Reference
P4/8/1
Title
Vestry Minute book
Date free text
1857-1940
Production date
From: 1857 To: 1940
Scope and Content
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.
Reference
Level of description
item