Paul Carley-Annear

My name is Paul Carley-Annear. I am a mature PhD student at the Exeter Faculty of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences under the supervision of Professor James Clark and Professor Catherine Rider.  My professional background is in teaching across several Cornish secondary schools, where I have previously worked for 27 years as a Teacher of History, Head of History, Head of Humanities, and in different Senior Leadership positions. I am now retired and live with my wife Katherine in Cornwall.

My thesis explores the history of free-standing chapels of ease established during the late medieval period to support the religious needs of dispersed communities. These ‘dependent’ or 'daughter' chapels were typically situated several miles away from their ‘mother church’ to minimise the hardships faced by the parishioners while travelling across their parish through difficult terrain or harsh weather conditions.

The study brings to light the unique historical richness of chapelries in two distinct counties, Cornwall and Herefordshire. These counties, positioned at the most southerly and westerly points from medieval English centres of power at London and Canterbury, hold a distinctive and captivating place in the narrative of medieval church history. Their geographical isolation and diverse communities, including pre-Conquest, secular, monastic, manorial, and castle communities, contribute to their historical richness, making them a subject of study that is both fascinating and intriguing.

This study focuses on the proliferation of chapels of ease by the late medieval period. During this time, the status of chapels of ease changed significantly as the newly constructed or reconstructed chapels became subordinate to their parish church. This resulted in conflicts related to parochial rights of baptism, marriage, last-rites and burial, staffing, finance, divine service, and advowsons. These conflicts sparked a series of disputes between diocesan authorities, landlords, and communities. The evidence for these disputes can be found in chapel petitions and ordinances in late medieval episcopal registers.

More contentious disputes primarily revolved around the provision of baptism and burial rights, a testament to the community's profound involvement in establishing and confirming their parochial rights within these chapels. For instance, chapelgoers, having constructed new, rebuilt or dilapidated chapels with important new cemeteries, rallied behind lead parishioners and canon lawyers to secure necessary licences from episcopal authorities.

This study equally argues that relationships between chapelries, other institutions, and jurisdictions within the church were often cordial, challenging the common perception of conflicts in medieval church history. For example, diocesan authorities freely granted parochial rights, including burial and baptism, in cooperation with local lay lords and communities. The theme of cooperation is further explored through the amalgamation of some chapels in Herefordshire, the provision of indulgences, chantry space, and gilds implemented to support chapel building, finance and worship. This emphasis on cooperation reassures us of the harmonious aspects of medieval church history, enlightening us about a lesser-known facet of the past.

Liturgical practice within late medieval chapels of ease is also a focus. These practices include baptismal, matrimonial, burial, churching, ordination ceremonies, and divine services. The research also considers the provision of divine service, examined through liturgical texts and ornaments recorded in inventories of chapels of ease during episcopal visitations or disputes.

The Reformation and its profound impact on parish structures are also examined, shedding light on the resilience of some chapels of ease. This thesis explains why many chapels of ease disappeared due to the far-reaching reforming statutes while others survived and evolved into parish churches. Alternatively, this thesis examines why many chapels into our parish churches today inspire us with their ability to adapt and endure.