The History Of Selby, Its Abbey, And Its Masonic Associations.

came Chancellor to King Robert of Sicily . The value of the possessions surrendered was estimated at £ 819 2 s . 6 d . And here it maybe noted that the leader of the Pilgrimage of Grace was Robert Aske , who lived at Aughton , near Bubwith , within ten miles from here . Of the eighteen abbots that governed Selby , the most remarkable were Benedictfirst abbot ; Hugh de Laceywho built the nave of the present church

, , , and was second abbot , and the virtual founder of the present building , removing it from its old site to the present one , and who , like a true Master Mason , worked with his own hands , and who ruled , his abbey wisely and well for twentysix years , and then , from old age , amidst universal sorrow , resigned his charge into the hands of Archbishop Thurston , also a zealous friend to Selby Abbey ( for it was at his instance that the Priory of Drax was founded ) , and after

leading a retired life died , and was buried in the chapter-house of the Abbey ; Roger de London , who was a protege of Richard the lion-hearted , and in whose time a body of Selby men , under the leadership of Sir Robert de Turnham went to the Crusades , one of whose leaders , Richard Tempest , is buried in the abbey ; and the cross-legged effigy of a knight of that period with his wife , supposed to be the said Richard Tempest and his wife yet be seen in the

, may north aisle of the church ; and lastly , Richard , who was the only abbot of Selby who received his installation from the Archbishop of Canterbury . In the sixth year of John , Selby had risen to such importance as to be included with York , Hull , and other principal towns to pay tollage , and it was in his time that the King confirmed the possessions of the abbey , no doubt out of gratitude for the hospitality shown him whilst Earl of Montague . It

was m the time of Abbot Alexander ( circa 1214 ) that the nave of the church was completed , and the monks could look with pride ancl pleasure upon a building that had few equals for magnificence in the north . In Hugh de Brayton ' s time ( circa 1244 ) William de Hamilton was born , at Brayton , about two miles from Selby . He ultimately became Dean of York and Lord Chancellor , and it is supposed that in his time the building of Brayton church was commenced . In the time of his successorThomas de Whalleythe park

, , of Staynor , near Selby , became the possession of the abbey , and served as the grange of the monastery ; and in his time , Archbishop Giffard says , in 1274 , " The church of St . Germain in the town is a chapel ; the rite of baptism was administered in it until children were carried to the monastery . The chapel and its altar are not dedicated , because the dead are interred in the burial ground of the abbey . " John de Wigstowesupposed to be a native of Wistow

, , is the next on our list , and he was a most distinguished ecclesiastic . In his successor ' s time ( Abbot William de Assleby , A . D . 1300 ) was the great persecution and almost destruction of the Order of the Knights Templars , who held extensive possessions in Yorkshire , and who had property at Temple Hurst , near Snaith , of which there are the remains of a Knight Templar Preceptory to this day , and a few weeks ago I had the very great pleasure of visiting the

same with our R . W . Chief Adept . In the time of Abbot John de Wigstowe , John de Lacy obtained licence from King Edward III . ( 1332 ) to found his chantry at Gateforth , to which for 200 years a priest was appointed by the Abbot of Selby . This abbot was also summoned to a Parliament at York ( octave of St . Hilary , 1332 ) , when , owing to a dispute between the Wo archbishops , only the Archbishop of York , Bishops of Lincoln and Carlisle , and the Abbots of York and Selby were present .

In 1335 , John de Heslyaton was appointecl , in whose time the monks of Selby , "as soon as they had money enough were to build the new choir . " Doubtless the history of Selby Abbey Church was like most of that of the greater churches . First the choir , wanted for divine service , was built ; then continuousl y beautified until it was found too small for service ; then the nave and transepts were built , until there was a church with nave and transepts more beautiful than the choir . Then the choir was rebuilt , and then the