Melbourne Parish Church has been the subject of many studies over the years. A considerable volume of material exists in various formats disseminated across a range of institutions and individuals. Our hope is to draw together as much of this as we can and where possible to ensure that digital copies exist.;xNLx;;xNLx;We welcome comments and contributions. In particular we are looking for old photographs and to hear of personal or family stories related to the church.;xNLx;;xNLx;If you have something to contribute please contact the Melbourne Parish Church Archivist, Kevin Crisp by email (mpc.archivist@gmail.com)
Source: Philip Heath
Source - Philip Heath
Born in 1068 the fourth son of William the Conqueror, Henry I was also known as Henry Beauclerc. When his brother William II (William Rufus) died in a hunting accident Henry seized the English throne. He married Matilda of Scotland and they had two surviving children, Empress Matilda and William Adelin.
Matilda of Scotland (also known as Good Queen Maud) was Queen Consort of England and Duchess of Normandy as the first wife of King Henry I. Educated in a convent in southern England, where her aunt was abbess, she was forced to wear the veil. After Henry I acceded to the throne he quickly proposed marriage to the 30 year old Matilda due to her descent from the Anglo-Saxon House of Wessex, helping to legitimise his rule as King.
The large, architecturally ambitious and very fine example of Romanesque architecture that is Melbourne Parish Church suffers from a very sparsely documented early history. Academics, historians and architectural specialists have debated the issue for centuries. Domesday Book in 1086 mentions the manor and church of Melbourne as forming part of the royal demesne (“property”). The balance of informed opinion points to conception of the Norman church in the first quarter of the twelfth century around 1125, or perhaps slightly earlier.
King Henry I presented "ecclesia" (Rectory) at Melbourne to Adelulf (the first Bishop of the newly created diocese of Carlisle) to be held during the Bishop's life.
Adelulf (also Athelwold, Adelof, Aldulf, Adulphus, representing O.E. Æthelwulf) was originally a wealthy Yorkshire landholder, lord of Pocklington, who took orders became archbishop Thurstan's friend, prior of Nostell in Yorkshire and confessor to King Henry I who consecrated him bishop of Carlisle in 1133. When Carlisle was ceded to King David, Adelulf found it possible to serve him diligently without forsaking his duties to the English Church and court. He was still prior of Nostell shortly before his death in 1156 at Carlisle, where he was buried in the cloister he had built.
