GNOSALL, a parish in the western division of the
hundred of CUTTLESTONE, county of STAFFORD, comprising
the townships of Cowley, Gnosall, Knightley,
and a part of Apeton, Alstone, Brough, and Rule, and
the hamlet of Moreton, and containing 26? 1 inhabitants,
of which number, 1038 are in the township of Gnosall,
6 miles (W. S.W.) from Stafford. The living is a perpetual
curacy, in the peculiar jurisdiction of the Lord of
the Manor of Gnosall, endowed with £400 parliamentary
grant, and in the patronage of the Bishop of Lichfield
and Coventry. The church, dedicated to St. Lawrence,
has lately received an addition of three hundred free
sittings, the Incorporated Society for the enlargement
of churches and chapels having granted £150 towards
defraying the expense. It was given by King Stephen
to the church of Lichfield, but afterwards became a
royal free chapel, and had an establishment of secular
canons; in the reign of Henry VIII., the Bishop of Lichfield
and Coventry was titular dean, to which office no
profits were attached, and there were four prebendaries,
vis., of Chiltrenhall, Baverley-hall, Mordhall, and Suckerhall;
the first valued at £14. 6. 8., and the others at £11
each per annum. Edward Cartwright, in 1653, enfeoffed
to trustees a cottage and ground for the education
of fourteen children; the income is £21. 4. 6. per annum.
Five others are instructed by a schoolmistress for
£2 per annum, the gift of Alice Hudson in i860.