PARISH CHURCH OF WEAVERHAM n i^Uu 225

enable us to trace the time of the building of several of our old churches. Their origin lies in the fact tiiat each mason had his own particular mark. The working mason placed his on the bed of die stone he was shaping, and the foreman who was in charge placed his mark on the face of the stone to show lie had tested it and that it was fit to take its place in the building. The foreman would belong to a guild and his mark was a registered or recognized mark in that guild. I am told that the little "crutch" mark in Figs. I and II show that the foreman who made this mark had followed his father in the trade and was allowed to use his fadier's mark with this little addition. I know, from personal investigation, that this custom is still in use, cspccially among those masons who arc regularly engaged repairing our cathedrals.

the list of vicars

The list of Vicars extends in an unbroken line from the year 1299, when die Abbot of Vale Royal presented William of Mackworth to Uic benefice. This is the oldest record of an incumbency which survives, though the parish dates from the sevcndi century and die existence of church and a priest is mentioned in Domesday. The most notable incumbents down to die end of the nineteenth century were Thomas Runcorn, Lewis Bayly, Edward Mainwaring, Thomas Hunter the elder, and Thomas Blackburne. The descent of the Advowson has already been outlined. The list of vicars is as follows :—

Instituted

1299 William of Mackeworth.

1300 Martin of Abington.

1304 Walter of Coleshull.

1312 Robert de Aula.

1345 Thomas Champayn.

1348 William of Mere.

1351 Thomas of Wydnton.

— William the Mynor.