Edward the First's time, it is thus entered in Norwich Domesday, "the Prior of Wymundham holds the church of Besthorp, appropriated to his convent, but the vicar hath the parsonage-house, and 28 acres of glebe, and receives the moiety of the tithes, and the Prior the other moiety; William Earl of Arundel, son of William and Alice, gave it to the Prior in King Henry the Second's time, in order that it might be appropriated, and its advowson continued in the convent, till Simon Bishop of Norwich appropriated it, reserving the patronage of the vicarage to the Prior, the institution to the Bishop, and the episcopal and archidiaconal dues to be paid by the vicar." At the Dissolution the impropriation and advowson came to the Crown, and there continued till Queen Elizabeth, in the 18th year of her reign, granted the portions of tithes to Richard Brokelsby, to be held at 26s. 8d. yearly rent; and in the 29th year of her reign, she granted to Edward Heron, Esq. and John Nicholas, Gent. all tithes whatsoever in Besthorp, and lands which lately belonged to Wymondham convent, and were concealed and unjustly detained from the Crown; and in the 30th year of her reign, the advowson of the vicarge and impropriation was granted to the Cleres, and was joined to the manors before 1602, by the Drurys, with which they now continue.
Vicars.
- 1262, Roger de Cantelupe was rector, at whose death the first vicar was instituted.
- 1303, 13 kal. May, Thomas, sirnamed Raven, of Wymondham, priest. The Prior and convent of Wymundham.
- 1332, 4 non. Jan. Tho. Rykeward, of Wymundham, priest.
- 1349, 20 July, Tho. Ryngedale, priest.
- 1375, 23 Dec. Mr. John Mote, deacon.
- 1384, Mote changed with Barth. de Wendover, for Shakerstone rectory in Lincoln diocese.
- 1384, Wendover changed with Tho. Killingworth.
- 1388, 15 Sept. Will. Walkelyn, priest, on Killingworth's resignation.
- 1394 23 Nov. John Pogge de Hedirsete, priest.
- Richard Snowe.
- 1408, 12 Aug. John Smyth, priest on Snowe's resignation.
- 1410, 2 May, John Peers, vicar; he resigned to Simon Mafrey of Banham priest, in exchange for Wykham in London diocese in the patronage and jurisdiction of the Dean of St. Paul's.
- 1417, 17 May, Will. Child, priest, on Mafrey's resignation.
- 1421, 27 March, Richard, son of Fraricus Buntyng of Salle, priest.
- 1424, 17 Oct. John Knynyngton, otherwise called atte Halle of Lutchurche, priest, on Bunting's resignation.
- 1426, 18 Dec. Tho. Clement, alias Decly, alias Mortymer.
- 1439, 3 Oct. Tho. Browster, priest, on Clement, alias Mortymer's, resignation.
- Tho. Newton.
- 1445, 13 Sept. Oliver Whetenhale, alias Warner, on Newton's death.
- 1469, 8 July, John Cralle, licenciate in the decrees.
- 1489,
