st giles' 1

Roger of Rattlesden... 

was the rector of the church of Cringleford, near Norwich. 

In July 1251, he was granted a pension of 40 shillings (£2) a year for life by the Bishop of Norwich, 'taking pity on his old age, so that in his final days (may this not happen) he is not forced to beg.'

The Bishop was Walter de Suffield and two years before this he had founded St Giles's Hospital in Norwich. The foundation charter specified that under the master there should be four devout and well-instructed chaplains. The inmates were to include up to 30 infirm [zieke] poor people, and three or four sisters over age 50 to take diligent care of the sick and infirm. 

Poor clergymen, disabled by old age or permanent sickness, were also to be admitted, if they had no other support on which they could live, and would have suitable board and lodging in an honourable part of the house. Seven poor scholars, apt to learn, would be given their board at the hospital during term time.   

Remarkably, the hospital survives in Norwich to this day...

now known as The Great Hospital, and fulfilling much of its original purpose... 

with dwellings for 108 elderly people. 

The foundation charter specified... 

that the hospital would be endowed with some land and six churches. 

When the charter was approved by the Pope in 1255, it was stated that the churches had been purchased from laymen by the Bishop for the purpose and they would devolve [worden overgedragen] to the hospital on the death of their respective rectors. Thereafter, the churches would be supplied with vicars living on fitting stipends [toelagen].

[bron]