LINDRIDGE, PBNSAX, KNIGHTON, AND NEWNHAM. 251

With reference to Pensax, that chapel was at that time "supplied by Richard Wilkes, minister of God's holy word, who is an able preacher, and doth for the most p'te preach twise every Lord's day, and hath for his sallary all the proffitts ecclesiastical yssuing out of Pensax." This amounted to £11 a year. The parishioners declare themselves well content with their minister and he with them, and they pray not to be annexed to any other church, which would cause them to walk two and a half miles to the nearest church, many of thenm people, likewise, being "lame and impotent." The Stockton people wished Pensax to be united to their church. Pensax chapel was taken down in 1829, being extremely dilapidated; and a new one, to contain 250 persons, erected.

A curious specimen of church brawling happened at Lindridge in 1660. According to a deposition at Worcester Sessions, one "Jeremiah Hewes, servant of Mr. Bishop's of Lindridge, spoke of Mr. Gyles lascivious words, for he said yt he preached in ye church nothing but lyes, and furthermore he called him ould munkke (monk) and he said ye ould munkke preached in ye forenoon, and his sunn, ye younge munkker, did endeavour to mende it in ye afternoone; and he said he would never heere him preach again, for if he were in ye church he would goe forthe. Mr. Gyles gave a tuch concerning maypoles - what rudness is ust (used) to be abought such games, and he wisht he had his bearde to make him a flaye yt he might be one of ye fore leaders; and furthermore my brother Edward tould him yt these words did deserve ye good behaviour (recognisance to keep the peace); and said again he did not care for never a justice's warrant in ye countie, for he saith they are all turncootes."

The name of the parish (Saxon) means the ridge of lime trees, where was pasturage for swine and goats. There is a field at Pensax called "The Vineyard," where a Mr. King, in the last century, endeavoured to establish a vineyard, and created an artificial atmosphere by means of flues spread