	A Chapel of Ease - before 1692
	The story of Norbury Church is the history of Christian people who have lived and worked in the district throughout the centuries. Although this essay is divided into sections that follow the successive ministries of the clergy who have served them, that form is for convenience only. The church is a community of men and women worshipping together and practising their faith in their daily lives. Probably the first Christians were living on the edge of the Macclesfield forest before William the Conqueror landed in this island. Some ancient documents suggest that there may have been a Preaching Cross or Broadoak in Norbury as early as 1005 AD. The first records of religious life, which we have, start in 1465. In the September of that year Hamnet Hyde, the Lord of the Manor, was granted a licence to build a private chapel in the township. Forty years later, we are told, it stood next to the rye field on the Poynton side of what is now Mill Lane. This site is shown on the tithe map as the Chapel Field, an area now occupied by Darley and Ashbourne Roads. There were a number of these Private Chapels of Ease built about this time in the huge Stockport Parish. The hazards of travelling any distance to the Parish Church were not confined to the appalling state of the roads and the winter weather. The Hyde family set out one Sunday morning in July 1425 to go to church, but as they were passing where is now Torkington Park they were waylayed by a band of outlaws led by Thomas Bradley "who seized and kept in captivity Thomas Hyde and other gentlemen travelling along the road to Stockport to hear divine service." The Hydes of Norbury were responsible for the upkeep of the Chapel of St. Anthony, situated in the North Aisle in Stockport Parish Church, and for the sustenance of the Priest in Charge, who in 1508 was a cleric by the name of Hugh. In addition they had the care of the Chapel of Ease in their own Township.	No mention of the Norbury Chapel can be found after 1511 until the end of that century, probably because not only did Henry VIII suppress the monasteries but closed private chapels also. Their licences were not renewed until the latter years of the reign of Elizabeth I. However, between 1610 and 1617 John Mitchell was "The preacher of the word of God at the Chappelle of Norburie". He was followed in 1622 by Mr Blackheath. Mr Benson served between 1645 and 1657. We know nothing of the ministry of these men among the people of Norbury except their names. In 1661 however the Revd. John Jollie came to the chapel. The controversial John Jollie was the Curate at Norbury Chapel from March 1661 until the 24th August 1662 ⁽¹⁾ when he, along with many other Ministers, had to resign or be forcibly ejected from their livings, because they would not use the revised book of Common Prayer. In December 1671, taking advantage of the fact that the Church Authorities had given back certain rights ot non-conforming Clergy, and also that the Hyde family no longer lived at Norbury Hall, he obtained a licence to return to the place of his former ministry, only to find that the neighbouring land owners ⁽²⁾ were opposed to him. "On Sunday the 12th January 1672 John Jollie went to Norbury Chapel with the intention of preaching there. He found the door locked against him. The prospective congregation were unwilling to let him go back home again, so they forced the door open." At the end of the service Jollie was arrested and charged with causing an unruly crowd to gather, breaking down the Chapel door, and preaching in a consecrated building. Jollie had to answer to these charges before the Lord Chancellor (the Earl of Shaftesbury). At first things did not go well for the accused. Then a letter arrived from Lord Delamere who was a friend of John's father, Major Jollie. That swung the sympathy of the court towards this 'rough preacher'. Jollie went to prison for six months and was released on payment of a £20 fine. ⁽¹⁾ 24 August: St. Bartholomew's Day ⁽²⁾ Neighbouring Landowners: Richard Legh of Lyme JP and MP. Received great praise for the way in which he apprehended the 'rouge Jollie'. Judge John Warren of Poynton took sworn statements from witnesses.
	Norbury Parish Church, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire. Telephone: 0161-483 6325

A Chapel of Ease - before 1692

The story of Norbury Church is the history of Christian people who have lived and worked in the district throughout the centuries. Although this essay is divided into sections that follow the successive ministries of the clergy who have served them, that form is for convenience only. The church is a community of men and women worshipping together and practising their faith in their daily lives.

Probably the first Christians were living on the edge of the Macclesfield forest before William the Conqueror landed in this island. Some ancient documents suggest that there may have been a Preaching Cross or Broadoak in Norbury as early as 1005 AD. The first records of religious life, which we have, start in 1465. In the September of that year Hamnet Hyde, the Lord of the Manor, was granted a licence to build a private chapel in the township. Forty years later, we are told, it stood next to the rye field on the Poynton side of what is now Mill Lane. This site is shown on the tithe map as the Chapel Field, an area now occupied by Darley and Ashbourne Roads.

There were a number of these Private Chapels of Ease built about this time in the huge Stockport Parish. The hazards of travelling any distance to the Parish Church were not confined to the appalling state of the roads and the winter weather. The Hyde family set out one Sunday morning in July 1425 to go to church, but as they were passing where is now Torkington Park they were waylayed by a band of outlaws led by Thomas Bradley "who seized and kept in captivity Thomas Hyde and other gentlemen travelling along the road to Stockport to hear divine service."

The Hydes of Norbury were responsible for the upkeep of the Chapel of St. Anthony, situated in the North Aisle in Stockport Parish Church, and for the sustenance of the Priest in Charge, who in 1508 was a cleric by the name of Hugh. In addition they had the care of the Chapel of Ease in their own Township.

No mention of the Norbury Chapel can be found after 1511 until the end of that century, probably because not only did Henry VIII suppress the monasteries but closed private chapels also. Their licences were not renewed until the latter years of the reign of Elizabeth I.

However, between 1610 and 1617 John Mitchell was "The preacher of the word of God at the Chappelle of Norburie". He was followed in 1622 by Mr Blackheath. Mr Benson served between 1645 and 1657. We know nothing of the ministry of these men among the people of Norbury except their names. In 1661 however the Revd. John Jollie came to the chapel.

The controversial John Jollie was the Curate at Norbury Chapel from March 1661 until the 24th August 1662 ⁽¹⁾ when he, along with many other Ministers, had to resign or be forcibly ejected from their livings, because they would not use the revised book of Common Prayer.

In December 1671, taking advantage of the fact that the Church Authorities had given back certain rights ot non-conforming Clergy, and also that the Hyde family no longer lived at Norbury Hall, he obtained a licence to return to the place of his former ministry, only to find that the neighbouring land owners ⁽²⁾ were opposed to him.

"On Sunday the 12th January 1672 John Jollie went to Norbury Chapel with the intention of preaching there. He found the door locked against him. The prospective congregation were unwilling to let him go back home again, so they forced the door open." At the end of the service Jollie was arrested and charged with causing an unruly crowd to gather, breaking down the Chapel door, and preaching in a consecrated building.

Jollie had to answer to these charges before the Lord Chancellor (the Earl of Shaftesbury). At first things did not go well for the accused. Then a letter arrived from Lord Delamere who was a friend of John's father, Major Jollie. That swung the sympathy of the court towards this 'rough preacher'. Jollie went to prison for six months and was released on payment of a £20 fine.

⁽¹⁾ 24 August: St. Bartholomew's Day

⁽²⁾ Neighbouring Landowners: Richard Legh of Lyme JP and MP. Received great praise for the way in which he apprehended the 'rouge Jollie'. Judge John Warren of Poynton took sworn statements from witnesses.

A Chapel of Ease - before 1692

Norbury Parish Church, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire. Telephone: 0161-483 6325