An extract from ….
EMBEZZLED CHURCH GOODS OF
ESSEX.
BY EDWARD PERCIVAL DICKIN,
M.D.
{Transcribed for the internet from
the Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society (now the Essex Society for
Archaeology and History), ‘New Series’ Volume 13 Part 3 (1913). The text as
originally published shows the original script with variable spelling. In this item we have added in curly brackets (thus
{}) the modern spelling of the words, which researchers may more easily find
from search engines. We welcome your
feedback.}
THE church goods of Essex have
received considerable attention in the Society's Transactions. The late Mr. H.
W. King's transcripts of inventories of confiscated church goods were printed
in vols. iv. and v. (o.s.) and in vols. i., ii., and iii. (n.s.). Mr. R. C.
Fowler and Mr. W. C. Waller printed some further inventories in vols. x. and
xi. respectively. These all referred to goods taken into the king's hands in 1552,
and in some cases the goods previously sold are also named.
The following transcript (the
Essex part only of S.P.D. Edw. VI., vol. v., no. 59) refers to the goods which
the churchwardens and parishioners had sold by 1548. The Essex parishes number one
hundred and fifteen, and are distributed fairly equally over the county. The
MS. is apparently a copy of the original certificates. The goods named in some
parishes are mentioned in the later inventories already named, but in most the
information is additional. The chief interest lies in the uses to which the
money received was put. Some was of course used for church repairs, and for
removing the signs of the old religion, but it will be seen that much was used
for a great variety of secular purposes. Contractions in the MS. have been
extended and a little punctuation added to make the sense clearer.
[P. 33.]
THE DEANERY OF BARSTABLE
HUTTON. John Smith, Barnard
Roos, Churchwardens doo say that he the same Barnard Roos and John hatter being
Churchwardens there dyd sell of the church plate there one [sic] Croose and one
chalyce for the somme of vjli. And they say That parte of the same Somme was
bestowed in repayring the churche parte in amending the highwayes parte in
setting forth of Souldyers and parte thereof yet still remayneth unbestowed
which was soulde as they say abowte Easter last past.
{HUTTON. John Smith, Bernard Roos, Churchwardens do
say that he the same Bernard Roos and John Hatter being churchwardens there did
sell off the church plate there one Cross and one chalice for the sum of £6.
And they say that part of the same sum was bestowed in repairing the church
part in amending the highway part in setting forth soldiers and part thereof
yet still remains unspent which was sold as they say about Easter last past.}
BURSTEDDE MAGNA. William
Harryes, John Bowyour, Churchwardens Doo presente and say That Thomas Wattis
and Thomas Wolnur by the consent of parryshe dyd sell of the church plate there
a senser, a shippe, ij. Sylver paxes, and a chalyce for the Somme of xijli.
xiijs iiijd., whereof they say they haue layed owte and bestowed ixli. xiijs.
iiijd. partelie emongest poore fookes, partelie for the reparcions of the
churche, and partelie for the Churche debte, which was soulde as they say in the
moneth of ffebruary anno 1545.
{GREAT BURSTEAD. William Harris, John Bowyer, Churchwardens do
present and say that Thomas Wattis and Thomas Woolnor by the consent of the
parish did sell off the church plate there a senser, a shippe
,
2 silver paxes, and a chalice for the sum of £12.8s.4d. whereof they say they
have laid out and bestowed £9.8s.4d. partly among the poor folks, partly for
the reparations of the church and partly for the church debt, which was sold as
they say in the month of February 1545.}
LYTLE BURSTEDDE. John Dyer,
Thomas Fenner, Churchwardens, doo say That he the same Thomas Fenner and John
Stewarde with the consent of the parryshe hathe sold one chalyce of the
churches for the Somme of iijli. ixs. ixd. whereof remayneth in thandis of
certayne men of the same parryshe lvjs. viijd. And the resydue of the same
money was gyven emongest poore people which was sould as they say at mydsommer
was twelf moneth.
{LITTLE BURSTEAD. John Dyer,
John Fenner, Churchwardens do say that he the same Thomas Fenner and John
Stewarde with the consent of the parish have sold one chalice of the church for
the sum of £3.9s.9d. whereof remains in the hands of certain men of the same
parish 55s.8.d And the residue of the same money was given among poor people
which was sold as they say at midsummer was twelve month.}
[p. 37.] THE DEANERYES OF ONGO[R], CHAFFORDE,
CHELMESFORDE, AND DENGEY.
{THE DEANERIES OF ONGAR,
CHAFFORD, CHELMSFORD, AND DENGIE}
CHYGWELL. Roberte Woode,
Laurence Mundis, Churchewardens Doo saye That they haue sold certayne
candlestyckes of latten belonging to the said churche for whiche they have
receaued the Somme of xviijs. whiche Somme they say ys employed upon the
reparacions of the same churche.
{CHIGWELL. Robert Wood,
Laurence Munds, Churchwardens do say that they have sold certain candlesticks
of brass belonging to the said church for which they have received the sum of
18s. which sum they say is employed upon the reparations of the same church.}
WARELEY MAGNA. Robert Marrowe,
parson, Rychard Nelson, Churchwarden and Rychard brighte Doo say that they with
the advyse of the parryshe there hath sold so manny latten Candelstyckis of the
saide churche as came to the Somme of xxixs. ijd. which Somme remayneth holle
in the saide churchewardens handes as they say.
{GREAT WARLEY. Robert Marrowe, parson, Richard Nelson,
Churchwarden and Richard Bright do say that they with the advice of the parish
there have sold do many brass candlesticks of the said church as came to the
sum of 29s.2d. which sum remains wholly in the said churchwardens hands as they
say.}
BADOWE MAGNA. Rychard hyckes,
Lawrence Spylman, Churchwardens there doo saye That Roberte Kinge, James
Drylande, John Postill, and Robert Sturgeon, parryshenours there did sell their
parcells of plate folowinge; a Chalyce all gylte wayeng xix. vunces dimidium at
iiijs. vjd. the unce … Summa iiijli. vijs. ixd.
Item, A shyppe of sylver
parcell gylte and a lytle spoone wayenge vj. vunces dimidium at iiijs. ijd. the
vunce, two silver sawcers parcell gylte wayenge vj vnces dimidium at iiijs.
ijd. the vnce, ij. Cruettis parcell gylte wayenge x. vnces at iiijs. ijd. the
vnce … … Summa xvijli. xvjs. vid.[? xiijli. vjs. 4d.]
All whiche money they saye ys
bestowed vpon the reparacions of the churche allso sold fyfite pounds of latten
ijd. the libra. Summa viiijs. iiijd. with as moche latten as came to vs. iiijd.
{GREAT BADDOW. Richard Hyckes, Lawrence Spylman
Churchwardens there do say that Robert King, James Drylande, John Postill, and
Robert Sturgeon, parishioners there did sell their parcels of plate following:
a chalice all gilded weighing 19½ ounces at 4s.6d. per ounce … Sum £4.7s.9d.
Item, A shippe of silver
partly gilded and a little spoon weighing 6½ ounces at 4s.2d. the ounce, two
silver saucers partly gilded weighing 6½ ounces at 4s.2d. the ounce, 2 cruetts
partly gilded weighing 10 ounces at 4s.2d. an ounce … Sum £17.16s.6d [?
£17.6.4d.}
All which money they say is
bestowed upon the reparations of rhe church also sold fifty pounds of brass 2d
the pound. Sum 9s.4d with as much brass as come to 5s.4d.}
LEES MAGNA. John England,
George Osborne, Churchwardens Doo presente That James Spylman and John Danyell
dyd sell vj. torches for iiijs. vjd. whiche was employed to the poore mens
boxe.
{GREAT LEIGHS. John England, George Osborne, churchwardens
do present that James Spylman and John Daniell dis sell 6 torches for 4s.6d.
which was employed to the poor mens box.}
CHELMESFORDE. Geffrey Skotte,
William Nooke, Churchwardens Do presente That they and Roger Platte,
paryshenour, solde as much mettall as they receaued xlviijs. vjd. with as many
olde towels as came to viijd. whiche money they haue with more spente in
wasshing the churche with lyme and wryting of scripture abowte the churche with
taking downe of ymagis.
{CHELMSFORD. Geoffrey Skotte,
William Nooke, Churchwardens do present that they and Roger Platt, parishioner,
sold as much metal as they received 48s.6d. with as many old towels as came to
8d. which money they have with more money spent in washing the church with lime
and writing of scripture about the church with taking down the images.}
WODEHAM FFERRYES. Robert Styleman,
Rychard Newton, Churchwardens, doo presente That abowte three yeres agoo John
Sandis, gentleman, and William pirrs beinge Churchwardens dyd sell a broken
bell for the somme of xvli. Also a Chalyce of sylver with a paxe of sylver for
the Somme of vli. whiche money the say was employed vpon the makinge of a newe
fframe in the steple for the bells and for shingling ot the churche.
{WOODHAM FERRERS. Robert Styleman, Richard Newton,
Churchwardens, do present that about three years ago John Sands, gentleman, and
William Pirrs being Churchwardens did sell a broken bell for the sum of £15.
Also a chalice of silver with a paxe of silver for the sum £5 which money they
say was employed upon the making of a new Frame in the steeple for the bells
and for shingling out the church.}
NORTON. John Whytinge
Churchwarden there doo say That he solde as myche allablaster as came to xxd.
which money ys yet in his kepinge.
{NORTON MANDEVILLE. John
Whiting Churchwarden do say that he sold as much alabaster as came to 20d which
money is yet in his keeping.}
MARGARETYNGE. Robert Taber,
William Dawson, Churchwardens doo say That they sold to repayre the church one
unce of brooken sylver for iiijs.
{MARGARETTING. Robert Taber,
William Dawson, Churchwardens do saythat they sold to repair the church one
ounce of broken silver for 4s.}
[P. 74] THE DEANERY OF DUNMOWE.
{THE DEANERY OF DUMNOW}
SEELO BOWELLS. Rychard
Sampforde hath solde of the said churches plate one Clalyce of sylver and gylte
for the Somme of xxxvijs. iiijd. whiche money the same Rychard bestowed in
repayring the same churche.
{SHELLOW BOWELLS. Richard
Sampford has sold of the said church plate one chalice of silver and gilded for
the sum of 37s.4d. which money the same Richard bestowed in repairing the same
church.}
A familiar site in Chelmsford today is the viaduct carrying the railway through the centre of town. The Recreation Ground was sliced in two by a dual carriageway in the early 1970s, so perhaps the view here is not as extensive today as it was on 5 September 1907 when W. wrote to his intended from Mountnessing, " ... a hideous roundabout organ is tormenting us here these nights ... ".
"Mountnessing Brentwood. Sept 3 07. Another card for your album showing the river Cann at Recreation Ground I should think. It is not very distinctive but yet is a pretty view. Love & c. W."
The River Can runs through the centre of Chelmsford. This postcard, sent on 3 September 1907, clearly is of the town centre but its location today is not clear.
St Mary's Church, Chelmsford, which later became the Cathedral. On 30 August 1907, W wrote: "Have taken taken a cousin of mine over this church. We cycled here via Writtle [from Mountnessing] where we inspected old church there. Weather is fine. Love W. Written standing".
This edition has been out for some while. The October 2010 edition includes:
Welcome to this month’s round-up of local history and heritage in and around Blackmore, Essex.
Welcome to this month’s round-up of local history and heritage in and around Blackmore, Essex.
