Walsall St Matthew Vicars to 1813

List of Vicars of St Matthews, Walsall

from ; 'The History & Directory of Walsall' produced by Thomas Pearce in 1813, a local churchwarden, constable and vestry clerk.

"The following is the best list of vicars I have been able to obtain: — 

William Ward signs the parish register as vicar in 1571. 

Thomas Byrdall, M. A. whose name as minister of Walsall is on a table of benefactions set up in 1654, died in April, 1662. There are two books written by 
him ; one called, " A Glimpse of God ;" the other is a volume of eighteen sermons, preached in Walsall church. The first was printed in 1660, with a dedication to sir Thomas Wilbraham and the lady Elizabeth his wife, by a clergyman named W. Gearing. In this dedication it is mentioned that Mr. Byrdall was presented to this living by sir Thomas's grandfather, sir Richard. The volume of Sermons was printed in 1666, and dedicated as before mentioned ; to this is prefixed a funeral Discourse, by Anthony Burgess, minister of Sutton Coldfield, in which the age of the deceased is supposed to be 55. I presume he was inducted before the troubles, and that, when the 
ordinance passed to abolish the Liturgy, he laid it aside, and took the covenant. Whether he re-assumed the Common-Prayer after May 1660, I cannot say ; but his death happening four months before the act of Uniformity took place, prevented his being ejected for non-conformity, if he had then persisted in it. He was succeeded by 

Richard Bourn, minister, 1662. 

John Moss, vicar 1708, died 1733, and was buried in the North chancel. He was succeeded by 

Robert Felton, who was vicar March 16, 1751—2, when the first brick in the new burial ground in Windmill-field was laid. He died 1769, aged. 64, and was buried near the vestry. 

His successor, John Darwall, died 1789, and was interred in a vault in the new burying- ground. He was succeeded by 

The late vicar, the rev. Rutter, who, dying 1796, was succeeded by 

The present vicar, the rev. P. Pratt. "

Thomas Pearce (1813)
 

Transcribed by Mike Harbach 2020