Scope and Content
A detailed log-book containing notes, newscuttings, and copy minutes extracted from Minute Book of the Committee to promote the Building of the Church etc. etc. Contents include: p.1 Note that book was presented to St.Martin's by Canon J.W.Haddock, Vicar of Clapham, 1889 2 Origins of church. Work of Rev.A.Hawkins Jones 3-6 Temporary Mission church, 1887 7-8 Provision of income for Curate in charge, Rev.A. Hawkins Jones, 1887 9-10 Discussions preliminary to plans and tenders for the new church. J.A.Chatwin of Birmingham selected as architect. Tender of S.Foster for building accepted etc., 1888. Newspaper report of laying of Memorial stone on 10 October 1888. 11 Appeal leaflets for church, and printed plan and elevation, with subscription list, Sept. 1888 12 Guarantors for loan on church; seating etc., 1889. 13 Appointment of Francis Taylor as assistant curate, 1889 14 Order of service and newspaper report of Dedication of the church on 18th October 1889 15-6 Curacy and affairs of new Conventional District, Oct. 1889 17 Church accounts, 1887-8, and appeal leaflet for funds to meet running costs of church, 1888 18-9 Accounts, 1889-1890 20 First Easter celebration at St.Martins, 6 April 1890. Meeting for transaction of business, 11 April 1890 21 Grand Bazaar in Corn Exchange, 3 June 1890 [No pages numbered after p.21 - contents referred to by date hereafter] 1890 Mr.H.T.Tillman appointed organist, 24 June. New pulpit presented by Mr. & Mrs. Edward Holt. First used on 29 June. Same donors had also presented the brass eagle lectern and the Communion plate. Other gifts. Building accounts - statement, signed 19 August. New organ for the church - various papers pinned inside book, including specification by A.Hunter & Sons, organ builders, 65A High Street, Clapham, S.W. Various minutes re organ, 15 Nov.1890 - 22 Jan.1891 1891 Business meeting - 11 April Schedule of chattels, 15 June 1891 [c.f. P147/2/2/1] Meeting concerning Consecration of the Church and legal formation of the parish, 18 June, and copies of related correspondence on the income of the Curate etc. 1892 Annual Business meeting, 23 April 1893 Minister ill on account of strain and anxiety from work of the past five years. Rev.Francis Taylor resigned as Assistant Curate. Oliver O.Brooksbank appointed organist, February. Church activities, including Confirmation at St.Martins. Bazaar in Corn Exchange to raise funds for schoolroom, June Schoolroom to be designed by Mr.Young, architect, June, and tenders for work, 7 August - Mr.White (393) accepted. Harvest Festival, 29 Sept. to 1 Oct. 1894 Opening of the schoolroom, on 11 January List of persons confirmed on the preparation of the Clergy of St. Martins, 1888-1894. Annual Business meeting, 31 March 1894 Schoolroom - passing accounts etc, 31 March and 11 Sept. Festival celebrating first five years of St.Martin's church - 11 November 1895 Confirmation (including list of candidates), 3 April Annual business meeting 20 April Opening or an iron church in connection with St. Peters, Ven.F.R.Mitchell leaving St.Martin's to take charge of the new church, 22 October. Discussion of Consecration of St.Martins, church debt, and seat rents etc. 1896 Confirmation at St.Pauls (list etc.), 24 March Annual business meeting, 11 April Consecration of the church and institution of the Minister, 9 May. New silver chalice, given by Mrs.Holt, 24 May Thanksgiving for long and glorious reign of Queen Victoria, 27 Sept. Church festivals etc., viz: Harvest, St.Luke's Day, and Patronal festival. Bazaar for the organ fund, 12-13 November Order in Council for formation of new parish, 4 Dec. Appointment of H.P.Pacey as parish clerk, 16 Dec. First Vestry meeting, 21 December [recurrs annually] 1897 Death of Thomas Gwyn Empy Elger, and funeral 12 January Schedule of fees Confirmation in St.Pauls (and list etc.), 6-7 April Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, 20 June Dedication of the new church bell (including bellfounder's receipt and printed order of service), 3 Sept. Harvest thanksgiving, 3 October 1898 Enlargement of Sunday Schools, and reopening, 14 January, with printed programme and newspaper report New violet hangings etc. for altar, Lent. Confirmation (lists etc.) 31-31 March Gift of 400 from four benefactors, and grant from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for endowment of living etc., 1 April Dedication of Memorial window to Frank and Alice Crommelin, 9 April. Printed order of service Dedication of window in baptistery, 11 Dec. 1899 Confirmation (and list) 14 March Presentation of testimonial to William Butt, the Sunday School superintendent since 1889, on retirement 1900 Death of the Vicar, the Rev.A.Hawkins Jones, and funeral 25 February. Also loose newspaper report Confirmation at St. Peters (and list), April 5 Institution of the new Vicar, Athur Haig, 14 July [1902] Dedication of new East window, 22 May 1902, and of window in the side Chapel, 23 May 1906 1907 Induction of Rev.J.H. Speck as Vicar, 11 October 1907. Newspaper report 1913 Institution of the Rev.F.H.A.Williams, 7 May (Newscutting) Notes on various gifts of plate etc. to the church, and on new baptistery window (1915), 1913-1915 [Note that the original Parochial Record was abandoned after the death of Rev.A.Hawkins Jones. The record resumed by Rev.F.H.A. Williams in about 1913, and he also made extracts regarding the history of the Church and Parish between 1900 and 1913] 1901 Death of Major General F.Allen, Churchwarden for ten years Drawings produced for stained glass East window, Sept., intended to be put up as a Memorial to Rev.A.Hawkins Jones 1902 Bishop sanctioned continuance of system of seat rents for a further 6 years, so that a Vicarage could be acquired. Organ to be moved. New East window and Baptistery window. Gifts to church 1903 Appreciation of General Token as Vicar's Warden 1904 Church Lads Brigade Subscription to raise the stipend of the Assistant Curate. 1905 Pews erected in the North aisle Rev.E.Geldart becomes curate Choral Society started, November 1906 Rev.J.W.Cassels becomes temporary then permanent curate New stained glass window in side chapel, by Clayton & Bell. 1907 RevA.Haig exchanged livings with Rev.J.H.Speck, of Wroxton, Oxon. Induction of Rev.J.H.Speck, 11 October 1908 New oak reredos and altar, December 1909 New Sanctuary window, June. Start of Free Will Offering scheme Stained glass windows in the side chapel 1910 Settlement discovered in Lady Chapel 1911 Underpinning completed, and electric light installed in the church in place of gas Successes of St.Martins Church Lads Brigade 1912 Retirement of J.Down as Churchwarden Two new windows in the side chapel 1913 Departure of Rev.J.H.Speck to become Vicar of St.Pauls. Retirement of Major General Sir A. Token as warden. 1914 Death of George Goddard, aged 65, for 14 years verger. New altar rails made by J.P.White, the Pyghtle works. Outbreak of War, and arrival of troops in Bedford 1915 Most of the Church Lads Brigade intake of 1908 had volunteered for War service - evidence of patriotic spirit engendered by CLB Subscriptions towards huts for the troops. 1916 Wartime services and activities 1917-8 Wartime activities, Preparation of Roll of Honour 1919 Thanksgiving for Peace Introduction of the Duplex system - report on first year Return of soldiers, and Thanksgiving service Departure of Sister Francis after 5 years in the parish 1920 Vicar accepted a post on the staff of Bedford Modern School Missionary Exhibition at the Corn Exchange 1921 Death of Mrs Tanqueray Willaume 1922 Death of Henry Paul Pacey, one of the oldest and most faithful members of St.Martins Departure of Rev.F.H.A.Williams to take up other work, and arrival of Rev.M.B.Stuart Fox as Vicar In addition to the contents noted, the volume contains detailed accounts of the work of Church Societies and organisations in the parish, of Church festivals, and information on parish personalities etc.