Nature of Source
Records from the churchwarden accounts showing the money paid out for a variety of goods and services. The records also note expenditure on a wide range of matters such as road repairs, vermin control and the purchase of communion wine. The accounts will show details of payments to individual named craftsmen such as carpenters, glaziers, carpenters, decorators and stonemasons for the upkeep of the church and its surrounds. The churchwarden was responsible for the overall management of the church, its land and property. His duties included arranging the baptism of foundling children and the burial of strangers. Other details included payments to the poor of the parish. The churchwarden was assisted in his duties by one or more assistants known as sidesmen. It is probable that a churchwarden was listed in the diocesan directory which can be available at County Record Offices.
At times the churchwarden may also have acted as the overseer of the poor or the parish constable. Occasionally, early accounts could note a burial. Some accounts list the names of parishioners who rented property or land from the church. He also acted as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the parish on behalf of the regional church court which amongst other things dealt with moral misdemeanours by parishioners. His reports to the bishop were informative and record numerous names, however these reports were not kept in the parish chest. The accounts contain numerous names but searching for a particular name in the records can take time and patience.
Also consult the constable accounts for other parishioner names and addresses. The constable carried out a wide range of duties in his locality and was required to account for his expenditure. He also received instructions from the Justice of the Peace to carry out assignments on their behalf. The surviving records will describe named individuals with their occupations and family connections.
See also:
Apprenticeship Indentures
Bastardy Documents
Church/Ecclesiastical Court Records
Overseers of the Poor Accounts
Rate Books
Settlement Certificates/Examinations and Removal Orders
Vestry Minutes
Where Found
County Record Offices (Find the details of a local UK archive from a searchable list of over 2,500 archives hosted by The National Archives)
The National Archives (Copies of churchwarden accounts were lodged with the central authorities if required for legal action)
Period Covered
1127 – Onwards
Genealogical Value
- Names of the church wardens and other officials.
- Names of those paid for carrying out services on behalf of the parish.
- Names of those renting church property.
- Names of those receiving poor relief.
Further References
- Cox, John Charles. Churchwardens’ Accounts from the Fourteenth Century to the Close of the Seventeenth Century: Methuen, 1913 (Available to read online or download from the Internet Archive)
- Dymond, David. Short Guides to Records-Churchwardens’ Accounts: Historical Association, 1995
- Eastwood, David. Governing Rural England: Tradition and Transformation in Local Government 1780-1840: Clarendon Press, 1994
- Osborn, Helen. Our Village Ancestors: A Genealogist’s Guide to Understanding the English Rural Past: The Crowood Press, 2021
- Raymond, Stuart A. Tracing Your Church of England Ancestors: A Guide for Family and Local Historians: Pen & Sword Family History, 2017
- Stephens W.B. Sources for English Local History. Cambridge University Press, 1981 (Preview available from Google Books)
- Tate, William Edward. The Parish Chest: Phillimore, 1983 (Preview available from Google Books)
- West, John. Village Records: Macmillan, 1962
- Check with local record societies for published editions of local churchwarden accounts.
Websites
www.londonlives.org/static/AC.jsp (London Lives: Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor Account Books)
How-to History
Churchwardens’ accounts. The article is a practical guide to understanding, locating and using these historical records kept by churchwardens for family history research.
www.york.ac.uk/borthwick/holdings/guides/research-guides (Borthwick Institute for Archives Research Guide: Churchwardens’ Accounts – Who are Churchwardens and what do they do? As well as ‘A list of Churchwardens’ Accounts held at the Borthwick Institute’)
https://highlittletonhistory.org.uk/church.html (High Littleton & Hallatrow. History and Parish Records: Transcription with index of the Churchwardens’ Accounts 1754/1755 to 1786/1787 & 1841/1842)
Online Databases
www.findmypast.co.uk (London Lives, Culture & Society 1680-1817. London Lives chronicles the lives of Londoners through the exploration of a variety of sources including criminal registers, session papers, ordinary’s accounts from Old Bailey, apprentice records, coroner inquests, workhouse minutes, Register of admissions to workhouse, clerks’ papers, Churchwarden’s account books, Vestry minute books/vestry minutes, Register of removal orders, Pauper examination books/examination books, bastardy bonds and much more)
www.ancestry.co.uk (Dorset, England, Parish Poor Law Records, 1511-1997. The original records are held at the Dorset History Centre)
www.ancestry.co.uk (Warwickshire Parish Poor Law, 1546-1904: Churchwardens’ accounts in association with Warwickshire County Record Office)
www.ancestry.co.uk (Warwickshire, Miscellaneous Parish Records including churchwarden’s books in association with Warwickshire County Record Office)
www.ancestry.co.uk (Boxford Suffolk Churchwardens’ Accounts, 1530-1561; Churchwardens’ Accounts of Cratfield Suffolk, 1640-1660)
www.findmypast.co.uk (Devon, Plymouth & West Devon Parish Chest Records 1556-1950. Records from the parish chests of Plymouth and West Devon including: Examinations, Jury Lists, Settlement Papers, Bastardy Papers and Overseers and Churchwardens’ Accounts)
www.findmypast.co.uk (Norfolk Parish Chest Records 1300-1990 Browse. Explore a variety of parish chest records from Norfolk spanning over 600 years including Church accounts, Church rate books and Churchwardens’ accounts)
www.findmypast.co.uk (Norfolk Borough Records 1317-1981 Browse. Browse through a variety of Norfolk borough records including Church rate books)
www.thegenealogist.co.uk (Churchwardens and Sidesmen of the Cathedral and Parish Church of Manchester, 1422-1911)
www.sog.org.uk/search-records (SoG Data Online: Llanaber, county of Merioneth churchwardens 1742-1790)
CD Roms
Anguline Research Archives (Churchwardens’ Accounts of the Town of Ludlow in Shropshire)
East Surrey Family History Society (Churchwardens Accounts 1504-1645, Vestry Book 1610)
