[From Manx Soc vol 28, 1878]

 Correspondence relative to Bishop Ward's Legacy for a new Glebe.

This correspondence I wish to introduce in order to prove that my motive was not so much to increase the extent of the glebe lands as to secure the legacy of £100 for the augmentation of the revenue of St. Mark's, which sum was granted for the express purpose of purchasing an additional glebe, not only (according to the Bishop's own assertion) to augment a poor "church living," but also to perpetuate for ever the perfect security of the £100, which he gave for the free sittings in the chapel, as well as the £62, then in the Joint Stock Bank of Douglas, the latter sum producing only 4 per cent. This bank closed in 1843. J. T. C.

Great Horkesley, 6th Jan. 1838.

Dear Sir — I am desired by the Bishop to say, that he is informed by the Archdeacon that a parcel of ground, consisting of about 18 acres, adjoining to your glebe, the property of the late Mr. Fitzsimmons, is to be shortly sold, and that the price will be about £260; that this land would be a most desirable addition to your glebe, and that yourself and the wardens can raise £160 of the money. Under these circumstances, the Archdeacon suggested to the Bishop that £100, out of a fund lately placed at his disposal for such purposes, might be most advantageously added to what can be raised from other sources; but this fund cannot at the present moment be applied to any purpose while the question of the bishopric is pending. The Bishop, however, being very unwilling to lose this opportunity of benefiting both yourself and your successors, will advance the £100 himself, and he has written to the Archdeacon to this effect. He cannot, however, advance any more than this. He desires me, therefore, to say, that he wishes you to take care that the purchase is made as quick as possible (or in any way which may be most likely to prevent competition and an increase in the price asked).

When the land in question is bought and made over to the Chapel of St. Mark's, as an addition to its glebe, by a legal instrument, the Bishop will pay the £100 towards the purchase-money. His Lordship further advises you to employ a professional gentleman to make the purchase, either Mr. Bluett or some one else. Believe me,

Yours very faithfully,

WM. PERCIVAL WARD.

Rev. J. T. Clarke,

St. Mark's, Isle of Man.

Bishop's Court, 21st Sept. 1840.

My dear Sir — If I had not, as you know, already advanced about £800 for the benefit of the clergy out of the Episcopal revenues hitherto enjoyed by my predecessors, I should not hesitate one moment in requesting that you would accept as a gift from your bishop whatever sum may be necessary to complete the purchase which seems so desirable for the chapelry of St. Mark's. With my diminished means, however, and large family, I am most reluctantly obliged to hold back on such occasions till a little experience enables me to see how far my present income will enable me to live without incurring debt, and what surplus may be left which I might feel justified in appropriating for the benefit of the church over which I am called to preside. Although, however, I cannot promise you the sum required as a gift, I will venture to ensure it to you as a loan. Obtain the land on the best terms you can, and if the balance required does not exceed £50 you may apply to me for it, and I will undertake to advance it on your note of hand.

As a considerable portion of the impropriate fund will be this year released in consequence of the increase proposed to be made to the livings out of the Episcopal revenues, it has always been my intention (and I believe I can say the same for my co-trustee, the Archdeacon) that some of it should be applied to the improvement of your chapelry. This, if you approve of it, might be set aside till the proposed loan was repaid to me. Believe me always yours very truly,

H., SODOR & MANN.*

* Henry Pepys, D.D., installed May 8th, 1840, and the following year was translated to Worcester.

The Rev. John T. Clark,

St. Mark's.

Bishop Pepys's Permission to call in Money at Interest to Purchase New Glebe.

Henry, by Divine permission Lord Bishop of Sodor and Mann: To our well-beloved in Christ, Daniel Kinnish of Mullin, Arragher, and John Bridson of Ballavarvane, in the Parish of Malew, Esquires, Trustees of St. Mark's Chapel in the Parish of Malew;

Greeting Whereas it is proposed to transfer the sum of One hundred and sixty-two pounds sterling, monies belonging to the chapelry of St. Mark's, and now secured on mortgage, and to lay out the same in the purchase of land in the neighbourhood, for the purpose of enlarging the chapel glebe for the benefit of the present chaplain and his successors in the chapelry; and you have requested our consent and approbation thereto : We do hereby consent, authorise, and empower you, the said Daniel Kinnish and John Bridson, trustees of St. Mark's Chapel, to transfer the said monies, and to invest the same in the purchase of land for the benefit of the said chapel.

Given under our hand and seal at Bishop's Court this 14th day of October one thousand eight hundred and forty, and the first year of our consecration.

 H., SODOR & MANN. (LS)

On the 22d of October 1840 the land was purchased, Bishop Ward's legacy of £100 obtained, and the Bishop Pepys' loan of £50 granted, which liquidated the debt. In the month of February 1841 I was called to London, when, under the auspices and recommendation of the late Bishop Bowstead and Bishop Pepys, who were then in town, I was enabled to collect not only the £50, to refund the loan to Bishop Pepys, but also procured a considerable sum of money to assist to put the new glebe into a proper state of cultivation.

J. T. C.

In order to bring this matter more prominently before the public, Mr. Clarke prepared the following statement, which he printed and distributed extensively, both in the island and England, and being backed by his own strenuous exertions, produced a good result. The £100 given by Bishop Ward for free sittings in the chapel, which had been placed out on security, was called in, and formed one portion of the purchase money for the new glebe.

The purchase of this property enabled Mr. Clarke more effectually to utilise the exchange of road with the Callisters on the 19th November 1828, and also enabled him to make an exchange of 12½ acres of the said new glebe with Thomas Moore of the Cleigh-ronyr for the same quantity of his land, in order to make the properties respectively more convenient by having the Cleigh-ronyr main high-road as the boundary, and which land is now part of the glebe, and the old road levelled into the glebe meadow.

St. Mark's Glebe–an Appeal–Isle of Man.

The chapel of St. Mark's was built by subscription in the year 1772, to meet the wants and supply the spiritual necessities of a large and isolated population, dwelling in the mountains, at a very remote distance from the mother church of Malew, in which parish it is situated.

The income of the chaplain, who was appointed in 1827,

It consisted of a house in a wretched state of dilapidation; and a glebe – a piece of barren uncultivated land, – together with the pew rents of sixteen seats, producing about seven pounds per annum.

By strenuous exertions and untiring energy the chaplain, the Rev. J. T. Clarke, has succeeded (with the kind assistance of charitably-disposed individuals) in erecting a comfortable house and reclaiming the glebe, so that it may now be valued at £25 per annum; and with pew rents and interest on monies, the gross amount of the living now reaches about £40 per annum.

An opportunity occurred a short time since, of which it was considered most desirable to take advantage, to carry into effect a wish long since entertained by the lamented Bishop Ward, and to accomplish which he promised the munificent donation of £l00,– whenever a suitable time might arrive,– to increase the value of the living by purchasing twenty acres of land adjoining the glebe, which has been obtained at an outlay of £305.

£160 belonging to the living have been called in, and, with the £100 pounds promised by the executors of Bishop Ward, are available to pay part of the purchase money. There remains to be provided for a sum of about £50 to clear the property, and a further sum of about £60 to bring the land into cultivation.

The chaplain, therefore, humbly solicits the charitable assistance of those who "love our Zion," to enable him to carry into effect an object which, while it will materially increase the temporal comforts of the incumbent, will enable him more devotedly to pursue the sacred duties of his pro fession.

St. Mark's, November 23, 1840.

I hereby certify the truth of the above statement, and further, that in order to complete the purchase of the above-named addition of twenty acres to the glebe of St. Mark's Chapel, I have advanced a sum of money from a fund at my disposal, out of which, when the said sum has been repaid, it

I will be in my power to increase the present small stipend of the chaplain. H., SODOR & MANN.

Correspondence with the Tithe Valuers relative to Tithes on Ballagarey, purchased for a Glebe.

Parish of Malew, Dec. 11, 1840.

Sir–By virtue of the powers in us vested by the Act for the Commutation of Tithes, we hereby give you notice that, having duly considered the evidence brought before us relative to your claim of exemption from the payment of tithes, we have decided the same not to be valid, and must therefore call upon you to furnish us with a map of the said lands immediately.–We remain, etc.

EDWD. THOMPSON, Chairman,

WILLIAM WATSON CHRISTIAN, Valuers appointed under the Act of Tynwald
EVAN GILL,
MATTUJAS BRIDSON,.
THOMAS COWLEY,

To the Rev. John Thomas Clarke, Chaplain of St. Mark's Chapel, Malew.

I wrote to the tithe valuers and urged it upon them that my case was a very peculiar one; that the lands which appeared to them as subject to tithes could be proved to have been enjoyed in peaceful possession by all chaplains, without paying tithes, for above sixty years, which came within the meaning of the "Act," though it was purchased of a titheable farm, and the following letter was the reply. J. T. C.

Dear Sir–In answer to your letter, I am requested to say that the valuers will take your evidence relative to your claim into consideration as soon as possible, and will fix a day, when I will let you know.–Yours truly,

Rev. J. T. Clarke. E. THOMPSON.

Douglas, 19th Dee. 1840.

The tithe valuers fixed to meet at Ballaugh on Tuesday the 12th January 1841, when I brought the following written evidence of the Rev. John Gell, chaplain of St. John's, who was so ill as not to be able to attend the Court: and also summoned the Rev. John Cottier and the Rev. William Duggan of Marown as evidence to the fact of no tithes having been demanded of them during their ministerial labours at St. Mark's. J. T. C.

This is to certify that I was licensed to the chapelry of St. Mark's in October 1782, and continued chaplain of St. Mark's upwards of eleven years. And again I was appointed the second time in April 1797, and continued chaplain of St. Mark's the second time five years. That I occupied and cultivated that part of St. Mark's glebe which was purchased from Christopher Bridson of Balla-garey, that I never paid tithes out of that purchased land, nor were tithes ever demanded of me by the proctors, neither was it considered titheable that I ever heard of. And to the foregoing I am ready to make oath at any time if required.

Witness my name this 9th of January 1841.

JOHN GELL, chaplain of St. Jo/in's.

Witness–John Thomas Clarke.

The Rev. Messrs. Cottier and Duggan made oath to the same effect, and the following letter was the result, which settled the matter for ever.

Ballaugh, 12th January 1841.

Dear Sir–The tithe valuers having reconsidered the evidence, and the further, evidence produced this day, have decided your claim of exemption from tithes out of St. Mark's glebe to be good.–I remain, etc. EDWD. THOMPSON.

The Rev. John Thos. Clarke,

Chaplain of St. Mark's, Malew.

Cleigh-ronyr purchased for a Glebe.

By a deed of sale, dated the 14th January 1841, this property, with the cottages and premises thereon, was purchased at a public auction from Philip Bridson of Ballasalla, trustee of the late John Fitzsimmons of Castletown, by John Thomas Clarke of St. Mark's, for the sum of £305 British currency.

The above-purchased land consists of about 21 acres, part of which is exchanged with Thomas Moore for an equal quantity of land by deed, which exchange makes the glebe lands more convenient, by making the Cleigh-ronyr high road the boundary between the glebe lands and the said Thomas Moore's farm.

The said 21 acres of land, including the exchange, with the exception of a small meadow and easement of about half an acre of land, cut off by the Burrough part of the Cleigh rouyr road to the west, adjoining Gibdale meadow and the Buillane Garey, which is kept in possession by the purchaser, John Thomas Clarke, were conveyed over and sold in trust to Bishop Pepys, and John Bridson, and Daniel Kinnish, Esqs., trustees of St. Mark's, as a new glebe to St. Mark's chapelry.

The above-mentioned deed, together with that given by Thomas Moore, was recorded at the Baron Court in Castletown, October 26, 1841, and each party entered.

J. T. C.

Deed of Trust of the Cleigh-ronyr Lands, from the Rev. J. T. Clarke to the Trustees of St. Mark's Chapel, Malew.

This deed recites the lands exchanged between Thomas Moore and J. T. Clarke, as also the lands purchased by the said J. T. Clarke from Philip Bridson, trustee of John Fitz simmons, deceased, in trust to the trustees of the said chapel of St. Mark's, for the sole use and benefit of the chaplain of the chapel of St. Mark's for the time being and for ever, to enjoy the use and benefit of the same, and to form part and parcel of the glebe lands attached and belonging to the said chapel of St. Mark's.

Dated 19th January 1841.

Remarks on the Trust Deed, 1841.

That the difference between the consideration money of my deed from Philip Bridson, which is £305–and that of the foregoing deed of trust, which is £300–may be perfectly understood, I have to reark that I have retained in my own possession, as my own private property, a small piece of garey land or easement, separated from Sir Walter Scott's field by the Cleigh-ronyr road, adjoining the road on the east and south, the Buillane Garey on the west, and Gibdale meadow on the north, containing about half an acre more or less, and have deducted £5 on account of said property. Therefof~, the new glebe is £300 instead of £305. I have also entered the before-said small parcel of land for a farthing lord's rent, which farthing is deducted from the 'lord's rent of the new glebe for the time being. J.T.C.

The Glebe of St. Mark's in the Parish of Malew.

plan

TABLE OF REFERENCES.
No. Acres. Hoods. Poles.
1. . . . . 5 0 0
2. . . . . 5 0 31
3. . . . . 5 0 0
4. . . . . 2 2 0
5. . . . . 4 0 0
6. . . . . 3 0 0
7 Coral Meadow . . 5 3 37
8 Black Fort, or Sir
Walter Scott's Field 4 1 22
9 Claddagh . . . 4 3 0
10. . . . . 4 1 0
11 Chaplain's Claddagh . 2 3 0
12 Little Meadow . . 1 3 32
13 GareyFluigh . . 2 3 29
14. . . . . 4 1 35
15. . . . . 3 3 28
60 0 14
Gardens and plantations . . 2 0 15
Chapel-yard, etc. . . . 0 1 27
School-house, garden, etc. . . 0 1 15
Chapel road . . . . 1 0 20
Total Acres . 64 0 11

It may be here necessary to remark in what manner Mr. Clarke managed to raise funds to carry out all these various purchases and improvements upon the glebe lands at St. Mark's. He had received much friendly aid and counsel from Bishop Ward, who had himself done so much for church accommodation in the island. During the leisure time which Mr. Clarke was able to spare from his clerical duties and his school, he repaired in 1831 and several following years to various towns in England, where he collected subscriptions to an amount exceeding £400. In 1841 he lost his son, who was receiving his education at Christ's Hospital in London, where he repaired, and even in this time of severe affliction he was not unmindful of the wants at St. Mark's. His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury invited him to Lambeth Palace and presented him with £20, as well as recommended him to other influential persons. His old and tried friends, the Petit family in London, were ever ready to second his views in everything connected with the improvement of St. Mark's.

Boundary of St. Mark's Glebe and the Fair Ground.

The fences marking the boundary between these properties having become decayed and entirely undefined, a petition from the trustees of St. Mark's Chapel was presented to Deemster Heywood in July 1843, praying that the great inquest may view the same and make a legal division of the said lands.

The verdict of the setting-quest was duly made by cutting out sods in the ground, and confirmed by the great inquest on the 11th January 1844.

The Public Marking of the Boundary at St. Mark's, 1847.

The boundary between the trust property of St. Mark's and the fair ground, with the signatures of the parties present written on the back of the original verdicts of the great inquest before going to record, is as follows

Whereas, by an order granted by the Honourable Deemster Heywood, dated the 31st July 1843, ordering the setting-quest of Malew to make a legal division or boundary between the trust — property belonging to St. Mark's Chapel in said parish and the public fair ground: And they, the said setting-quest, having done so on the 11th January 1844 in presence of the great inquest and the attorney-general, as by their return prefixed may more fully appear: And for the time a sod only having been cut to point out said boundary, in order now to perpetuate said boundary: We, the undersigned, namely, John Karran, foreman of the said setting-quest; John Bridson, Esq., Ballavarvane, the surviving trustee of St. Mark's Chapel; and William Fargher senior, of the Cooill-cam, the person mentioned in the return of the said setting-quest as pointing out said original bound ary, in presence of the undersigned neighbours, having sunk three granite stones in the marks where the before-mentioned sods were cut out of the ground, this the 24th day of May

1847. JOHN KARRAN.
JOHN BRIDSON.
WM. FARGHER senior.

In presence of JOHN THOMAS CLARKE, Chaplain. ROBERT BRIDSON, Ballagranjey, 1 JOHN MOORE, Sulbric, 3- Wardens.
Also many others.

Lord's Rent of Chapel Yard.

The chief rent of St. Mark's Chapel yard and its appurtenances being one farthing, as by the verdict or return of the setting-quest convened on the premises on the 6th day of September 1772, as in the original deed of sale and trust may more fully appear, was, for the sake of convenience, added to the lord's rent of said St. Mark's old glebe lands, and has been annually paid to this date.

Witness my name this 26th day of May 1847. JOHN KARRAN, Moar of Malew.

Lord's Rent, Abbey Rent, and Prescription annually paid out of the Old and New Glebe Lands of St. Mark's.

Old glebe–lord's rent . . £0 3 7 Manx.
New glebe . . 0 1 8~
Old glebe–abbey rent, part of Ballagarey, No. 15 and a part of No. 14 on the glebe survey. 0 1 2

Payable to the moar and abbey sergeant £0 6 5~- Or . 0 5 6~- British.

Prescription out of both glebes payable to the tithe-agent . . . 0 1 6~

J.T.C. £0 7 l~

In Nov. 1861, the moar and abbey-sergeant of Malew demanded for the
first time of the chaplain of St. Mark's for boons and services . 0 3

£010 11

During the whole of the time of erecting the new buildings and making the necessary improvements to the glebe at St. Mark's, Mr. Clarke received numerous letters and con tributions from friends for that purpose, particularly from the Messrs. Petit of London: his tribute to their memory is worthy of notice –he says

"My correspondence carried on successfully for nearly twenty years with the late Louis Hayes Petit, Esq., solicitor of London, and his late nephew the Rev. John Louis Petit,1 as bearing more directly upon the augmentation of the revenue of St. Mark's chapelry than any other part of our social intercourse, nevertheless their sympathies with the poor of St. Mark's and the education of their children were unprecedented and worthy of all admiration and praise; scarcely a letter arrived without affording evidence of their genuine piety and Christian sympathy.

With regard to myself and my family, their unremitting generosity and unsolicited benevolence knew no bounds. We were invariably treated as if members of their own family, and our pecuniary circumstances uniformly considered, one might imagine, as their own domestic requirements. As a tribute to their sacred memory I cannot but acknowledge with sincere gratitude that no benefactor to the chapelry of St. Mark's, nor ever a friend to myself and my family, equalled the family of the Petits in genuine sympathy and Christian benevolence. JOHN THOMAS CLARKE.

In 1845 and 1846 Mr. Clarke was again soliciting contributions towards a new schoolhouse and cottages, which were to be let in order to form a fund for the repair of the new schoolhouse; this was also well responded to by his friends in the island and elsewhere. He was, as will be seen by the correspondence, the means of inducing the committee of council of the National Society on Education, in London, to extend the sphere of their operations to the Isle of Man, which up to this time had been precluded from participating in the funds of that society, their charter limiting its operations to England and Wales only.

Bishop Short was pleased to compliment Mr. Clarke that in one short trip to London he had effected for the island what all his influence was not able to accomplish.

1 The Rev. J. L. Petit wrote the account of St. German's Cathedral, published in the Archaeological Journal, 1846.

Committee of Council on Education.

Council Office, Whitehall, Sept. 6, 1844.

Rev. Sir –With reference to the application for a grant in aid of the erection of school-buildings, with master's house and their appurtenances, and towards the furnishing of the schoolrooms at St. Mark's, Malew, Isle of Man, the Lord President has directed me to inform you that he will advise the Committee of Council to direct the appropriation of £70 for the above school, etc., of St. Mark's, upon receiving from the promoters of this school a communication that they will accept a grant on the conditions contained in the enclosed certificate.–I have the honour to be, Rev. Sir, your obedient

servant, K. SHUTTLEWORTH.

Rev. J. T. Clarke, St. Mark's, Isle of Man.

Privy Council Office, October 15, 1845.

Rev. Sir–I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 15th instant.

I have submitted your letter of the 10th instant to the Lord President, and I am happy to inform you that his Lord ship will recommend the Committee of Council to grant a further sum of £30 to St. Mark's school.

The grant will be paid when her Majesty's consent thereto shall have been received by the Lord President.–I am, Rev. Sir, your obedient servant, HARRY CHESTER.

Rev. J. T. Clarke,

21 Bedford St., High Holborn.

Correspondence with the National Society for aid towards Liquidating the Debt on the New Schoolhouse and Master's House of St. Mark's, Isle of Man, when in London in 1845.

From Wm. Cotton, Esq., one of the Committee.

London, 18th Oct. 1845.

Dear Sir–Your having obtained a grant from the Committee of Council on Education will not preclude your having assistance from the National Society. By inquiring at the office of the National Society, Sanctuary, Westminster, you will obtain all the requisite information. –I am, dear Sir,

yours sincerely, WM. COTTON.
Rev. J. T. Clarke,
21 Bedford St., High Holborn.

National Society Office, Sanctuary, Westminster, 25th Oct. 1845.

Reverend Sir–It is impossible to read the communication which I this day received from you, without feeling the deepest interest in the subject of your letter. I shall have the honour of laying your letter before the committee of this Society on Thursday next. I very much regret to add, how ever, that I fear they will feel it out of their power to vote any grant towards the cost of your excellent and admirable work. The fact is that the charter of this Society limits its operations to England and Wales to the exclusion of the Isle of Man. On this account no collection in aid of the Society's fund is ever made in that island–not even under the authority of the Queen's letter; and for the same reason the committee of the Society do not vote grants to schools in the island. I shall be truly glad if the committee should consider that they can depart from this rule.–Believe me, your very faithful servant, W. J. KENNEDY, Secretary.

Rev. J. T. Clarke.

Remarks on the above Subject.

Having been influenced by a peculiar interest in removing the obstacles excluding our insular schools from the funds of the National Society, and that interest increased by the information verbally given me by Mr. Kennedy of Bishop Short's failure in opening the benefit of those funds to the Isle of Man, I not only followed up the correspondence with Mr. Kennedy, but wrote to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and founded my application upon two arguments which prevailed in the end.

1st, That it must be an oversight in framing the charter, inasmuch as no British charter would intentionally be granted to assist in the education of all the poor of one archbishop to the exclusion of a part of the poor of the other archbishop, and, nevertheless, so it was, and so it must continue to be as long as the diocese of Sodor and Mann shall remain under exclusion, inasmuch as that diocese belongs to the jurisdiction of York.

2d, That it was injurious to the funds of the National Society to exclude the Isle of Man, inasmuch as the clergy of that diocese could not reasonably be asked to solicit collections, even by the Queen's letter, without deriving a proportionate benefit from the funds of the Society: and that, in all probability, future collections would exceed in amount the sums required to be granted to Manx schools. And, more over, by uniting the diocese of Sodor and Mann to England, as far as concerned the charter, they would have a diocese where the population, instead of opposing rather preferred the education of their children to be under the superintendence of the clergy of the Church of England.

The remedy which I begged humbly to recommend to the archbishop was to alter the charter, which could be done by the Queen in council in manner following,–" For the education of the poor of the two metropolitan jurisdictions," instead of "the poor of England and Wales."

Whatever was done, his Grace took the chair at Christmas following, argued the subject in general committees, and the following letter was the result. J. T. CLARKE.

St. Mark's, Malew, School Case.

Sanctuary, Westminster, February 5, 1846.

My dear Sir–I am happy to inform you that the Committee of the National Society have voted £30 towards the completion of your school. I enclose the certificate of comple tion, to the terms of which I respectfully solicit your attention. When this is returned duly signed, I shall be glad to forward to you the form of bill that you may claim payment of the grant.–Believe me, yours faithfully,

W. J. KENNEDY, Secretary.

Rev. J. T. Clarke.

St. Mark's Library.

The Sunday-school circulating library belonging to St. Mark's consists of 303 volumes.

The twelve Government school-maps, and all the class and historical books belonging to the daily school of St. Mark's, amounted in subscriptions to. . £5 5 0

Government aid . . . 2 12 6
1845. Maps and school-books . . £7 17 6

Since the above date, two supplies of school-books and maps have cost at least a sum equal to the first purchase and Government grant. J. T. C., 1862.
Mrs. Campbell's Gift to St. Mark's for Female Education.

A gift of £30 British to the chapelry of St. Mark's, parish of Malew, the interest thereof for ever to be expended on the education of destitute or orphan children at the school of St. Mark's.

JANE CAMPBELL.
Castletown, 14th November 1848.

To the Rev. G. S. Parsons,

Government Chaplain, Castletown, Isle of Man.

Mrs. Campbell's gift was paid into the hands of John Bridson, Esq., Ballavarvane, trustee of St. Mark's Chapel, and by him lodged by way of security in the Savings Bank, Douglas, at four per cent.

The female children at present under education are, two grand-daughters of Thomas Gelling, and a daughter of Thomas Quirk, both tenants of Ballanicholas, Mrs. Campbell's property, in accordance with her own request that her tenants' children should be educated by the interest of the above gift during her own life-time.

Certified this 18th day of October 1849, by me,

JOHN THOMAS CLARKE, Chaplain of St. Mark's.
Jan. 7, 1864.

The above gift of £30 is at present secured on the landed and house property of Win. Keggin of Ballaglea, in the parish of Malew. J. T. C.

Form of Appointment of Trustees to St. Mark's Chapel.

Appointment of William Callister, Esq., as Trustee of St. Mark's Chapel, 1852.

Know all men by these presents that I, John Bridson of Ballavarvane, in the parish of Malew, Isle of Mann, only sur viving trustee of St. Mark's Chapel, in the aforesaid parish of Malew, by virtue of the power me thereunto enabling, have elected, nominated, and appointed, and do hereby elect, nominate, and appoint, William Callister, Esq., of Thornhill, in the parish of Lezayre, member of the House of Keys, co-trustee with me for and in respect of St. Mark's Chapel aforesaid and its appurtenances, situate in the said parish of Malew, in the place and stead of William Kinley, Esq., advocate, late of the town of Peel, deceased, with full power and authority in the premises.

Witness my name and signature this 22d day of June one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.

JOHN BRIDSON.

Signed and delivered in presence of John Thomas Clarke.

I accept the above trust.–Witness my hand this 22d day of June 1852. WILLIAM CALLISTER.

Witnessed by John Thomas Clarke.

Attested at Douglas, 23d June 1852, before me, J. C. BLUETT, HB.

Bishop's Court, June 24, 1852.

I hereby give my approbation to the appointment of William Callister, Esq., within named, to be a trustee of St. Mark's Chapel, R. J. AUCKLAND, S. & M.

Recorded in the Episcopal Registry.

Revenue of St. Mark's, 1851.

Income of St. Mark's in the year 1851 by the exertions of J. T. Clarke, Chaplain, viz.– Estimate of the glebe lands by order of the Lord Bishop Pepys, made by Messrs. Mathias Bridson and Thomas Cowley, tithe-valuer

63 acres of glebe lands with easements at 13s. per acre annual rent . . . . . £40 19 0
Royal bounty, payable at Easter . 7 16 2
Impropriate fund . . . . 20 0 0
£68 15 2
Annual deductions–lord's rent, abbey rent,
and prescription. . . . 0 7 1 ~
Net income . . . £68 8 0~-

N.B.–Easter offerings of Kk. Marown of £1 : 11 : 7 are lost.

Revenue of St. Mark's, 1861.

Estimate of the annual revenue of St. Mark's this year, owing to the advance of rent of the glebe lands over and above the estimate of the tithe-valuers

Rent of the glebe lands as at present paid by the tenants, William Watterson and Son, and the glebe lands reserved
by chaplain . . . . £60 0 0
Royal bounty . . . . 8 0 0 Impropriate fund . . . . 20 0 0
£88 0 0
Deduct lord's rent, etc., as stated . . 0 10 11
Net annual revenue . . . £87 9 l0~

Copy of Receipt for Lord's Rent, etc., 1861.

Received from the Rev. J. T. Clarke, chaplain of St. Mark's, Malew, the sum of 5s. 6½d. British, being lord's rent (4s. 6½d.) and abbey rent (1s.) out of the old and new glebe lands of St. Mark's, the chapel-yard, and the part of the green or Fair-ground belonging to the said St. Mark's Chapel, as marked by three granite rocks, being due this 10th October

1861. JOHN MOORE,
5s. 6½d. Moar of Malew.

Mr. J. T. Clarke's Remarks on the Completion of the Works at St. Mark's.

Having accomplished the building of a new parsonage house and cattle offices, I turned my attention more particu larly to the cultivation of the glebe-lands, containing about 42 acres of the most sterile land in the neighbourhood, and left from time immemorial in its original barren condition, covered with gorse and heath, and in many parts flowing with spring waters. Having no capital of my own, I was compelled several times to visit England and ]ay my circumstances before the British public, until I was enabled to finish the cultivation of the old glebe, purchase a new glebe of about 21 acres, erect a new schoolhouse, rebuild the old school house into cottages to form a fund to keep the chapel and new schoolhouse in repair, erect four new bridges, and effect a general repairing of all the roads in the chapel district, both in Malew, Kk. Marown, and St. Ann's, to the extent of nearly twenty miles.

On the 10th of July 1847 I published in the insular papers a statement of the funds collected, with an account of the various improvements effected to that date. In that statement I rejoiced to have the opportunity of expressing my most grateful acknowledgements to all, both at home and abroad, who have so spiritedly contributed to the work in which I have been for the last twenty years so arduously engaged.

At one period, St. Mark's was like an outcast among the churches, and were it not for the Christian sympathy with which the appeals presented to a generous public were so kindly responded to, she would have remained to this day, bearing the same Siberian aspect, and her little altar must have eventually fallen into decay; but by the public aid which the chaplain has been from time to time receiving to augment the living, to promote the education, and to make the district accessible by means of passable roads, the chapel is now divested of her ignoble garments, her altar is permanently repaired, and now, something like her sister temples, she is rising in the scale of exaltation, and bids fair to compete with any other rural district in the diocese.

Though the labour entailed upon me in the accomplishment of the above object, owing to not having the least personal assistance in the discharge of my duty, has been unprecedentedly great; though my family have been coin pelled to endure many privations, and my own mind often sunk into the lowest depths of nervous despondency; yet, seeing the work now accomplished, and my children, after all my difficulties, so nobly taken by the hand by friends whose friendship the mercy of God exclusively has procured for us, my heart is so cheered and full of gratitude to God and man, in that I would readily engage in the same work over again with as much devotedness and energy as ever. J. T. C.

12th Nov. 1863.

Goddard Crovan's Stone.

In building the new parsonage-house and offices Mr. Clarke made use of various blocks of quartz and granite with which the glebe was so plentifully strewed. It has been stated by some that he broke up the granite boulder which had been long known by the name of "Goddard Crovan's Stone," to which a singular legend is attached, and used it in the building of his parsonage-house, by which means to preserve this cure for a termagant as a specific for himself or any future chaplain of St. Mark's.

The stone in question stood on the Cleigh-Ronyr property then belonging to John Fitzsimmmons of Castletown, who broke it up for gate-posts and fences. This property did not form part of the glebe of St. Mark's until 1841, and the new parsonage-house had been built prior to that date in 1830. The legend is as follows

"King Goddard lived with his termagant wife in a noble castle on the summit of South Barule. Being unable to endure the violence of her tongue, he at length expelled her from his castle. After descending the mountain for some considerable distance, imagining herself out of his reach, she turned round and began to rate Goddard so vehemently at the full pitch of her voice, that in a rage he seized on this huge granite block, said to have been some twenty to thirty ton weight, and hurling it with all his might, killed her on this spot."

Petition to the Honourable and Right Reverend Lord Auckland,the Bishop of Sodor and Mann, 1854.

To the Honourable and Right Reverend Father in God, Lord Auckland, by Divine permission Lord Bishop of Sodor and Mann,

The humble petition of the Rev. J. T. Clarke, chaplain of St. Mark's, Isle of Man,

Sheweth:

That for the last thirty years your petitioner has been endeavouring to promote the interests of his ecclesiastical district, and by the blessing of God has been enabled to accomplish three objects of considerable importance to his chapelry, viz.– First, That, by Christian benevolence, he has already augmented the revenue of his chaplaincy from £30 to £70 a year, by purchasing twenty-one acres of land adjoining St. Mark's former glebe lands, now in all consisting of sixty-three acres; by erecting a new parsonage-house and other convenient buildings on said glebe lands; by erecting upwards of 5000 yards of new fence to square the lands into proper sized fields; by blasting and clearing thousands of tons of granite ~ boulders out of the soil, and then bringing the whole of the barren and mountainous soil into the highest state of cultiva tion of which it is capable.

Secondly, That he has erected a new schoolhouse for the accommodation of 100 scholars, for daily and Sunday school teaching, with a house annexed to it, and other conveniences for the benefit of the schoolmaster.

Thirdly, That he has expended several hundred pounds upon the high roads of his district, for the encouragement of his people to attend the public worship of God, and to send their children to the daily and Sunday schools.

That all this has been accomplished by an expenditure of £2383: 17: 2, of which the sum of £2043 17 : 2 has been procured by public subscriptions.

That your petitioner begs leave to state that one improvement more is highly desirable for the comfort and usefulness of all succeeding chaplains, which improvement, if effected, would relieve them of the responsibility of farming more of the glebe lands than would be sufficient for household purposes.

That such is the demand at present for rented land in this island, especially in the neighbourhood of Foxdale mines, near St. Mark's, that your petitioner has been for several years offered such a rent for as much as he could spare of his glebe lands as would augment his living perpetually to £90 a year, considerably more than he could ever make of his glebe by holding it in his own hands.

That this cannot be accomplished without a dwelling-house for a tenant, and cattle-offices.

That such conveniences, with a small threshing machine, would cost from £240 to £250.

That your petitioner humbly prays your Lordship's sanction to enlarge a labourer's thatched cottage, erected on the glebe by your petitioner twenty years ago, and to make it sufficiently commodious for a tenant of fifty acres; and to erect cattle-offices, with other conveniences, as may be required; as well as permission to appeal generally to the friends of the Established Church for their Christian aid to carry into effect the above object. And for the most trifling proof of your Lordship's good will and approbation your petitioner will ever pray, etc. etc.

JOHN THOMAS CLARKE,

Chaplain of St. Mark's, Sodor & Mann.March 1854.

1 The Right Hon. Robert Eden, D.D., Lord Auckland, was consecrated in 1847, and translated to Bath and Wells in 1854.

This alteration was afterwards accomplished at an expense of £281, and a portion of the glebe land let to a tenant. This was the last intmprovement considered necessary to render the place comfortable for the chaplain, and relieved him from the trouble of attending to the glebe farm, giving him more leisure for his clerical duties.

The following abstract of the funds and disbursements gives at one view the amount of labour that must have been undergone in accomplishing such vast improvements in a district that was comparatively unapproachable

General subscriptions and grants for St. Mark's–to rebuild a parsonage - house, purchase of new glebe, house and offices for a tenant farm, new school and master's 'house, repairs of chapel and cottages, and sundry improvements An

1829-30. Subscriptions to this date, as per statement p. 39. . . . £223 19 8
1833-63. Bishop Hildesley's chapel fund . 62 0 9
Bishop Ward's fund for free sittings 100 0 0
Bishop Ward's contributions . . 30 0 0
Bishop Ward's legacy for a new glebe . 100 0 0

Mrs. Campbell's gift to educate three children . ~' . 30 0 0
Proprietors of pews by assessment . 25 0 0
Do. do. voluntary . . 23 0 0
Trustees by assessment for repair of chapel 10 0 0
Proprietors and occupants of lands at
St. Mark's . . . 12 6 0
Government grant – Committee of Council on Education . . 100 0 0
Commissioners of Woods and Forests' grant . . . . 20 0 0
National Education Society's grant 30 0 0
Grant from Convocation . . 20 0 0
Grant per the bishop and archdeacon fund . . . . 15 0 0
Grant from the impropriate fund . 10 0 0
Carry forward £811 6 5

Brought forward £811 6 5

Subscriptions for the roads, including £100 from Mrs. Cantmpbell . . 400 0 0 Sundry subscriptions collected in the Isle of Man and England–various years 1384 14 0

1863. £2596 0 5

~ov. 12. Amount advanced at various times by

J. T. Clarke, and due to him . 229 0 0
£2825 0 5
Disbursements..829-30.
New parsonage-house . . . £184 10 0
Stable, cowhouse, barn, with all conveniences for the cultivation of the glebe . . . . 269 12 0
841.

New glebe, Cleigh-rouyr, 21 acres and exps. . . . . 308 0 0
New roads on said glebe . . 33 0 0
8 miles of draining at £23: 10s. p. mile 188 0 0
5000 yards sod fence, blasting rocks, and
general outlay on glebe lands . 391 14 8
New wash-house, pig-stye,hen-house, etc. 15 15 5
Excavating well 46 ft. and boring 24 ft. 23 7 0
845-46. New schoolhouse, master's house, and
two cottages to form a fund for repairs 403 10 11
1853. Repairs of chapel . . . 11 0 0
1855. A new bell, cast in Dublin . . 21 2 8
Repairs of chapel and a new flooring . 87 16 2
Survey of glebe lands. . . 2 0 0
20 miles of public road, 4 bridges, and
10 mile-stones . . . 400 0 0
1856-60. Complete set of houses for a tenant– viz, dwelling-house, stable, cow-house, etc. . . . . 281 0 0
1863. Infant school and new churchyard . 40 11 7
New font, etc. . . . 10 0 0
Sundry expenses, collecting subscriptions, etc. . . ·. . 124 0 0
Mrs. Campbell's gift to educate three children, secured on bond at 5 per cent 30 0 0
£2825 0 5
These particulars were advertised in the insular papers in 1865, to which the wardens added the following:– We, the undersigned, having been frequently the wardens of St. Mark's Chapel, in the parish of Malew, for the last thirty years, and now the wardens of St. Mark's for the third year successively, do hereby certify that we have examined the above accounts submitted to us by the Rev. J. T. Clarke, and from our own personal acquaintance with, and our participation in the extraordinary works therein mentioned, we not only believe the accounts to be correct, but we are also of opinion that our reverend friend has not done himself justice in the accomplishment of those improvements, inasmuch as our conviction is that no man in the neighbourhood of St. Mark's would willingly undertake the same amount of work for the same amount of capital which he has represented to the public.

We, moreover, wish to do Mr. Clarke and his former congregation this additional public justice, that the state of repair St. Mark's Chapel was in at his resignation was not owing to the apathy or negligence of either party, but owing to the decision of the Easter vestry, held on the 6th of April 1863, at which it was deemed advisable to leave the repairs of the chapel a little longer in abeyance, in order to secure the inclosure of the chapel property from the public fair ground by the substantial walling which has already made it the consecrated addition to the churchyard, inasmuch as one year more would have again given the public the same prescriptive right which cost the chaplain and the trustee, the late John Bridson, Esq., twenty years ago, such a bold and successful legal battle to recover the ground to the sacred use to which it was lately so solemnly applied.

Witness our names, this 23d August 1865.

THOMAS CRETNEY, WILLIAM CRAINE, Wardens.