Reference
P75/5/1
Title
Churchwardens' account book (summary receipts and detailed disbursements)
Date free text
1677 - 1918
Production date
From: 1677 To: 1918
Scope and Content
Includes
occasional Vestry minutes on Visitation expenses, 1723 and 1773,
Court expenses, 1733,
money for bellropes and ringing money, 1737, and
appointment of molecatcher, 1791.
Also includes (at rear)
Summary accounts of disbursements of Parish Charities, 1685-7, 1721-3;
Detailed receipts from rents, and disbursements, 1697-1732;
Note on the Astry gift, 1723; and
Assessment for repairing the Church, 1829.
Regular payments include Visitation expenses, attendance at the Court Leet at Ampthill, cleaning church, washing linen, Communion wine etc., Clerk's salary, bellropes, Winding and cleaning clock, minor repairs, the organ (from 1825-6) and Vermin.
Occasional payments include:
1678-9 Work at the Bridge, and glazing the Vicarage house
1680-81 Iron work about pulpit & desk, pulpit cloth, fringe etc.
1684 Notes on production of book in Chancery suit.
1687-8 Extensive repairs to the Vicarage
1688-9 Vestry repairs
1692-3 Repair of bridge in Long Lane near the Grange Mill
1697 Third bell recast at Drayton [Parslow]
1706-7 "Pd to Will Martin for writing of a Tarrier of the Glebe Land & the particulars of the parsonage house with the Utensills belonging to the Church being in two parts which was delivered in at the Bishopps Visitation" 6s.
1707-8 Church Bible re-bound
1714 Second bell recast by Russell of Wootton
1719-20 Church Clock repaired by John Adams, cost over £17.
1729-30 New lead for roof
1744-5 Mending the Sun Diall
1750-1 New Bible and Prayer Book
1757-8 Painting the Lords Prayer, Creed, Commandments, repainting Royal Arms, and painting Church, £8 11s. 1d.
1761 Removal of Privey Hous in churchyard
1786-7 Repairs of Church House and Chancel
1800 Mainly beer!
1805 New stocks, wheels and stays for bells
1824-6 Plastering work, and repainting of Church interior by Mr. Travel, supervised by Mr. Elger, Bedford
1827 Repair and Tuning the organ
1869-70 Repair to the tower, £35
1895-1905 No accounts - see P75/5/4
The accounts for 1677-1689 have been published in full, with an introduction by J.H. Blundell, and extracts to 1768, in Bedfordshire Historical Record Society, Vol. VIII, pp.87-117
Reference
The accounts for 1677-1689 have been published in full, with an introduction by J.H. Blundell, and extracts to 1768, in Bedfordshire Historical Record Society, Vol. VIII, pp.87-117
Level of description
item