. This transfer had been made with
the consent of Pope Alexander, but without the consent of the Bishop of
London or the Archbishop. In consequence of this omission the title of
the Abbey to the land was disputed, and it was at length settled that
the patronage of the vicarage should be vested in the Bishop. This was
in 1260. At the time of the dissolution of the monasteries the Abbot's
portion became vested in the Crown, from which it passed to various
persons; and when Sir Walter Cope bought the manor a special arrangement
had to be made with Robert Horseman, who was then in possession.

So much for the history. The actual fabric has been subject to much
change, and has been rebuilt many times. It is known that a church was
standing on this site in 1102, but how old it was then is only matter
for conjecture; in 1370 it was wholly or partly rebuilt. And this church
was pulled down about 1694, with the exception of the tower, and again
rebuilt; but in seven years the new building began to crack, and in 1704
the roof was taken off, and the north and south walls once more rebuilt.
After this Bowack describes it as "of brick and handsomely finished; but
what it was formerly may be guessed by the old tower now standing, which
has some appearance of antiquity, and looks like the architecture of the
twelfth or thirteenth centuries." In his encomium he probably spoke more
in accordance with convention than with real approbation, for this
church has been described by many other independent persons as an
unsightly building, with no architectural beauty whatever; and as far as
may be gathered from the prints still extant this is the true judgment.
In 1811 it showed signs of decay, and underwent thorough restoration;
and in 1869 it was entirely demolished, and the present church built
from the designs of Sir Gilbert Scott. The spire, added a few years
later, is only exceeded by two in England--namely, those of Salisbury
and Norwich Cathedrals.

There are many parish charities, which it would be out of place to
enumerate here, and among them are several bequests for the cleansing
and repair of tombs.

The fine shops on the south side of the street inherit a more ancient
title than might be supposed. Bowack, writing in 1705, speaks of the
"abundance of shopkeepers and all sorts of artificers" along the
high-road, "which makes it appear rather like a part of London than a
country village."

Leaving aside for the time Church Stree