Scope and Content
Note: The papers in this portfolio were originally arranged chronologically between dated cards, but the contents had become very disorganised due to the lack of dividing sections bound into the volume and also to its bulk, and as a result it was found necessary to rearrange the papers in the following manner. To facilitate detailed cataloguing and identification of the more important documents, some items have been removed from the portfolio and are listed in the appropriate sections of the foregoing parish catalogue. The remainder have been sorted by subject and are described below:
A.) Northill Church notices and circulars etc.
Various notices of services and church meetings, circular letters from the Rector to parishioners, texts of church announcements, prayers, and other papers concerning church work and services at Northill (c.72 items) 1866 1896
Including:
Rev.F.Pott's letter to the parishioners on becoming Rector, 22 July 1866
Notes on variations to the rubric used in church 1868 1871
Harvest Festival accounts, 1866, 1867, 1868
Posters advertising Harvest Festivals 1868, 1878, and a blank form 187...
Notice re establishment of a parish magazine [1892]
Notice and order of service for meeting of Bedfordshire (North) district of the English Church Union at Northill in June 1896
B.) Northill Church offertories
Summaries of offertories taken at Northill and Caldecote, with details of funds to which contributions were made. (1877 summary includes totals of offertories 1869 1877) [3 docs.] 1874 5, 1877
C.) Northill Church Episcopal and Archidiaconal Visitations
Copy visitation returns for Northill, circulars concerning Visitations, and statistical returns of parochial work (15 items) 1873 1896
D.) Diocesan and ecclesiastical circulars
Various circulars, notices and other papers relating to administrative and theological matters, mostly issued by the Bishops of Ely or Archdeacon of Bedford (approx 43 items) 1868 1892
Including:
Archdeaconry conferences (tickets, notices and regulations etc.) 1868, 1871, 1875, 1879
Elections of Proctors for the Diocese, 1868, 1874 (disputed) and 1880
Order of ceremonial for the consecration of the Rt.Rev. James Russell Woodford as Bishop of Ely in Westminster Abbey [Rev.F.Pott was present] 14 December 1873
Obituary of Archdeacon Henry John Rose, Rector of Houghton Conquest, n.d. [1873]
Rules of Ely Diocesan Fund, 1875
Rulings re Burial places, and on the Burials Act, 1875, 1880
Diocesan Sunday School Centenary Festival, 1880
Diocesan Conferences, 1881 and 1882 [at the latter, a paper was read on the effect of agricultural depression upon the property of the church and position of the clergy]
Biggleswade Deanery Church Sunday school Association, 1889
E.) Confirmations
Circulars giving the times and places of confirmation services in the Diocese of Ely, orders of service, notices etc. (10 items) 1870 1889
Including:
Card issued to Northill confirmation candidates, n.d.[c.1875]
F.) Sermons, lectures and entertainments at Northill
Notices and handbills etc. re above (16 items) 1868 1896
Including: Concert in schoolroom in aid of Destitute orphans of teachers, 18 Feb. 1881
Lecture with lantern slides on "Scenes and incidents in English Church History", 1890
Entertainment at Caldecote school [proceeds for placing hanging lamps in the church] 1 May 1890
Sale of cheap clothing for the poor of the parish, 6 May 1890
Lecture by Augustus Hill with dissolving views, on Canada, 20 January 1891
Course of 6 lectures on Home Nursing, 1893
Lecture with lantern slides on Missionary work in Burma 1894
Bazaar in aid of church bells and enlargement of schools etc. [1896]
Concerts in aid of restoration of Church bells 20 April 1896
G.) Sermons, lectures etc. elsewhere
Eight items, as follows: 1868 1898
Old Warden Church. Sermon by Rev.F.Pott in aid of the parish schools, 13 Sept. 1868
Campton Church. Sermon at Harvest festival by Rev. F.Pott, 1 October 1868
Arlesey Church. Sermons in aid of National schools, by Rev. R.F.Scott and Rev.F.Pott , 11 August 1872
Biggleswade. Reopening of St.Andrew's church after restoration, sermon by Rev.F.Pott, 30 November 1872
Wilstead church. Re consecration by the Bishop, and other sermons [handbill] 24/27 April [1873]
Luton, Christ Church. Lent Lectures, 1881
Biggleswade new church [St.John]. Subscription list and accounts 1884
Bedford. Missionary festival and Diocesan Conference etc. [large poster] 3/5 July 1898
H.) Choral Festivals
Posters, handbills and plans of seating arrangements at Northill for Choral Festivals etc. (13 items) 1867 1887
Including:
District Choral Festival at Northill, 18 July 1867 (various papers including seating plan)
Sandy. Choral Festival, 8 July 1870
Northill. (draft poster), 11 June 1872
Northill. (poster), 19 June 1879
Bedford, St.Paul. Festival poster. 15 July 1880
Clifton. Gregorian Festival Service, 29 July 1880
Northill. Special choral service with 3 choirs, St.James' day, 1882
Biggleswade. Festival poster [two colours], 23 July 1885
Northill. Festival seating plan, 1887
I.) Queen Victoria's Jubilee
Printed programmes etc. (3 items) 1887
Programme of events at Northill for Queen Victoria's Jubilee (2 copies) 21 June 1887
"God Save the Queen" amended with additional verse for the Jubilee by Rev.F.Pott, 1887
J). Northill Friendly Society
Various rules and accounts (6 items) 1832 1875
Rules and Regulations of the Female Friendly Society, established 1 January 1832. [printed by C.Gardner, Biggleswade. Mounted on card] n.d. [c.1832]
Statement of the state and prospects of the Northill Female Provident club [printed] January 1873
Rules of the Northill Female Provident Club or Friendly Society (est.1 Jan.1832) [printed] January 1874
Statements of accounts of the Princess Royal Friendly Society (reg.no.291) held at the Crown Inn, Northill (3 items) 1867, 1873, 1875
K.) Parliamentary and Local Government elections
Election propaganda, posters and pollcards etc., concerning general elections 1872 1886, and the County Council election, 1888 (8 items) 1872 1888
L.) Miscellaneous
Newscutting re marriage of Rev.A.S.Pott, Rector of Northill n.d. [1863]
Programme for the Bedfordshire Architectural and Archaeological Society visit (inter alia) to Northill on 17th April 1868 [printed] 2 April 1868
Draft letter from the Rev.F.Pott to the Queen requesting payment of Bounty to William L... and his wife, parents of triplets born on 6th inst [Feb.1876 ?], with reply from Buckingham Palace stating that the bounty was only payable when the three children all survive, 16 Feb.1876 (2 docs.)
Memorandum on the proposal to procure a competent person to nurse the sick and poor of the parishes of Northill and Old Warden n.d. [c.1880]
Memorandum by the Rev.F.Pott on the parish boundaries at Girtford Bridge and Beeston Grange, and on the status of Beeston Green 31 July 1886
Licence by Bedfordshire County Council to the Rev.F.Pott for the public performance of stage plays in the Iron Room at Northill 23 April 1890
Rules of the Northill Church bellringers n.d. [c.1920]
Pamphlet on the brass of Samuel Harsnett in Chigwell Church, Essex, and on church vestments in general. n.d. [c.1950]