian Curragh, etc.
16 Wm. Curphey Baldroma, T. Stephenson, J. Kewley Cleanagh, Patk. Brew etc.
FONT
17 Garrett Ballabroie, Dr. Christian 18 Capt. Quayle Curphey

GALLERY

1 Thos. Radcliffe Knockaloe, David Harrison Cooilbane, etc.
2 Rd. Ambrose Stevenson and J. Frissel
3 J. Frissel. Mrs. Christian Garey, Dl. Christian Ballaginney, etc.
4 Llewellyn. R. Corlett Ballakinag, T Corlett Dooir, J. Christian

SEATING PLAN (South Side)

Robt. Curphey ot Carrick and Deemster Heywood for a small part of Loughmallow

1 Milltown 3 Quarterlands and the Intacks in the holding of the proprietor of Miltown
2 Ellan bane equal to a Q'rland and west half of Ballagarrow Q'rland.
3 Ballaealev Q'rland. and half of Ballacubberaugh Q'rland
4 Balleaghteragh Q'rland and west half of Ballameanagh Q'land
5 North Ballie and south half of Ballakirbery
6 South Ballie and West half of West Ballamanagh
7 East Ballamanagh and East half of West Ballamanagh
8 Naradal and Past half of West Ballamanagh
9 Glenmoar and Erroo Killue, half of Ballacuberagh
10 Slew Meanagh and East half of Corady
11 Balnacloughbane and West half of Corady
12 The other half of Ballagarrow and the Kella Moar
13 Intacks, Arthur Cowle, J. Wattleworth, etc.
14 John Caley, J. Killip, Rt. Killip, etc.
15 T. Corlett Glentramon, D. Christian ardonan, Wm. Crow Glenduff, etc.
16 Dollin Christian, Ewan Kissack, J. Kneale aust, Rt. Cottier, Wm. Radcliffe etc
17 Gilbert Kelly. T. Quayle Cregmoar, Wm. Quiggin sharragh bane, Wm. Garret etc
18 Poors close, Ewan Caley, Wm. Caley, DI. Qualtrough, J. Kneale donnagher etc,
19 J. Corlett Roarey. J. Cowley Crammag, T. Killip bane, J. & Gilbert Christian, etc
20 Thos. Casement, Wm. Corlett Claddagh, J. Christian B. Callow, Wm. Quayle. Blockary

GALLERY

1 J. Stephen, T. Clark Jurby, Ewan Curphey, etc.
2 Nichs. Corlett Kella, J. Corlett Poland, W. Corlett, etc.
3 T. A. Corlett, J. Lace Sartfleld, Thos. Radcliffe, etc.

A few relics of the old church are preserved in the present one, they are, (1) the tombstone of Deemster John Curghey, the Second, of Ballakillinghan, 1609. This is not mentioned by Feltham in his " Monumental Inscriptions,"I and is older than any recorded by him, with the exception of one in Malew. The Curgheys were buried in the Chancel-their pew was the furthest east on the south side. It may be that this stone was under the seat and so escaped Feltham's notice, and also avoided obliteration by the feet of his descendants. This, with other tombstones, was removed to Ballakillinghan, when the church was pulled down. Their inscriptions are completely destroyed. This one has been restored to the church by Major E. B. C. Farrant, and is placed in the south-east porch. (Another stone records the name of John Curghey the First, October, 1559. But the inscription was cut at a much later date), (2) the stone, already mentioned, commemorating the restoration of 1760. It is now built into the south wall of the west porch, and (3) two brass tablets relating to the family of Garrett of Ballabrooie along with a small shield with their coat-of-arms.

" Here lyeth inter'd the body of Mrs. Margaret, daughter of Peter Heywood, of Heywood, in countie of Lancaster, Esq., by his wife Alice, daughter of John Greenhalgh, of Brandelsom, in the same countie, Esq., and Governor of this Isle of Man many yeares. She was wife to Captain John Garrett, of Sulby, and had issue by him one hone and three daughters, viz: John, Mary, Alice, and Elizabeth, and dyed the 16th of January, and buryed ye 19th. Anno Dom. 1669."

The lettering on this tablet is rude and may have been cut locally.

" The above John Garrett, Captn. of Sulby, died 1692,1 aged 29 years. Also, his granddaughter-in-law, Elizth. daughter of Willm. Sutcliffe, of Stansfield Hall within Halifax Vicarage, by his wife Grace Gibson, of Briggroyd, wife of John Garrett, the fifth of Balabroy, died the 13th March, 1745, aged 40 years, with four of her children who died in their minority, and left issue Elizth. Ann Margaret, Philip, William, Evan and Alice.

(I) Arms:2 a bend between bendlets, charged with three roses, impaling a bend engrailed charged with three bugle horns.

(2) A field, cross saltire, charged with a helmet sinister, as dexter above.

We have seen what was the state of Lezayre Church (and probably that of many others) in the eighteenth century ; gross neglect until the Bishop exerts strong pressure ; after much delay something is done to remedy matters and then follows another period of neglect. The church was kept in repair by an assessment levied on the landowners by the Vestry, and the members put off paying as long as possible, careless of the condition into which the church was falling. Yet the church was well attended. The communicants at Easter in 1757 were about six hundred and, in 1830, seven hundred. (The church could only seat a little more than two hundred.)

Footnotes

1 Archdeacon's Registry.
2 Mr. D. Craine's notes.
1 Mr. D. Craine's notes.
2 Moore, Dioc. Hist., p. 135.
3 Lib. Scacc, 1657, quoted by.Moore. p. 152.
4 Lib. Scacc., 1660, Moore, pp. 152, 3.
5 Moore, Dioc. Hist., p. 178. „
6 Manx Soc., vol. XXIX, p.05.

1 Mr. W. R. Cowin's Notes. Lib. Present.

1 Mr. W. R. Cowin',, Notes, Lib. Present.
2 Manx Soc., vol. VI, p. 149.
3 Mr. D. Craine's Notes.
4 Records of Convocation, .June 1, 1732.

1 Feltham, Manx Soc., vol. XIV, p. 32.

1 Feltham's Tour, Manx Soc., Vol. VI, p. 149.

2 Mr. D. Craine', note,.

1 Manx Soc., vol. XIV.

1 Probably the son named in the former inscription.
2 Feltham, Manx Soc., vol. XIV, p. 33.