In 1587 the parish suffered from the plague, and it was noted in the parish register that "89 corpses were buried, whereof tenne were strangers." In 1652 it was noted that John Pasmore was buried "On Black Monday 29 March. There was a star appeared in the South-east, ye sun eclipsed."
In 1596, Ellen Thompson, condemned as a witch was buried under the stile of St Mary Magdalene church, which is the mother church of St. Hilda's, at the east entrance to the churchyard.