Author Topic: Parish Clerk  (Read 1631 times)

Offline homeguard

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Parish Clerk
« on: Friday 18 May 18 05:33 BST (UK) »
Hope this topic is in the right place !   but I am looking to find information on the role of the Parish Clerk in the 1850s.  Things like,  would they have been well educated ? was it a full time job ? did it come with perks ?  what class of person were they usually or was the position open to all ?  was it for life ?  was there a diffrence in the duties if it was  rural or town/city church ? any help much appreciated.

Offline Guy Etchells

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Re: Parish Clerk
« Reply #1 on: Friday 18 May 18 06:18 BST (UK) »
The book The Handy Book of Parish Law by W.A. Holdsworth, Esq., Barrister at Law, published 1886 states on page 56

“The person appointed parish clerk must be twenty years of age ; and, according to a canon of the church, must possess competent skill
in reading, writing, and (if possible) in singing, although this latter qualification does not appear to be indispensable.
When elected or appointed, parish clerks are usually licensed by the bishop, and take an oath to obey the incumbent. This, however, is not necessary
to complete their title to their office.”

Cheers
Guy

PS earlier on page 55 it also states

"According to writers on ecclesiastical law, parish clerks were originally chosen from aspirants for the
clerical office, whose poverty compelled them to accept this inferior office."
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Offline stanmapstone

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Re: Parish Clerk
« Reply #2 on: Friday 18 May 18 08:21 BST (UK) »
This question has been asked before a number of times on RootsChat, for example http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=727299.0

You can see details of what responsibilities were transferred to the secular parish council in the 1884 Act at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/56-57/73/section/6
See also Parish Clerk in  "A practical treatise of the laws relating to the clergy"  By Archibald John Stephens http://www.rootschat.com/links/0e6k/



Put Parish Clerk in to RootsChat Search.

Stan
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Offline Kiltpin

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Re: Parish Clerk
« Reply #3 on: Friday 18 May 18 10:53 BST (UK) »
Hope this topic is in the right place !   but I am looking to find information on the role of the Parish Clerk in the 1850s.  Things like,  would they have been well educated ? was it a full time job ? did it come with perks ?  what class of person were they usually or was the position open to all ?  was it for life ?  was there a diffrence in the duties if it was  rural or town/city church ? any help much appreciated.

My wife's first husband's grandfather was Parish Clerk in Mundford. He had been an Ag Lab all his life till a fully laden hay cart ran over his lower leg. His reading, righting and comprehension skills were quite excellent. His handwriting was broad and easily read. On the other hand his mathematical skills were almost non-existent. He had a well made box full of wooden coins and notes. It seems the only way he could balance the books, or keep the accounts properly was to actually see the money. He could not do it in his head and had to have it physically in front of him. The wooden money had to do instead. The job came with a cottage and a small wage. He died in office aged ~75.

Regards

Chas
Whannell - Eaton - Jackson
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Offline homeguard

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Re: Parish Clerk
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 19 May 18 17:25 BST (UK) »
Thanks for your replies, they give me a better idea of what being a Parish Clerk was about.  My Parish Clerk was listed as such in 1851 but 10 years later was descibed as a Provision Dealer and in 1871 as an Annuitant.

Offline collin

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Re: Parish Clerk
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 24 May 18 15:12 BST (UK) »
Hello
        My ancestor was the first clerk of St Margaret's Hollinwood near Oldham when it opened in 1769,  I have wondered if the parish registers are his handwriting or would the curate do that?
Thanks
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Offline stanmapstone

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Re: Parish Clerk
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 24 May 18 15:18 BST (UK) »
Clerks were often entrusted with making up the parish registers though, in fact, delegation of this responsibility by the incumbent was unlawful.
Stan
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Offline collin

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Re: Parish Clerk
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 24 May 18 17:17 BST (UK) »
Thanks Stan, just wishful thinking! 
Collin Oldham Lancs   Rogers Dudley  Abbott  Ripley Derbys    Hartley Outwood Yorks

Offline Redroger

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Re: Parish Clerk
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 24 May 18 17:24 BST (UK) »
Be nice to prove it or otherwise
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