P17/8/1

Vestry and (from 1921) PCC minute book

1903-1939

From: 1903 To: 1939

Covers parishes of Upper and Lower Gravenhurst. Also contains minutes of churchwardens meetings. Regular vestry business includes election of officers, passing accounts, church activities (services and special collections) etc Occasional business includes: 1903 Income from Town Charity land 1904 Consideration of setting up a Church Council 1905 Transfer of responsibility for the churchyard to the Parish Council Accounts of church restoration fund (£1600). Refusal of Trustees of Town Lands Charity to contribute £10 to the restoration of the bells (cost £85). Concern about administration of Charity 1906 Suggested use of Lower Gravenhurst church for mortuary purposes only 1908 Donation of £75 from Andrew Carnegie towards new organ. Also new altar desk and paten for the credence table at St.Giles. 1909 New organ. New church clock to be kept in repair by the Charity Trustees. 1911 Discussion on service times - no proper lamps in St.Mary's church for evening service 1912 Evening service to be held at St.Mary's from the first Sunday in June "as long as the light permitted" Restoration of the two churches (£124 spent). Money in hand for work on the tower of St.Mary's church Resolution against disestablishment 1913 New heating apparatus Opinions expressed on cost of retaining two churches in the parish 1915 Rector had inspected ancient legal documents of the Town Farm Charity in the possession of Mr. Robert Long 1917 [Three pages cut out but minutes appear to be complete] Departure of the Rev. Thomas and Mrs. Collison, leaving after 20 years to become incumbent of Swyre, Dorset 1922 Introduction of collecting boxes and free-will offering scheme. Also Diocesan quota. Establishment of choir and organ fund. 1924 Repair and enlargement of organ in St.Mary's church and removal of seats 1925 New stove at St.Mary's 1928 Proposed repairs to St.Mary's church (£120) as a result of the appeal for the repair of poor Bedfordshire churches 1929 Ecclesiastical dilapidations payments on the rectory at Lower Gravenhurst Electoral rolls for Upper and Lower Gravenhurst [lists of names] 1932 Electric lighting of Upper Gravenhurst church discussed - not completed until 1934/5 1934 Restoration of Lower Gravenhurst church in accordance with Professor Richardson's scheme Electric lighting at Upper Gravenhurst 1938 Sale of glebe land at Wootton near Stewartby Heating and redecoration of Upper Gravenhurst church 1939 Electric lighting at Lower Gravenhurst church. Discovery of death-watch beetle in the roof of St. Giles' church after completion of restoration

item

Carnegie, Andrew,
Long, Robert,
Collison, Thomas,
Richardson, Albert Edward

UPPER GRAVENHURST, LOWER GRAVENHURST, churchwardens, accounts, church services, Upper Gravenhurst charities, churchyard, Gravenhurst Town Farm Charity, church bells, church clocks, church heating, church organs, Parochial Church Council, Vestry, electoral rolls, WOOTTON, glebe