Wateringbury vicar signs declaration against Pope (1534)

Post date: Jan 04, 2013 5:54:56 PM

1534 was the year of the Acts of Succession and Supremacy, and so the year most associated with the breach with Rome. Thomas Smythson, the vicar of Wateringbury from 1527 until 1541, along with many other clergy in Rochester diocese signed a declaration (in Latin) against papal authority that

the Bishop of Rome hath no greater jurisdiction committed to him by God in this realm of England than any other foreign bishop.

For Rochester Diocese most of the clergy appended to their signatures the name of their benefice. The signatures are undated but internal evidence indicates a 1534 date.

They are transcribed in total for Rochester Diocese in Archaeologica Cantiana Vol XXII (1897) in an ars:ticle The Renunciation of the Papal Authority by the clergy of West Kent, 1534 by Leland Duncan.

An extract from this article covering some of the surrounding parishes in the deanery of Malling follow

DECANATUS DE MALLING

HENRICUS FLETCHER, VICARIUS DE TOWNE MALLYNG

…

JOH’ES SYMSON, RECTOR OF BARMYNG

…

D^ns JOH’ES CROSSE, CURAT DE HADLOW

….

D^ns ROBERT CADYE, CURAT OF WEST PECKHAM

D^ns EDWARD TUTSHAM, VICARIUS DE WEST PECCHAM

D^ns THOMAS EMERE, VICARIUS DE WESTFARLEY

D^ns EDWARD WETTO’ DE TESTON WECARYUS

…

D^ns JOH’ES POMELL , RECTOR OF NETTLYLSTED

DOMINUS THOM’S SMITHSON, VICAR DE WATTRINGBUREY