ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY of Dorchester, while it was distinct from Leicester and Lindsey. 1 At the union of these three under Leofwin towards the end of the tenth century, 2 the county became part of a diocese very much larger, though retaining for some time the same name and centre of government. From 1075 3 until 1837 it formed a single archdeaconry within the diocese of Lincoln, being finally transferred at the latter date to the diocese of Ely.' The names and limits of the rural deaneries were fixed certainly before the Taxation of Pope Nicholas IV. in 1291 ; but how long before it is not easy to say. In 1 1 99 mention is found of deans of Bedford and Ravensden 6 ; of a dean of Luton in 1232,° a dean of Westoning in 1 232/ and in 1249 a dean of Pulloxhill; 8 but it is possible that these places were only the parishes of which the various deans were at the time incumbents, and do not represent the names of their rural deaneries. In 1 29 1 there were six deaneries : — Eaton, containing 18 parishes Clopham „ 1 8 „ Bedford „ 17 „ Dunstable „ 20 „ Fleete „ 22 „ Shefford „ 27 „ In 1535, the date of the Valor Eccksiasticus, these divisions re- mained unaltered ; even the total number of parish churches (122) re- mained as before. 9 The same names of deaneries are given in the earliest clergy lists till 1880, with the same schedule of parishes; though from 1870 each deanery has two divisions — Bedford and Dunstable a first and second ; Clopham, Fleete and Shefford an eastern and western, and Eaton a northern and southern division. But on 27 February 1880 10 the deaneries were completely reconstituted, with a new schedule of parishes: — The deanery of Ampthill, containing 1 1 parishes „ Bedford „ 11 „ Biggleswade „ 15 „ „ Dunstable „ 15 „ „ Eaton „ 8 „ „ Felmersham „ 15 „ „ Fleete „ 14 „ „ Luton „ 9 „ Riseley „ 9 „ „ Shefford „ 13 „ „ Haynes „ 9 „ There has been no further change, except by the addition of two parishes to the deanery of Bedford and two to that of Luton. 1 Florence of If 'ore. (Engl. Hist. Soc.), i. 36, 339. 3 William of Malmesbury, De Gestis Pontif. (Savile ed.) p. 290. 3 The year when Remigius first signed as Bishop of Lincoln (S.P.C.K. Diocesan History, p. 48).
- London Gazette, 30 May 1837.
8 Harl. MS. 3656, f. 60 ; Add. MS. 24463, f. 29b. 8 Ann. Mon. (Rolls Series), iii. 108. 7 Harl. MS. 1885, f. 52b. 8 Line. Epis. Reg., II Grossetete. 9 The chapel of Clapham is a rectory in the Valor, and the churches of St. Peter and St. Mary Dunstable are reckoned as one ; so that these two items balance each other. 10 London Gazette, 27 Feb. 18S0 ; Clergy List, 18S1. 347
