Scope and Content
Describes vicarage house, tithes, fees, pensions, furniture, regulations for repairs, appointment of clerk & sexton etc....
TRANSCRIPT:
An Account of the Rights of the Vicarage and Church of Cardington in the Archdeaconry of Bedford Made in the year 1727.
Homestall: The Vicarage House is built with Timber and Covered with Tiles, and contains the following Rooms (viz) a Kitchen floor'd with Brick, a Little Hall floor'd with the same, a Parlour floor'd with Boards, a Buttery floor'd with Earth a Cellar floor'd with Brick, a Study floor'd with brick; four Upper Rooms and One Clossett all floor'd with Boards and Ceil'd; An Out-Building of three Bayes, wherein are a Brew-house, and Wood-Barn and a
Stable. The whole Homestall contains by Estimation about half a rood of ground and Abutts West on the High Way, East on a Close belonging to Matt. Morgan.
Tithes: Of Fruit, Hemp, Flax, Woad (sic), Cole-seed, and the Product of all small seeds (except Grass seeds) Roots and Plants of Gardens (except yt in lieu of Garden Herbs is paid annually one penny for each Garden) Hops, Honey, Wax, Pidgeons, Piggs, Calves, Milk, Goslins, Eggs, (except
the Eggs of Turkeys) The Tole-Dish of the Water Mills is due in Kind; There is also paid annually for each House one penny called the Smoke penny
Surplice Fees: According to the immemorial Custome of the parish are, Two pence for an Offering at Easter for Every Person above sixteen Years of Age, for a Burial one Shilling six pence, for a Churching Eight pence, for a Marriage by Banns two Shillings six pence By Lycense five Shilling
for Registring a Baptism or Burial four pence.
Pensions: The Vicarage is Subject only to the payment of three Shillings Sixpence to the Bishop at his Triennial Visitation, of three Shillings annually to the Archdeacon for Procurations. -
Furniture: Two Halland Surplices, One Large Bible, Three Common prayer Books, One Book of Homilies, One Table for the Communion, One Cushion for the Pulpit, three Wooden chests with Locks, One Pewter Flaggon, One Silver Chalice, two Pewter Plates, Two Diaper Napkins, One Diaper Table Cloth, one Carpet for the Communion Table of Green Cloth with silk Fringe One Ladder, one Clock and five Bells.
Repairs: The Church and Furniture with the Fence of the Church Yard being a Stone Wall except a small part on the North side railed, are maintained at the Common charge of the Parishioners, and the Chancell by the Impropriator; The Soil of ye Church Yard belongs to the Vicar.
The Clark - is appointed by the Vicar and has for Wages Yearly six pence for each Farm and twelve pence for Each double Farm and four pence for each Cottage usually collected after Michaelmas besides his Basket with the Customary Dues, for a Burial two pence, a Christning two pence, a Marriage by Banns one Shilling six pence and by Lycense two Shillings six pence.
The Sexton is appointed by the Minister Church Wardens and Chief Inhabitants and has for Wages One Shilling for making a Grave in the Church Yard three Shillings for a Grave in the Church or Chancell four pence for the Knell.
June [th]e 14 1727.
This is a true and just account as we do verily believe.
- Barwell Collins Vicar
John Peck
John Jonston Church Wardens.