support Oldham church by a rate, of which Oldham pays half, and the other townships the remainder, without contributing in any way towards. the church of Prestwich, and the inhabitants of these townships have the rites of sepulture, baptism, and marriage at Oldham church. The register books of Oldham and Prestwich are quite distinct and unconnected, and each place has its separate churchwardens. Until a few years ago all the episcopal chapels in the four townships, with the exception of Shaw, were subordinate as to dues to the parochial church of Oldham, and till the same period the right of solemnising marriage was retained exclusively by Oldham church, with the exception of Shaw, the parish church of Prestwich of course reserving the same privilege over the entire parish. The church of Oldham was aneciently endowed with tithes, as is evident from a lease contracted betwixt Sir Ralph Langley and Sir Henry Penulbury, in 1454. The living may be described as a perpetual curacy, partaking in some measure of the nature of a vicarage. The name of Tithebarn-fold indicates the situation of the building set aside for the storing of the tithes paid in kind, and the designation of Priest-hill points out the particular place of abode of one or more of the early incumbents. The only material connection which subsists betwixt the rectory of Prestwich and the parish of Oldham, is in the retention by the rector of the great tithes, and the patronage of the curacies of Oldham, St. Peter's, Oldham, St. James's, Greenacres-moor, Holy Trinity, Shaw, St. Paul's, Royton, and St. Margaret's, Hollinwood.

Anciently, Oldham was more dependent upon Prestwich, for it appears by a decree of the date of 1448, in the possession of the Rector of Prestwich, issued by William de Nieuhagh, Archdeacon of Chester, that the inhabitants of "Oldom," dependent upon the parish church of Prestwich, were required to contribute

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