Howden Minster – The Collegiate Church of St Peter and St Paul.

 

Howden Minster has a long & glorious medieval history as the centre of an ecclesiastical mini-state, & out-station to Durham Cathedral, welcoming prince-bishops, cardinals & kings. The ringing of Howden Minster’s bells signalled the beginning of the Pilgrimage of Grace, a Yorkshire rebellion against Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536. The Minster lost all its endowments in 1548, followed by centuries of neglect & decay. The medieval chancel & chapter house are now ruinous (in the care of English Heritage), with the nave and transepts surviving as today’s parish church.

 

The Minster Parish covers the town of Howden and surrounding villages & hamlets including Barmby-on-the-Marsh, Asselby, Knedlington, Belby, Howden Dyke, Skelton, Kilpin, Balkholme and Sand Hall.

 

From the Norman Conquest until the Reformation, Howden was an important outstation for Durham Cathedral, with the Prior of Durham exercising archidiaconal authority over the Peculiar of Howdenshire. The Dean of Durham took over this role at the Reformation. This may be important for those tracing family history. Today it is no longer a Durham exclave but is fully integrated in to the Diocese of York and the East Riding Archdeaconary.

 

The 135 ft tower of the Minster can be seen for miles across the flat landscape near the River Ouse. It marks the centre of what was once a major market town and a key remaining part of the partially-ruined church. Started in the 13th Century the church continued to grow in scale to the end of the 15th Century. After the dissolution it became the parish church but soon started to decline due to lack of funds. Decay and damage followed, helped by a fire in 1929, but the slide was halted in 1970 with government control and repairs. Despite the missing section the minister remains a substantial, working church.

 

The present church was rebuilt in the latest style in the 13th Century.  It was one of the first churches in the north in what is known as the decorated or geometric style, where all the abstract design has been drawn with a pair of compasses.

 

 

                                                                                                     

 

 

Rev. George Cumpstone, Died 10 January 1799.

1774 Richmond deanery R501/117 Cumpstone George Lancs CRO 9.10.1774

12 February 1776 George married Ann Turner of Stoneferry Hull at Howden.

1782 Blacktoft Howden Cumpstone George   Curate of Howden at wedding 4.7.1782

1791 Howden Cumpstone George Rev curate of Howden and Master of the Grammar School Directory Universal British Directory 1791

1799 Howden Cumpstone George age 45 Curate of Howden death 10 Jan 1799

Children of George and Ann Turner:

 

1776 Howden C007432  Jane 1 birth IGI      17 Jun 1780

1776 Howden C007432  Jane 1 christened IGI 25 Jul 1776

1788 Howden C007432  Jane 1 death IGI      27 Apr 1788

1778 Howden C007432 Ann Turner Compstone birth IGI 28 Jul 1778

1778 Howden C007432 Compstone Ann Turner Christened IGI 23 Sept 1778

see Ann as apprentice column 1

1780 Howden C007432 Cumpstone Hannah birth IGI 15 Jan 1780

1780 Howden C007432 Cumpstone Hannah Christened IGI 1780 9 Mar

1796 Howden A2A Saltmarche family ref DDSA Hannah 16yrs Mentioned in probate of will of Ann Saltmarshe of Howden widow 17 May 1796

1781 Howden C007432 Cumpstone George birth IGI 26 May 1781

1782 Howden C007432 Cumpstone George christened 1782 1 Jan

1782 Howden Cumpstone George Christened IGI 26 May 1782

1783 Howden C007432 Compstone John birth IGI 20 Oct 1783

1784 Howden C007432 Compstone John Christened IGI 1784 1 Jan

1784 Howden C007432 Compstone John 1 death IGI 20 Apr 1784

1785 Howden C007432 Cumpstone Mary birth 1785 10 Mar

1785 Howden C007432 Cumpstone Mary Christened IGI 23 Jun 1785

1787 Howden C007432 Cumpstone Judith 1 birth IGI 19 Jan 1787

1787 Howden C007432 Cumpstone Judith 1 Christened IGI 29 Jun 1787

died before 1794 when second Judith was born

1788 Howden C007432 Cumpstone John birth IGI 31 Dec 1788

 

1789 Howden C007432 Cumpstone John christened IGI 21 May 1789

1792 Howden C007432 Cumpstone John 4yrs death IGI 24 Jun 1792

1794 Howden C007432 Cumpstone Judith 2 (married John Sugden) birth IGI 2 Mar 1794

1794 Howden C007432 Cumpstone Judith 2 Christened IGI 15 Oct 1794

1822 Market Rasen film 539025 Cumpstone Judith 2 28yrs John Sugden marriage IGI 25 July 1822

1841 Market Rasen HO 107 642 7 Market place Cumpstone Judith 47yrs what happened to John Sugden? Living on independent means census 1841

1854 Howden Cumpstone Judith 2 59 years John Sugden death IGI 10 Jan 1854

 

1798 Howden C007432 Cumpstone John birth IGI 20 Nov 1798

1798 Howden C007432 Cumpstone John Christened IGI 20 Jun 1798

1841 Market Rasen Cumpstone John (married to Eliza) 070 Pigot's CD books

1851 Market Rasen HO/107/2115  Market Place Cumpstone John 53yrs Eliza surgeon census 1851

1860 St Thomas Market Rasen Cumpstone John 63 yrs m Eliza NBI 3 Dec 1860 Buried

The following data is from the CCED person records:

 

1774 Appt (Licensing) Cumpstone, George Howden / Curate

 

Vacancy Date CCED record ID 284108

Clerical detail Cumpstone George

Licensing Date 31 July 1774

Curate Howden

Source BI Inst AB15 Act Book

Jurisdiction Drummond, Robert Hay/York 1761-1776

 

Description a deacon £30 pa

Primary Patron Summary Patron Type Ecclesiastical Corporation Patron Role Nominator Gender Male

 

1777 (ordination)

Cumpstone, George priest

 

CCED Record ID 197104

Ordination evidence detail

Surname Cumpstone Forename George

 

Event type Ordination Date 27 July 1777 Place Bishopthorpe Church Archiepiscopal chapel

Clerical status Priest

Letters Dimissory No Source BI Inst AB 15 Act Book Bishop Markham William York 1777 -1807 Description

 

 

 

 

 Click on photos to enlarge.

 

Top photo is a tablet in the side wall of Howden Minster, for George Cumpston and his family:

 

'In the memory of the Revd. George Cumpstone who died on the 10th day of Jan 1799 age 45 yrs.  Also of Ann his wife who died 18th day of Aug 1818 12 Age 60 years.

 

Also 9 of their children 3 sons and 6 daughters who lie interred near this place.  Also Judith Sugden d of Ann and George wife of John Sugden of this place who departed this life 10 Jan 1854 age 59 years'.    

The Cumpstone tablet high on the wall at Howden Minster

Ann was placed as Apprentice by "The Stewards for the Feast of the Sons of the Clergy", in 1798. The organization was a charity that concerned itself with the children of poor clergymen. Some, but not all of the children, were orphans.

 

Ann CUPSTON to Anne BYWATER of Howden, co. York, milliner & mantua maker

 

Nancy McLaughlin

Burwood, Christchurch, NZ

Yorkshire: Blacktoft - Parish Registers (Christenings, Marriages, Burials), 1700-1812

Book No. 4 Marriages 04 Jul  

Yorkshire: Blacktoft - Parish

 

1782 Robert Soul, Husbandman, & Elizabeth Featherstone, Spinster, of Blacktoft, by Banns.

 

Geo Cumpstone, Curate of Howden. John Grainger, John Best, Wm Gardam, Witnesses