STANSTED-MOUNTFITCHET, a parish partly
in the hundred of CLAVERING, but chiefly in that of
UTTLESFORD, county of ESSEX, 18 miles (N. W.) from
Chelmsford, containing, with the hamlet of Bentfield,
1518 inhabitants. The living is a discharged vicarage,
in the jurisdiction of the Commissary of Essex and Herts,
concurrently with the Consistorial Court of the Bishop
of London, rated in the king's books at £13. 6. 8., an(l
in the patronage of E. F. Maitland, Esq. The church,
dedicated to St. Mary, has lately received an addition of
two hundred free sittings, the Incorporated Society for
the enlargement of churches and chapels having granted
£ 200 towards defraying the expense. There is a place
of worship for Independents. A Sunday school, attended
by about one hundred children, is supported by
voluntary contributions. Here are slight remains of a
castle erected by William Gernon, surnamed Montfichet, j
and about two miles from the church was the priory Qi
Thremhall, founded by Richard de Montfichet, and dedicated
to St. James.