what can you tell me about the family of John Moody (aka Mody, Modie)
who was the rector/parson of Eccleston, Lancashire, England parish
from 1544 until his death in 1562? and is there anything which says
where he actually lived?
Eccleston was in the Hundred of Leyland.
Please give any references used in compiling the answer

Please identify the references used to compile the answer

Dear sam7045-ga
If a researcher does not find this information on the internet, I
would suggest you make an enquiries at the Lancashire Record Office or
employ an agent to make enquiries for you. That would be the best
source of information given the period and the information you
require.
http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/education/d_lif/ro/index.asp
answerfinder-ga

Thanks for taking the time & interest. I had a few hours at LRO
specifically looking for Moody's will, but to no avail. Some bits in
Feet of Fines, VCH etc, but really struggling with him. Hence I
thought I would see if anyone more proficient than me on the web, or
maybe with access to Ancestry/Cd's or something else could come up
with something. Thanks again

Was he rector or was he parson?    There is a difference. 
Rector is the more senior.
Who held the patronage for the church?
Try contacting various cathedrals in England. Unfortunatly the nearest
were not always his dioceses.

Thanks kemlo-ga. VCH refers to him as being instituted as Rector of
Eccleston under the patronage of the Earl of Derby in 1544, but VCH
also refers to him as 'the priest John Moody ... in 1548..'; a 1558
Final Concord is 'John Modie, clerk'; and in 1562 VCH shows 'Burial of
John Moody, Rector of Eccleston'

So I'm not quite sure what he was... Am I right in thinking all this
refers to C.of E, but what about the reference to 'priest'. Can u
help?

Although nowadays the word "priest" is most often used for RC priests
in England, it can still refer to the C of E.
See, for instance:
http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/organisation.html

As for "clerk" -  this would be an alternative to "cleric", just
another name for the same job!

If I were trying to find out where he'd lived, I'd look at old maps of
Eccleston, trying to find a house near the church which could have
been the parsonage, rectory or vicarage.

I'd also want to follow up this reference to an early 17c rectory in
Eccleston and see if it led me anywhere - though no chance of tracing
it online, I fear.
http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/iomnhas/v024p453.htm

There's also an 1808 reference to a rectory but this may be a much
later building:
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LAN/Gazetteer/EF.htm

Have you already asked the current rector?
http://www.blackburn.anglican.org/index.htm?http://www.blackburn.anglican.org/diodir/clgytz.htm

Or the diocese?
http://www.blackburn.anglican.org/index.htm

Sometimes you can get a result with a question like this by going to
visit the church, seeing if it has a guidebook with clues, checking
out inscriptions in the church and/or finding local people with an
interest in local history, especially bell-ringers, flower-arrangers
etc.


Apologies if you've already tried all these things - good luck!

The current job title is " Clerk in Holy Orders"
There was often a relationship between priest and patron, ie distant cousin etc.

Thanks to leli-ga & kemlo (again). Even if there is nothing directly
on the web, there is a wonderful resource - people with knowledge.
Your comments will lead me to explore a couple of new avenues. One
more query - were these clergy in this period officially or
unofficially celibate? I wouldn't like to do more searching for his
family if there weren't any!