CONGHAM, a parish in the Lynn division of the
hundred of FREEBRIDGE, county of NORFOLK, 3
miles (E. by S.) from Castle-Rising, containing 279 inhabitants.
The living is a rectory, with which that of
Congham St. Mary was consolidated in 1684, in the
archdeaconry and diocese of Norwich, rated together in
the king's books at £12. 10.., and in the patronage of
Mrs. Nelson. The church is dedicated to St. Andrew:
that of St. Mary has been demolished. The rector also
receives the tithes of Congham All Saints, subject to an
annual payment to the impropriator. Here are almshouses
for twelve women, with an endowment of £100
per annum. The learned antiquary and historian, Sir
Henry Spelman, was born at this place, in 1562, and
died in 1641: he first prosecuted his studies at Trinity
College, Cambridge, whence he was called to the bar,
and was sheriff for the county in the year 1605. His
chief works were, the Glossary, History of Sacrilege, a
treatise De non temerandis Ecclesiis, Icenia, &c., which
were collected and published, with a biographical sketch
prefixed, by Bishop Gibson.