orncastle. {186} He was a member of a family
of some distinction; had a residence in London, as well as his rectory
here; he was popularly said to drive the handsomest pair of horses in
London; and there exists a portrait in oil of an ancestor, Chancellor
Spranger, in one of the great galleries in Florence. Dr. Spranger was an
intimate friend of J. Keble, the author of _The Christian Year_, and his
son the Rev. Robert J. Spranger, Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, spent
the greater part of his life in Mr. Keble's parish, Hursley, Hants, as a
voluntary assistant in his clerical work.

The companion slab marks the last resting place of another rector, the
Rev. J. Hutchinson, who died in 1788. His history is singular. Although
well educated, he enlisted as a private in the army for foreign service;
a commission however was subsequently obtained for him by his friends.
He presently became attached to a lady who refused to marry a soldier.
He then determined to take holy orders. Chance threw him in the way of a
party of gentlemen at Manchester, one of them being the agent of Lord
Willoughby. The latter stated that he had it in power, at that moment,
to bestow a benefice, and that he would give it to anyone who could solve
for him a particular problem. Mr. Hutchinson succeeded in doing this,
and was eventually appointed Rector of Low Toynton. He held it, however,
only 18 months, dying at an early age. Whether he married the lady is
not stated.

In the List of Institutions to Benefices, preserved at Lincoln, it is
recorded that in 1562 Michael West, Clerk, was appointed Rector of Nether
Toynton and Vicar of Upper Toynton, by Richard Bertie, Esq., ancestor of
the Earl of Ancaster. This must have been by some private arrangement
with the Bishop of Carlisle, who was patron of High Toynton; the Berties
(as the Willoughbies are now) being only patrons of Low Toynton. From
Liber Regis we learn that the Earl of Lindsey appointed to the benefice
in 1692, the Duke of Ancaster in 1778, Sir Peter Burrell and Lady
Willoughby d' Eresby in 1783.

The register dates from 1585. Under date 1717, Feb. 2nd, occurs the
following entry: "Robert Willy, of Upper Toynton, did penance in the
parish church of Lower Toynton, for the heinous and great sin of
adultery." A note in the baptismal register states that on July 18th,
1818, Bishop George (Tomline) confirmed at Horncastle 683 candidates,
among them being five from Low Toynton. Con