Primary Visitation 1920: Greensted

Primary Visitation 1920: Greensted

In 1914 the Diocese of Chelmsford was formed with almost all parishes in Essex transferring from the see of St Albans. Six years later, following the First World War, the first Bishop of Chelmsford, Rt. Rev. J F Watts-Ditchfield, sent a questionnaire for completion by all incumbents. In total, 49 questions were asked. (The document may be found in the Essex Record Office)[1].

A G B Atkinson, Incumbent of Greensted responded as follows.

1. What are the occupation of the people? Agricultural

5. What is the average attendance (exclusive of school children) at Morning Prayer and at Evening Prayer on Sunday? M25 A8 In summer there is an evening service. Average attendance 15.

6. What was the number of Communicants in each of the last two years?

1918

1919

a. on Christmas Day

9
8

b. on Easter Day

21
14

c. on Ascension Day

-

-

d. on Whitsunday

24

9

e. on Holy Days (roughly)

-

-

What proportion of Communicants are male? About one third are males.

20. What hymn book is used? Ancient & Modern

28. When you are called upon to marry any couple, are you careful to enquire whether either has been divorced and whose partner is still living?

Marriages are so few that I have had no occasion to enquire.

29. Is there a Sunday School in your parish? This temporarily abandoned for lack of children.

43. Please give your opinion briefly as to the condition of your parish with regard to

a. Poverty (increasing or decreasing)

The population consists largely of farmers & labourers who seem prospering

b. Housing

Two or 3 cottages are bad & small

c. Intemperance

There is little or no intemperance

d. Sexual Immorality

There is little vice so far as I have noted

e. Betting and Gambling

No so far as I have observed

f. Religious indifference

This is widespread

g. Sunday observance

This is lax

44. State what you believe to be the causes of such evil as exists and what efforts – preventative and remedial, you are making to combat them.

A gradual decay in belief in anything beyond this world’s interests. Excepting sermons I do not know how this may be combated.

45. To what extent, whether favourably or unfavourably, has the war affected the spiritual life of your parish?

It has made a difference as far as I can judge.

46. How has the war influenced

a. demobilised men who were church members before the war?

The numbers are so small that no difference can be noted.

b. demobilised men who were not church members before the war?

Ditto

49. Are there any other matters connected with yourself, your assistant clergy, or your parish, to which you would like confidentially to call my attention?

The income of the incumbent is totally inadequate and the parish should be amalgamated with another as noted by me over 20 years ago.

[Signed] A G B Atkinson

Incumbent

Date: March 22 1920

Next time: Stanford Rivers