Title
BLUNHAM (St.Edmund or St.James)
Rectors
- Thomas de Hanville;
- Walter Muschet - 1233 [in succession to Thomas de Flanville, appointed to another benefice; patron D.Henry de Hasting];
- M.Stephen de Holewell - 1249 [subdeacon; patron Henry de Hasting];
- D.Edward;
- (D.Stephen de Lond'; capellanus);
- M.Nicholasde Marleberg - 5 Aug 1271 [subdeacon; on death of D.Stephen de Lond', capellanus of D.Edward, last Rector; D.John de Seleston, capellanus presented by D.Henry de Hastinges, renouncing];
- M.Nicholas de Marleborg' - 9 Jun 1278 [patron Earl of Cornwall];
- John de Sancto Walerico - 21 Dec 1286 [clericus; presented in minor age by Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, vacant by lapse of 6 months from the time of commendation to M.Nicholas de Marlebge according to statute; custody committed to M.Philip de Waltham; instituted when of age];
- William de Boudon - 16 Apr 1308 [capellanus; on resignation of M.John de Sancto Walerico; patron Lady Agnes de Valenciis];
- Edmund Lestrange - 10 Jun 1336 [priest; on death of D.William de Boudon; patron Edward III];
- William de Heuele;
- Peter Brown of Belgrave - 3 May 1349 [priest; on death of William de Heuele; patron Richard de Feld; see will of William de Belgrave, his brother, dated 19 Jan 1385];
- John Stacy - 6 Mar 1386 [priest; on death of D.Peter de Belgrave; patron Richard II in right of wardship of heir of John de Hastynges, 3rd Earl of Pembroke; will dated 10 Oct, proved 18 Dec 1394];
- Roger Grey - 2 Dec 1394 [subdeacon; brother of Reginald Grey, 3rd Baron Ruthin; on death of John Stacy who died 18 Oct 1394 at Waterford, Ireland; patrons Robert Braybrooke, Bishop of London and Sir Gerard Braybrok senior and junior, feofees of Reginald Grey in the manor and advowsan of Blunham; dispensation to Roger Grey, clerk, son [sic] of Reginald Grey, Lord of Ruthyn, for defect of age];
- Giles Retone - 6 Jun 1408 [capellanus; on death of M.Roger Grey; patron Reginald de Grey, Lord of Weyfford & Ruthin];
- John Gardiner - 15 Jan 1408 [Rector of "St.Mark's Otewych" [St.Martin Outwich?], City of London by exchange with D.Giles Reton; patron Reginald de Grey;
- M.Thomas Felde - 29 Jan 1409 [Rector of Ross [-on-Wye] by exchange with D.John Gardiner; patron Reginald de Grey];
- Thomas Crystmesse - 25 Aug 1419 [on death of M.Thomas Felde; patron Reginald de Grey];
- M.William Grepnale - 12 Dec 1433 [priest; on death of last Rector; patron Reginald de Grey];
- M.Thomas Boteler - 20 Jan 1462 [priest; on death of M.William Gropenale; patron Edmund de Grey, Lord Hastings];
- D.Robert Browns - 1 Nov 1472 [on death of Thomas Botiller; patron Edmund Grey, 1st Earl of Kent];
- M.Thomas Markham - 26 Jan 1476 [on death of Robert Browne; patron Edmund, Earl of Kent];
- D.Henry Sleford - 27 Oct 1503 [priest; on death of D.Thomas Markham MA; patron George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent];
- William Witter or Wittown 1534 [rector in this year];
- M.Roger Tonge MA - 7 Jun 1542 [on death of William Wytton; patron Sir Henry Grey];
- George Joie or Joyce - 15 Nov 1549 [clerk; on death of Roger Tonge; patron Sir Henry Grey, 4th Earl of Kent; died 1553];
- Barnard Standiforth - 1553?;
- Gabriel Power AM - 12 May 1554 [patron Robert Power, gentleman, by grant from William Grey; on deprivation of Barnard Standiforth];
- Edward Blenerhasset also Hasset - 13 Nov 1559; will proved in PCC 1570];
- Thomas Nortone - 20 Jun 1570 [clerk; on death of Edward Blannerhasset; patron Reginald Grey of Wrest, 5th Earl of Kent; buried 11 Mar 1621; will dated 25 Feb 1621, proved 9 Mar 1621; buried in chancel on north side near wife];
- John Donne DD - 14 Mar 1621 [Dean of St.Paul's, London; dispensation to hold the Rectory of Blunham; patron Christopher Brooke, esquire; the famous poet];
- Richard Pearce - 1626;
- Timothy Archer DD - 11 Apr 1631 [patron Elizabeth Archer, widow];
- (John Willmer [died 1650; in absence of Timothy Archer]);
- (John Goodman [died 1659; in absence of Timothy Archer]):
- Samuel Fowler - 13 Jan 1672 [vacant by death of Timothy Archer; patron Edward Fowler; ordained priest 3 Feb 1660 by Thomas Winniffe, Bishop of Lincoln; married Mrs.Ann Radcliffe at Flitton 21 Aug 1673; buried 1 Dec 1704];
- Richard Berrow MA - 16 Dec 1704 [patron Henry, 12th Earl of Kent];
- Ralph Hancock DD - 5 Dec 1728 [of St.John's College, Cambridge; chaplain to Duke of Kent; patron Henry, 1st Duke of Kent];
- Philip Birt MA - 9 Mar 1741 [on death of Ralph Hancock; patron Hon.Philip Yorke, esquire];
- Hadley Cox MA - 8 Dec 1762 [on death of Philip Birt; patron Rt.Hon.Philip Yorke, 1st Viscount Royston and Hon.Jemima, Marchioness Grey, his wife; had a general licence to preach on same day; dispensation to hold Silsoe Vicarage with Blunham dated 19 Jan 1763];
- deed of exchange 1769;
- Damuel Lawry MA - 19 Apr 1782 [on death of Hadley Cox; patron Philip, 2nd Earl of Hardwicke and Marchioness Grey, his wife];
- Robert Porter Beachcroft MA - 2 Jun 1806 [on death of Samuel Simon Lawry; patron Amabell, Baroness Lucas];
- Jacob Henry Brooke Mountain MA - 29 Jan 1831 [on death of Robert Porter Beachcroft; patron Amabell, Countess de Grey];
- (J.G.C.Campion - Jan 1870 [licence [as curate?]]);
- Thomas Marlborough Berry MA - 9 Nov 1872 [on death of Jacob Henry Brooke Mountain; patron Anne, Countess Cowper];
- Charles Henry Farmer - Feb 1893;
- George Paul Davys - Dec 1910;
- William Henry Hopkin - Dec 1918;
- George Mostyn Prichard - Jun 1941;
- Theodore Charles William Cooper Teape-Fugard - Sep 1948;
- Gerald Claude Francis Edwards - 1954;
- Thomas Purchas - 1971
- David Kenneth Williams - 1981;
- Peter W.Ricketts - 1986;
- Richard D.Seymour-Whiteley - 1993;
- Barbara Ebeling - 1999
NOTE: D = "Dominus" meaning Lord;
M = "Magister" meaning Master