Reference
X347/80
Title
Account book
Date free text
1771 - 1834
Production date
From: 1771 To: 1834
Scope and Content
"This Book Belongs to the Church of Christ Meeting at Ridgmont in Bedfordshire Giving an Account of the transactions of the said Church from May the 5th 1771"
a) Form of Covenant (11 clauses) and Practice (9 clauses). n.d. pres. 1771
b) Church accounts 1771 - 1834
i) receipts 1771-99, 1808-14
(note after 1799 that from then to 1808 accounts were kept in other books) income from money collected at Communion table (1771-1793); quarterage or quarterly subscription; and there were special collections for candle, and for sweeping the meeting house. Later on subscriptions became monthly.
Note after 1799 that in 1798 the house adj. the meeting house and fitted up, total cost £200, of which £50 was raised by the church, then another £50, the remaining £100 borrowed on interest. This was partially repaid, and on 17 Jul 1807 the residue; £60, was borrowed of Mr. James Oliver.
Note that Mr. Thos. Hunt, the pastor, added a wash-house with a room over it, which had to be purchased from him for £50 borrowed of Mr. Wm. Millard 12 April 1809
ii) expenditure table linen; wine & bread; payments to ministers for supplying and for their horse hire; payments to poor; a pair of snuffers; cleaning the meeting. 1771-1812, 1833-4
1773 "2 Ropes for the Burying Ground";
1775 insurance;
1778 "paid for the Churchs use a Box to put the writings in 3s"
1779-80 mending windows; names of many supply preachers;
1797 cleaning the clock; enclosure commissioners mentioned;
1797 a new church book;
1798 "Collection for the Union";
1798 incidental expenses in purchasing house;
1809 garden seed; "Cheese and Beer for Gardiners, Masoners, House-Cleaners and Waggoners"; "Pd the Purchase of the Building £40"
1810 prop for the gallery
1811 opening of new meeting
1833-4 mainly supplies
iii) accounts of the "Table Money" (1834 is concluded at the reverse end of the book) money collected at the Lord's Table and spent on the poor and needy. 1813 - 1834
Level of description
item