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
p.2 - Origins of church. Work of Rev.A.Hawkins Jones
p.3-6 - Temporary Mission church, 1887
p.7-8 - Provision of income for Curate in charge, Rev.A. Hawkins Jones, 1887
p.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.
p.11 - Appeal leaflets for church, and printed plan and elevation, with subscription list, Sept. 1888
p.12 - Guarantors for loan on church; seating etc., 1889.
p.13 - Appointment of Francis Taylor as assistant curate, 1889
p.14 - Order of service and newspaper report of Dedication of the church on 18th October 1889
p.15-6 Curacy and affairs of new Conventional District, Oct. 1889
p.17 Church accounts, 1887-8, and appeal leaflet for funds to meet running costs of church, 1888
p.18-9 Accounts, 1889-1890
p.20 First Easter celebration at St.Martins, 6 April 1890. Meeting for transaction of business, 11 April 1890
p.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
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.