St Andrew's Church Fillingham - Wycliffe (1361)
John Wycliffe was appointed to the living of Fillingham in Lincolnshire in 1361. He received a considerable income from this appointment which enabled him to carry on with his studies in Oxford. He was also appointed prebend of Aust on the Bristol Channel. Wycliffe was clearly guilty of pluralism (having more than one Church benefice at one time) and of absenteeism, as he spent most of his time in Oxford. These were accepted practices at the time, to enable scholars to continue their studies, but in later years Wycliffe spoke out virulently against pluralism and absenteeism. In 1368 he gave up Fillingham to become Rector of Ludgershall, and then in 1374, he transferred to Lutterworth, which he retained until his death.