P4/8/1

Vestry Minute book

1857-1940

From: 1857 To: 1940

Note at front: "Thomas James, Octagon House, Cople, Secretary to the Vestry", with notes on the rights of the curate at meetings. Regular business includes: attendance lists, passing accounts, election of officers, rating assessments, and election (from 1883) of Burial Board members. Occasional business includes: 1857 Organ belonging to Rev.H.E.Havergal installed in Church 1859-61 Repewing the Church and chancel, with plan of pews and schedule of owners after the restoration and reseating 1860 Account of repairs at the Church (detailed) carried out from the Vicar's designs and drawings and under his superintendence. Woodwork by Mr.George Bryant of Bedford Accounts of contributions and expenditure (£165) Notes on new Chancel roof erected at the cost of the Duke of Bedford Levelling the Churchyard 1861 Village Clubs, especially Old Men's Club 1864 Admission of David Cambers to an assylum for the blind 1869 Mention of "The case of Mr.Havergal" Rate of payment for sparrows and eggs Formation of a parish club 1870 "Owing to the postman waiting to take the nomination papers the election of officers was proceeded with ..." Each farmer to be left to kill as many sparrows as possible on his own Farm 1875 Suggestion of a School Board made - voluntary rate agreed for one further year 1876 Church insurance 1878 Resignation of Mr. J. Brimley as Churchwarden through ill heal 1879 Estimates by the architect Mr.Scott for repairs to the Church (details given) 1882 Repairs to the Church roof 1883 Gift of churchyard extension by the Duke of Bedford on the condition that a Burial Board be formed. Gift accepted and a Board established. New churchyard gates, and fences for the new Burial Ground Clearance of debt on Church restoration fund 1887-8 Rate assessment on farms 1890 New Trustees for the almshouse Charity 1892 Damage to Church wall and shrubs etc. by boys [No further details extracted from later minutes] At back: Vicar's Parochial account, and Churchwardens accounts 1939.

item

James, Thomas,
Havergal, H.E.,
Bryant, George,
Russell, Francis (7th Duke of Bedford),
Russell, Francis Charles Hastings (9th Duke of Bedford),
Cambers, David,
Brimley, J.,
Scott

Vestry, COPLE, Cople Octagon House, accounts, Burial Boards, rates, church organs, church fabric, sparrows, School Boards, insurance, churchwardens