The most conspicuous event which happened during the sovereignty of Henry VIII. was the Protestant Reformation. Henry, having quarrelled with the Supreme Head of the Church at Rome, determined to suppress all religious houses in his kingdom whose incomes amounted to less than £200 per annum. Doctors Thomas Leigh and Thomas Layton were appointed to inspect and report on those in Lancashire; and amongst the number condemned on their visit was a small Benedictine Cell at Lytham. This Cell owed its origin to Richard Fitz Roger, who towards the latter part of the reign of Richard I. granted lands at Lytham to the Durham Church, in order that a prior and Benedictine monks might be established there to the honour of St. Mary and St. Cuthbert. Its yearly revenue at the time of suppression was only £55. A little later, in 1540, the larger monastic institutions suffered the fate of the smaller ones; and amongst the chantries closed were two at St. Michael's-on-Wyre. All Catholic places of worship were closed by a proclamation, bearing the date September 23rd, 1548, and issued by the lord protector Somerset on behalf of the young king Edward VI. On the death of that monarch in 1553 the crown descended to his sister Mary, only daughter of Catherine of Arrogan; and one of her first acts was to re-establish the old faith and re-open the churches and chantries which her predecessors had closed. Mass was again celebrated in the churches of St. Michael's-on-Wyre, Kirkham, and Singleton, as in former days, the officiating priests being:—
Kirkham Thomas Primbet, annual fee £2 10s. 0d.
Singleton Richard Goodson, " " £2 9s. 0d.
St. Michael's-on-Wyre, Thomas Cross " " £4 13s. 10d.
In the early part of this reign a grand military muster was ordered to be made in the county palatine of Lancaster, and towards the 300 men raised in the Hundred of Amounderness the Fylde townships contributed as follows:—
Warton 4 men.
Carleton 8 "
Hardhome with Newton 8 "
Much Eccleston 5 "
Clifton 6 "
Bispham and Norbreke 5 "
Freckleton 5 "
Thilston 8 "
Thornton 8 men.
Out Rawcliffe 4 "
Upper Rawcliffe and Tornecard 1 "
Pulton 3 "
Weton 3 "
Threleyle 6 "
Little Eccleston and Larbreke 6 "
Little Singleton and Grange 5 "
