Churchwardens Presentments 1750 to 1826

A continuous run of Churchwardens Presentments from 1664 to 1842 for most Essex parishes can be found in the Guildhall Library manuscripts section. Until 1826, the questions were straightforward. Each was pre-printed with gaps to insert names etc. Taking as an example the return for Stanford Rivers in 1750:

A presentment made and exhibited by William Hooper & John Glascock Churchwardens of the said Parish, at the Visitation, held by the Right Reverend Father of God Thomas by Divine Permission, Lord Bishop of London, held in the Chappell of Rumford in the County of Essex on Tuesday the twenty fourth day of April 1750

I Concerning Churches and Chapels, the Fabrick, Furniture, and Ornaments thereunto belonging.
I present all well.

II Concerning the Church-yard and the Houses, the Glebe, Tithes, and other Duties belonging to the Church
I present all well.

III Concerning the Clergy. I present all well.

IV Concerning the Parishioners . I present all well.
V Concerning the Parish and Church Officers.
I present all well.
VI Concerning Ecclesiastical Officers. I present all well.
VII Concerning Hospitals, Alms-Houses, Schools and School-masters. I present all well.
[signed] William Hooper

Such returns did not allow space for a description of church and parish life. Researching six parishes (the High Country, Stondon Massey and my home parish, Blackmore) yielded very little detail in this respect other than a suspicion that churchwardens were sometimes economical with the truth, lest to offend the gentry. For example, at Blackmore in 1817, the Archdeacon of Essex made a Visitation to inspect the church building. A catalogue of failure is recorded:

Remove the Earth and Rubbish from the Church and Chancel where necessary as much as may. … Shingling wants repair. Underpinning of Tower wants repair. West end Wall of Tower wants a whole colour. Remove the Ivy from the South wall. Grub up the Fig and other Trees on South side and stop the Eaves same side window frames so side want repair and paint. ... Owing to the general bad state and conditions of the Church the Archdeacon did not make any Order but deferred doing so until he had considered the same more fully.

The margin note states:

The Chancel pavement of this Church as green as a Pasture Field and the Church the most cold wet and comfortless of any in the Archdeaconry:

However, in the Churchwardens Presentments of 1814 and 1818, Edward Gray declared “I present all well”.

The exception is a note attached to the return for Greensted in 1810.

The Church Yard of Greensted has for Time immemorial been repair’d by the different Owners of the several Es-tates in the Parish, according to the value of them – this has been the custom, according to an account taken from the Register Book of the Parish, work commences, the first Year of Elizabeth – the Church Yard has lately been put into compleat Repair, at the expense of the different Estates except one – Jessop Esq, Counsellor at Law, & is now occupied by John Hughes Esq who both refuse to do the necessary Repair of 2½ Lefts, or 1½ Rod – the Church Yard is therefore expos’d most indecently to the depredation of cattle, & wants immediate Attention. The Rector has therefore order’d his Church Warden to pre-sent it, & beg Instructions how to proceed in order to have the Church Yard properly secur’d.
W H Warren Rector

Churchwardens Presentments for the Ongar Deanery – which covered all High Country parishes - were heard at the chapel at Romford, the nearest major market town, with wardens expected to attend in person. We have then a list of the churchwardens who served the parishes at these four-yearly intervals.

Churchwardens serving the High Country parishes:
1750 to 1826

Year
Doc. Ref.
Greensted
Stanford Rivers

1750
9583/22
X Edward Brokes
William Hooper & John Glascock
1753
9583/23
X Edward E Brokes
William Keep & James Mills
1759
9583/24
Anthony Carter
William Keep & Samuel Playle
1763
9583/25
Anthony Carter
Samuel Playle & Matthew Playle
1767
9583/26
Benjamin Cracknell
Samuel Playle & John Playle
1770
9583/27
Benjamin Cracknell
Samuel Playle & Matthew Webb
1774
9583/28
Benjamin Cracknell
Samuel Playle & Stephen Jones
1778
9583/29
Benjamin Cracknell
Daniel Bailey & Daniel Corney
1782
9583/30
Benjamin Cracknell
Daniel Bailey
1786
9583/31
John Mountford
Matthew Playle
1799
9583/34
William Dellar & John Mead
-
1810
9583/36
William Ayley &
E S Benson
Stephen Jones & X James Mott
1814
9583/37
William Ayley
Stephen Jones
1818
9583/38
John Wrigte
Stephen Jones
1822
9583/39
William Francis
Stephen Jones
1826
9583/40
William Francis
Stephen Jones

Year
Doc. Ref.
Stapleford Tawny
Theydon Mount

1750
9583/22
John Mills
John Slope
1753
9583/23
X John Luck
John Slope
1759
9583/24
John Waylett
John Slape
1763
9583/25
John Waylett
John Slope
1767
9583/26
John Waylett
John Slape
1770
9583/27
John Waylett
John Slape
1774
9583/28
John Waylett
John Slape
1778
9583/29
John Waylett
John Slape
1782
9583/30
-
John Slape
1786
9583/31
Benjamin Clark
John Slape
1799
9583/34
William Roberts
John Connell
1810
9583/36
William Roberts
John Connell
1814
9583/37
William Roberts
William Hyne
1818
9583/38
(Return for both parishes) Wm Launey & William Roberts
1822
9583/39
William Roberts
William Landy
1826
9583/40
Charles Clark
X John Smith

Churchwardens names for 1830, 1834, 1838 and 1842 were included in the previous article.

X denotes “mark of”; - denotes no name recorded