May 2009
Worksop Churchwardens' Accounts, 1601
Reference: PR 22,765
The churchwardens are the guardians or keepers of the parish church. Parishes commonly had two churchwardens, although larger ones had four, and were elected from among the rate-paying parishioners. The office originates in early medieval times (Geoffrey Chaucer's reeve was a churchwarden), and records from the Middle Ages and later show that the churchwarden was an important person in the parish.
The churchwarden was responsible for looking after the church. This included maintenance of the fabric of the building, including some repairs and decoration, as well as the provision of clean cloths and vestments, parchment for the parish registers, candles, bell ropes, Communion bread and other items needed for services. They also had to maintain a sense of morality amongst the parishioners and report anyone to the archdeacon who did not behave correctly. Churchwardens had civil duties as well, such as getting rid of vermin in the parish, and were responsible for the dog-whipper, who had to expel all badly-behaved dogs from church.
The churchwardens' accounts show a spotlight on the life of the parish, from mending the church clock and repairing the stalls and pews, to when the bells were rung and how much Communion wine was ordered. These accounts are from Worksop Priory, and date to 1601.
See the accounts in more detail here [PDF 376KB] 
Read a transcript and find out more about the accounts here [PDF 25KB]
Find out about other parish and church records here.
Do you have a comment or question about this image? Contact us for more information.
