Note 6.4

The Chartulary of the Priory of Saint Peter at Sele (edited by L F Salzman, Cambridge, 1923) translates a charter dated about 1170, number 18, which provides evidence that the Templars were established at Shoreham. They had gained "their own estate" and built a church and cemetery for themselves and their household. The parish church of Saint Mary de Haura, which still survives, was defended by the Prior of Sele who believed the Templars were attracting its parishioners away in unfair competition. The Pope's ruling was as follows: Letters Apostolic [in the case] between the Prior of Sele and the Templars in the vill of Sorham. Alexander, &c., to the abbot and brethren of the monastery of St. Florent. . . . When the brethren of the knightly order (militia) and Thomas your monk came before us in the case between you and the same brethren of the Temple touching the church in the seaport called Sorham; your monk complained that the brethren of the Temple, to the injury of your rights and against the privileges conferred on you by Popes, had built an oratory within the parish of your church whereas it was stated in your privileges that neither archbishop nor bishop might build a church within your parish; the brethren of the Temple on the other hand said that they had in no way infringed your rights or the privileges of the Roman church in this matter, and they produced the privileges granted by the Roman church to the house of the Temple by which full licence and faculty was granted them to build on their own estate a church and cemetery for themselves and their household. We, having considered the arguments of both parties and carefully examined their privileges, by the common counsel of our brethren do pronounce that they may keep the oratory and cemetery for themselves and their household in that place where it now is without hindrance, saving the rights of your parish church, that is, so that they may not demand or receive [the attendance] of the parishioners of your church, nor admit your parishioners to daily services or to burial, and still less on festivals and Sundays, but if any so wish after they have heard mass in your church and during the week (infra septimanam) they may go, out of devotion, to their church and hear sung masses (missas notivas) and make voluntary offerings there: concerning travellers and pilgrims, however, we ordain that they may hear divine service where they please and that [the brethren] may receive them freely and without dispute in their church. . . . Given at Bonyvent' 30 December. Note: In 1292 the Templars leased to William, son of John, Lote and Maud his wife a messuage called le Temple in New Shoreham with the chapel; the lease was witnessed by Thomas de la Fenne, preceptor of Shipley, and Brian de Jaye, who became Master of the order and fell at Falkirk in 1298: Shoreham, 18. In 1316, after the fall of the Templars Maud "de Templo," as she is here called, made over her rights to the Carmelite Friars (Shoreham, 19.20), and in 1325 the Carmelites acquired the messuage and chapel in perpetuity from the Hospitallers (36). In 1493, the buildings being in danger of being swept away by the sea, the Carmelites were allowed to move into the deserted buildings of Sele Priory.

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