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Rectors of Chilton

The list of Rectors can be seen near the main door: in total, 49 have served Chilton since 1270. Since 1949, there has been one rector for both All Saints' Church, Chilton, and St Matthew's Church, Harwell, and in 1976 the two were united to form a single benefice. The first recorded incumbent, Philip Basset (rector from 1270 to 1298) was summonsed in 1275 for building a wall encroaching upon the King's highway. During the Commonwealth (1649-1660) Thomas Lawrence, who had been rector since 1602, was removed from his post by the Puritans for being non compos mentis. One of his replacements, Dr Barton Holyday, was previously chaplain to Charles I and was appointed Archdeacon of Oxford in 1626. Among his contemporaries he enjoyed fame as a poet and playwright and one of his plays was performed in the presence of James I. Unfortunately for Holyday, the king was said to be so bored that it was only with greatest difficulty that he was dissuaded from leaving before the end of the performance. Dr Holyday's incumbency at Chilton was short-lived, as Thomas Lawrence (or possibly his son of the same name) was reinstated in 1660.

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