Parish Registers (Part 7): Stanford Rivers – Churchwardens’ Accounts, by HaroldSmith, D.D.

Source: The Essex Review, Vol. 41 (1932), pp. 198–199.

By the kindness of the Rev. J.I. Thomas I have recently seen the church registers at Stanford Rivers. [These are now at the Essex Record Office.¹⁹¹] The earliest is a paper book beginning in 1538, but it is doubtful whether the early part is the original register. There is also the regular parchment register, copied by William Farrington, curate, about 1598. This goes back only to 1558. There being now much vacant space in the former paper book, it was utilised for churchwardens’ accounts and parochial memoranda of century XVII. These, as well as the registers proper, have been copied by Mr. R.H. Browne.

There are several notable features:

(1) Full accounts of the origin of the various parochial charities.

(2) A long list for many years of all parochial officers – Surveyors, Churchwardens, Overseers, Constables – from 1617.

(3) There are records of a collection of Briefs, the chief being for St. Paul’s Cathedral, 1632, 16/8; 1686, House to House for French Protestants, £4. 15s. 7d.; ditto 1688, £3. 6s; 1689, Irish Protestants, £3. 10s.

(4) Some items mark the charges of the period.

1604. For a Book [Common Prayer]: 7s.4d.
1604. For Book of Canons: 11d.
1650. Setting up the Arms of the Commonwealth: £1.5s.0d.
1660. Setting up the King’s Arms: £1.5s.0d.
1662. New Common Prayer Book: 7s.0d.
Binding and completing the Bible (carriage 1 /4): 11s.4d.
Surplice: £2.3s.11d.
Homilies: £7s.6d.
Canons and Articles: 2s.0d.
Degrees of Marriage: 8d.

In 1604 an hour-glass cost 12d.

(5) Churchwardens’ Accounts often show the dates of celebrations of Holy Communion. While in some parishes at this period it was held monthly, it was much more commonly quarterly, usually several times around Easter. At Stanford Rivers there seems much variation; the rule is quarterly, with several at Easter for the years, for example, 1603, 1649, seem to have one every two months. But there is no marked difference in frequency between the periods of the early Stuarts, the Interregnum, and the Restoration. Occasionally a celebration is noticed on Maundy Thursday and Easter Eve.

Footnote

¹⁹¹ The paper book is held at the Essex Record Office: ref. ERO 140/1/1. The scope and content recorded in the catalogue:

Paper register, being apparently a transcript up to 1583. Entered in this volume are:

a) note of induction of Richard Mulcaster, 1596;

b) note of tithe composition, 1641;

c) detailed churchwardens' disbursements, 1601-1664;

d) survey of churchyard fence with houses responsible for its upkeep, 1624;

e) special rate for 'newe shoting of the beell', 1609;

f) briefs, 1632-1689;

g) summaries of churchwardens', overseers' and surveyors' accounts, 1670-1724, and election of parish officers, 1617-1724;

h) detailed constables' accounts, 1653-1655;

i) form of certificate given to vagrants, ?1598;

j) note of dispute with Greensted over parish boundary, 1598;

k) account of disbursement of £12 returned to parish 'as part of the provision at Colchester', 1656;

l) many notes of charitable gifts and distributions, 1584-1724.