Reference
P68/8/1
Title
Vestry minute book
Date free text
1850-1885
Production date
From: 1850 To: 1885
Scope and Content
Regular business of the Vestry includes election of parish officers, passing of accounts, rates and rating, surveyors’ accounts (summary), letting of herbage (to 1870) and letting of gravel stone carting for the repair of parish roads (1853-1858). Other business includes:
-case of Catherine Purser and her two bastard children; rents of Church property [1851];
-emigration of four poor persons [not named] [1852];
-valuation of parish land to be sold at £20 [1853];
-sale of 20 poles of land in Pavenham [the old Parish Workhouse] [1854];
-new roof to porch and shutters in the bell tower and steeple to be made by George Bryant of Bedford for £23 [1855];
-new white linen altar cloth; church warming discussed; appointment of Samuel Gostwick as sexton [1860];
-sale of land and timber belonging to Surveyor of the Highways [exhausted gravel pits], the proceeds to be invested for the repair of the roads - valued at £150 and sold to Joseph Tucker [see also P 68/22/1] [1860-1861];
-blind provided for south transept window in church; alteration to pulpit and reading desk and provision of additional seating [1862];
-new surplice to be purchased by incumbent for under £2; Mr.Tucker authorised to procure a stone to indicate the Church Holm at Mill End [see valuation in P 68/6] [1864];
-harmonium and choir to be removed from gallery to chancel; church allotments to be tile-drained [for bill for drain tiles see P 68/5/4] [1867];
-list of men liable to serve as constables (occupations given); alterations to pews on south side of church and floor repairs; repairs to church roof and gutters by Mr.Hinde of Bedford [1868];
-new matting for the vestry and new gate for the east end of the churchyard path; no grazing to be allowed on roadside on Sundays or after sunset; repair of chapel on NE side of church [1869];
-rating of cottages owned by Joseph Tucker, Samuel Hilton and William Banks [1870];
-drain along the roadside to be laid by Mr.Hilton [1871];
-repairs of chapel roof with Staffordshire blue tiles by J.C.Hensman who was to examine chancel roof etc.[1872];
-Mr.Bull of Bedford asked to estimate for dial clock for school belfry – resolved to put church clock in order and mend dial [for bill see P 68/5/4] [1873];
-State of Church House considered after it had been partly washed away by floods – nothing done due to lack of funds [1876];
-Reduction of rent of Church allotment from £28 to £26 per annum
For further Vestry minutes regarding appointment of churchwardens see P 68/5/2-3; regarding highways and letting of herbage etc. 1871-1872 see P 68/21/2. The latter volume also contains some general Vestry minutes (election of officers, rates etc.) for 1886-1888
Level of description
item