Parish Records not given to IGI

[Nick Carver]

One point to throw into the pot is that many non comformist churches are quite small, so a register could be active for upwards of 100 years. And they are notoriously reluctant to follow the rules and submit completed registers to the registrar. I know the Cambs FHS people are tearing their hair out about it. My local CofE church has got barely 1/10th of its way through the baptism register in 15 years.

Having said that, there is a fair chance that if you approach the church directly, that they will help you with what you want to do. Inclusion of an SAE always increases the chances of a response, even a "I'm sorry, we do not have the registers and do not know where they are". Any response helps, even a small amount.

[Elliebob]

Sometimes Diocesan Archivists "call in" the registers.  In the small parish where I am churchwarden we wanted to complete our burial register which had a few pages left and started in 1850.  In 2000 it was called in as it had entries well over 100 years old, so that it could be properly cared for.  (i.e. not in a box under my bed!)

Reluctantly we started a new one on the departure of our then incumbent.

Ellen

[Guy Etchells]

Sometimes Diocesan Archivists "call in" the registers.  In the small parish where I am churchwarden we wanted to complete our burial register which had a few pages left and started in 1850.  In 2000 it was called in as it had entries well over 100 years old, so that it could be properly cared for.  (i.e. not in a box under my bed!)

Reluctantly we started a new one on the departure of our then incumbent.

Ellen

With respect Ellen it should never have been in a box under your bed in the first place, that would have been unlawful since possible 29 September 1538 and certainly since 28th July 1812 when the registers were required to be kept in the church or chapel or in the incumbents place of residence.

1812 Act
"V. And be it further enacted, That the several Books wherein such Entries shall respectively be made, and all Register Books heretofore in use, shall be deemed to belong to every such Parish or chapelry respectively, and shall be kept by, and remain in the power and Custody of the Rector, Vicar, Curate,  or other Officiating minister of each respective Parish or Chapelry as aforesaid, and shall be by him safely and securely kept in a dry well-painted Iron Chest, to be provided and repaired as Occasion may require, at the expence of the Parish or Chapelry, and which said Chest containing the said Books shall be constantly kept locked in some dry, safe and secure Place within the usual Place of residence of such Rector, Vicar, Curate, or other Officiating Minister (if resident, within the Parish or Chapelry) or in the Parish Church or Chapel ; and the said books shall not, nor shall any of them be taken or removed from or out of the said Chest at any Time or for any cause whatever, except for the purpose of making such Entries therein as aforesaid, or for the Inspection of Persons desirous to make search therein, or to obtain Copies from or out of the same, or to be produced as Evidence in some Court of Law or Equity, or to be inspected as to the State and Condition thereof, or for some of the Purposes of this Act ; and that immediately after making such respective Entries, or producing the said Books respectively for the Purposes aforesaid, the said Books shall forthwith again be safely and securely deposited in the said Chest.V. And be it further enacted, That the several Books wherein such Entries shall respectively be made, and all Register Books heretofore in use, shall be deemed to belong to every such Parish or chapelry respectively, and shall be kept by, and remain in the power and Custody of the Rector, Vicar, Curate,  or other Officiating minister of each respective Parish or Chapelry as aforesaid, and shall be by him safely and securely kept in a dry well-painted Iron Chest, to be provided and repaired as Occasion may require, at the expence of the Parish or Chapelry, and which said Chest containing the said Books shall be constantly kept locked in some dry, safe and secure Place within the usual Place of residence of such Rector, Vicar, Curate, or other Officiating Minister (if resident, within the Parish or Chapelry) or in the Parish Church or Chapel ; and the said books shall not, nor shall any of them be taken or removed from or out of the said Chest at any Time or for any cause whatever, except for the purpose of making such Entries therein as aforesaid, or for the Inspection of Persons desirous to make search therein, or to obtain Copies from or out of the same, or to be produced as Evidence in some Court of Law or Equity, or to be inspected as to the State and Condition thereof, or for some of the Purposes of this Act ; and that immediately after making such respective Entries, or producing the said Books respectively for the Purposes aforesaid, the said Books shall forthwith again be safely and securely deposited in the said Chest.

The current requirements specify the retained registers must be kept in the church.
Cheers
Guy

[Elliebob]

You are right Guy - however they are both safer (church security always being a worry) and better kept in the drier atmosphere of my home than in the formerly very damp church - however secure!!

After the chest was broken into and damaged beyond repair, they were kept at the Vicarage until the change of incumbent meant that alternative arrangements had to be made. 

Ellen

[stanmapstone]

The search fees for registers still held at the chearch can be seen at,
www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/ministry/workofmindiv/dracsc/tableparochialfees2007.doc
Stan

[stanmapstone]

The search fees for registers still held at the chearch can be seen at,
www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/ministry/workofmindiv/dracsc/tableparochialfees2007.doc
Stan

Still held at the Church
Stan

[Nick Carver]

The search fees for registers go to the incumbent, irrespective of who actually checks them. As a warden myself, I got the previous incumbent to revoke his right to fees in perpetuity for the records that we transcribed, otherwise theoretically, there would be a fee payable on every copy of the records that were sold.

[stanmapstone]

I don't understand how there would be a fee payable for a copy.
Would it not be the PCC which would have to arrange the revocation of rights.
The fees are for searches in the actual Registers at the church, to pay for the time and effort involved. After all £19 an hour is less than most record offices charge.

Stan

[stanmapstone]

The Incumbent only gets part of the fee anyway, the PCC gets the rest. The Incumbent has to declare them to the diocese which take them into account when determining the stipend paid to the Incumbent.
Stan