Upchurch / Cerce / Uppechirche

There is an entry for this Upchurch [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://opendomesday.org/place/TQ8467/upchurch/] [accessed 2 May 2015], but it mentions neither cleric nor church in it. Hasted (1798) writes: "The church of Upchurch belonged antiently to the Premonstratensian Abbey de Insula Dei, or Lisle Dieu, in Normandy, founded by Reginald de Paveley, in 1187, who having lands in this county, might probably give this church for the better support of his new foundation. [...] The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary, is a very large, handsome building, consisting of three broad isles and two chancels [...] The steeple at the west end of the church is very remarkable, being a tower on which is placed a square part of a spire for about ten feet, and on that an octagon for the remaining or upper part to the point of the spire at top." Glynne (1877) notes: "a fine new font erected of Decorated character, with ball-flower ornament" in the nave [NB: the church dates back to Norman times but "was completely restored in 1876", according to Glynne (ibid.) -- we have no information on the earlier font(s)]