Scope and Content
Includes (at front) note on the provision of the book by the Rev. Robert Campbell Connolly, Rector, in 1902 with the intention that it should be for the use and information of his successors as Rectors of Steppingley, on condition first that there should be no right of access to anyone else and second that in the event of any claim to the possession of the book being made by any secular or temporal authority then it should be deposited in the registry of the Bishop of the Diocese
(at front) Historical notes: Domesday, references to Steppingley in mediaeval documents, notes on early incumbents etc.
pp.1-6 Clergy: List of incumbents of Steppingley from 1535-1959, with dates, names of patrons, and notes etc.
pp.10-11 Lords of the Manor: Notes from mediaeval sources regarding Lords of the Manor of Steppingley, 1066-1380
pp.13-35 Terriers: Transcripts of Steppingley glebe terriers dated 28 Jan.1664 (pp.13-14), 1700 (p.15), 1703 (p.15), n.d. [c.1722-3] (pp.16-23), 16 October 1822 (pp.24-30), and 2 Nov.1869 (pp.31-35) - with notes by Connolly on contents of terriers etc.
pp.36-7 Return on “enquiry regarding all livings under £200 a year” completed by Connolly and returned to the Archdeacon on 20 May 1909
pp. 38-9 Copy of incumbent’s application for resignation from the living [exact words deleted and coded text substituted], 11 Feb.1910
pp.40-41 Copy of insurance policy on Steppingley Rectory and glebe, and on personal effects, taken out 21 Sept.1885
p.43 Press cuttings concerning Rector’s opposition to new Wesleyan Methodist chapel in the village, 1904
p.45-7. Record of appointment, institution and induction etc. of the Rev. C. Swynnerton as Rector, 1910, followed by diary of parochial events during his incumbency 1910-1912; includes (p.47) churchyard extension, church repairs, underpinning of foundations and discovery of hoard of coins under the chancel floor, 1912 (p.47)
pp.49-53 Diary of incumbency of the Rev. Walter Stephen Austin Grainger, 1922-3; includes establishment of Parochial Church Council and references to Charities, 1922 (p.50), admission of Charles Shearwood as sacristan 17 Dec.1922 (p.51 and oaths pp.54-5)
pp.54-7 Historical notes: letters from Lincoln Diocesan registrar concerning register transcripts and from F.A.Blaydes regarding the names of incumbents, 1911 (pp.54-5); extract from Chantry certificates 1547 (p.56); Ransom’s Round the County article on Steppingley from Beds.Times 25 July 1902 (pp.56-7)
pp.58-9 Letter from Steppingley Parish Council to the Rev. R.C.Connolly concerning charges levied by the Rector for the use of the Church and Sunday School Room for Parish Council meetings, 22 June 1896, and memorandum concerning the status of the room and rights of use and access, 1922
p.59 Memoranda on sale of glebe land in 1921 and subsequent attempts at re-purchase to provide opportunities of work as “the population at this time cannot find dwellinghouses nor employment”; also on redemption of tithe, 1927, and on faculty jurisdiction 1927
pp.60-136 Cuttings regarding Steppingley, mainly from the Fleete Deanery magazine, 1923-1938; includes consecration of churchyard extension on 13 May 1923 (p.62), dedication of new altar and other works of sculpture in the church carved by the Rev.W.S.A. Grainger on 18 Sept.1926 (pp.70-73), arrival of the Rev. A. Hill Jones as Rector, 1929 (p.79), programmes for church fetes and press cuttings 1929-36 (passim), induction of Rev. Colin Millington as Rector, Feb.1937 (p.128), the last flight of the Duchess of Bedford 22 March 1937 (p.129), alterations to the Rectory 1938 (hand-written notes - pp.132-3)
pp.136-148 Parochial diary: hand-written notes on village and parish events, 1939-1948
pp.147-166 Press cuttings concerning Steppingley village and church matters and events, 1948-1988, including resignation of Rev.A.W.G.Edwards after ten years “wasted in a most unresponsive parish”, 1958 (pp.150-1), union of benefices of Ampthill with Millbrook and Steppingley, 1959 (p.153), closure of churchyard 1984 (p.154)
(at reverse end - pp.248-266) Cuttings from parish magazine 1911 giving transcripts of memoranda from the parish registers, followed by transcripts by the Rev. C.Swynnerton, Rector, of the Bishop’s transcripts 1602-1641