Written Evidence Flashcards
What do churchwardens accounts demonstrate about the laity?
They help to undermine Protestant historiography instead showing the laity as being active in parish governance.
Who were churchwardens?
Elected laypeople who acted as agents for the congregation, typically serving for 2 years.
What do churchwardens’ accounts show?
Focus on church maintenance: they are itemised lists of parish income and expenditure.
Income: property rents, offerings, dues…
Expenditure: salaries to clerks and vicars, liturgical items, materials…
They can shed light on feasts and ceremonies that are not part of the official liturgy: Hocktide, Plough Monday…
Why were churchwardens’ accounts kept?
For the sake of bishop/archdeacon visitations to show that lay duties (nave) were being fulfilled.
Some accounts are copies/volumes of originals that have been tidied, cite an example and issues?
St Mary at Hill, London: the accounts from the late fifteenth century are in 2 different versions which means there are emendations and have been audited. Churchwardenship is a good work so tidied books are important for visitations but can offer an incomplete picture.
What are some of the limitations of churchwardens’ accounts?
They do not offer a full picture of the parish budget overlooking major donations and new building projects since focus was on maintenance. Donations were often made to the parish on donors’ own accord which meant that they didn’t have to be recorded - Halleway chantry not found in any churchwardens’ accounts (only separate account).
Supplementary evidence is needed to help recreate parish governance: from only churchwardens’ accounts, it seems they did it all but in reality through All Saints’ Church Book, parish governance rested on a broader, more stable elite (voices of masters and clergy not heard).
Masters dealt with liturgical enhancement and new building - no need to keep books for visitations.
What can wills help to reveal, evidence?
Short-term pious provision (after death) often evident in will. Funeral arrangements: John Bannebury in 1404 wanting 24 paupers to carry torches at his burial with each receiving a gown, hood and 2 silver pennies.
Help to highlight the reciprocal nature of late medieval piety - prayers in return for charity.
Why are wills limited?
They fail to reveal the true extent of pious provision because for the majority of people, it was exacted during their lifetimes. Major provisions were complex and required heavy investment so were done during life.
What is the issue with Henry Chestre’s will?
It is very short, made Alice his executrix on his death - she was in charge of his pious provisions.
Only through using the All Saints’ Deeds is his most substantial endowment revealed - property endowment on Broad Street (perpetual chantry).
What does John Foster’s will not reveal about his endowments?
Very scant reference to his almshouse on Steep Street. Only through the surviving statutes for his almshouse is the extent of the endowment seen: catered for 8 poor men, 5 poor women and a priest (£5 salary) - all to pray for his soul.
What was the All Saints’ Church Book?
A compilation of good doers (both clergy and laity) and their benefactions, most probably compiled by the clergy. Such a book would have been typical of many parish churches.
What did Sir Maurice Hardwick donate to All Saints’?
In 1471 he gave a cloth of gold to be hung at every principal feast and red and yellow cloths.
What was Henry and Alice Chestre’s benefaction?
£72 funded for a priest to augment divine service for 12 years.
An annual anniversary to be held for the Chestre’s on Saint Valentine’s Day at 7s. 1d. - funded through property endowment on Broad Street.
Alice funded images of Saint Katherine, Saint Margaret carved into rood altar.
What do the records of St Christopher le Stocks show and what is the evidence provided?
Help shed light on how parishes operated - governance was a broadly based system.
On the 11 December 1524 there was an assembly of the masters, executives and 22 honest parishioners who met to assess the parishes houses for clerks’ wages.
