Yeovil's Virtual Museum, the A-to-Z of Yeovil's History

Churchwardens

From 1457 to 1875

The role of Churchwarden was an ancient position whose role in parochial life from the late middle ages until the separation of the ecclesiastical and civil components of vestral authority, was greater than the incumbent. Generally two Churchwardens were elected at Easter, a vicar's warden and a people's warden. The Churchwardens wielded considerable power and were the people's representatives in all parochial matters. The Churchwardens, along with the Overseers, administered local relief and education. They were responsible for the fabric of the nave and setting and collecting the church rate, the Constable, Surveyor and Verger reported directly to them. All bequests and gifts to the parish were collected by them and they presided over the distribution annually of income from church gifts and were bound by law to keep detailed accounts.

Other parochial duties were to ensure children were baptised, that the parishioners attended church regularly and they would also keep an eye on the morals of the parish. Transgressions were reported to the Archdeacons courts and the Churchwardens were responsible for ensuring that the penances were carried out. They were expected to lead the parishioners by setting a good example and encouraging unity and peace and had a particular duty to maintain order and peace in the church and churchyard at all times, especially during services, although this task tended to be devolved to sidesmen.

In the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries the Churchwarden was a lay official in the parish church of St John the Baptist, usually working as a part-time volunteer. Holders of these positions were ex-officio members of the parish board, called the Vestry, and usually chaired the Vestry meetings. Yeovil invariably had two Churchwardens and they tended to invariably come from the 'better' class of well-to-do local gentry such as glove manufacturers, brewers, merchants, etc. The post of Churchwarden was usually held for three years, although notable exceptions stand out in the list below.

Churchwardens were legally responsible for all the property and movable goods belonging to the parish church, with a duty under ecclesiastical law to keep an up to date terrier of the properties and an inventory of the valuables. Day-to-day maintenance of church buildings, grounds and contents was devolved to the Churchwardens. Whenever the Churchwardens spent money to pay tradespeople for repairs etc., they had to record the transaction in an accounts book which was audited annually by the Vestry.

In 1804 the following entry was made in the Churchwardens' Accounts Book and caused some controversy "I Wm Phelips Vicar of Yeovil do nominate & appoint Mr Gabriel Baker as My Church Warden of the Town of Yeovil for the year ensuing. April 3rd 1804" signed Wm Phelips. To which, on the same date, the Vestry members replied "The Town do appoint the same time George Watts and Henry Collins and Consider the Above Nothing As there never was such Entry before." and they later continued "There never was any such entry in any of Yeovil Church Books before therefore its Considered as Nothing for the Vicar Has No Right Whatever to choose a Churchwarden."

It would appear that George, in his role as Churchwarden, had stirred up something of a hornet's nest by investigating funds that had apparently gone missing from church charities and had actually started legal proceedings with, it would seem from the following, the support of the Vestry or Church Council. "At a Vestry held this day April 16, 1805 .... We do nominate and appoint Mr Henry Collins and George Watts to be churchwardens for the year ensuing And we hereby protest against the Appointment made by the Rev Wm Phelips the 3rd day of April 1804, And we declare the same to be null and void, and that he had no right whatever to Choose any Churchwarden for himself it being contrary to the Custom of this Parish time immemorial And we still Authorise the Churchwardens to look into the rights of this Town and to prosecute any suit or suits as they may think proper for the maintaining and re-establishing them..."

"At a Vestry duly called and held this day 8th Day of April 1806... And we hereby appoint the said George Watts and Henry Collins for the year ensuing Churchwardens for the Town and we hereby authorize them to continue the suits in Chancery commenced for establishing the rights of the Church and Charities of this Town and do protest against any appointment of any Churchwarden unless it be at a Vestry duly called and by the Majority of Inhabitants then present."

Indeed, suits were brought and Daniel Vickery states "The parish authorities, it would seem, were in the wrong; for the only power given to the churchwardens was that of nominating new trustees, when the number should be reduced to two." In fact there had always been two Churchwardens.

In 1813 there were objections to George Watts continuing as Churchwarden, a post he had unusually held for twelve years, and in October 1813 the Vestry noted that he had refused to hand over the Churchwardens' Account Books to the new Churchwardens. The books had not been handed over by 1815, causing the Vestry to remark that the Customs and Charities could not be paid as a consequence.

The next occasion the suit is mentioned is in the Churchwardens' Accounts Book for 1837 in which is recorded "... Mr White's Bills for defending the Feoffees in several suits against them in the Court of Chancery by the Attorney General in the relation of Mr George Watts and others. The first bill commencing in 1805 and ending in 1823 and amounting to £148 9s 2d." (in excess of £121,000 in today's value).

The Churchwardens' Accounts Book ended in 1856 and from 1857 the Vestry Minute book took over. From this point onwards the Town nominated one Churchwarden (noted as Town's in the list below) and the Vicar nominated the other (noted as Vicar's in the list below).

Another fracas took place in 1845 when the accounts of Churchwarden Thomas Cole were questioned by a Vestry committee even though Cole was in the Chair. Cole refused to put a resolution to the meeting and it was later stated "That in the opinion of this Vestry Mr Cole has forfeited the confidence of the Parish and incapacitated himself from holding any place of trust in the Parish hereafter, and that he be requested to deliver over the monies and the several rates and the books now in his possession to Mr Wadman (the other Churchwarden)."

List of Churchwardens for the Parish of Yeovil

1457	Guy Corveser	Richard Hosyer
1458	Richard Hosyer	John Tanner
1515	James Dyrdo
1516	Thomas Wicket	Thomas Lane
1519-20	Thomas Yerlych	William Marchaunt
1539	William Hayne
1540	Henry Bockyng	John Hacker
1541	John Hacker	John Parker
1542	John Parker	John Phelypps
1544	William Stone	John Dyrdo
1545	John Dyrdo	John Hacker the Younger
1546	John Hacker the Younger	William Rugge
1548	William Short	John Clothier
1549	John Clothier	Nicholas Donne
1550	Nicholas Donne	Thomas Grange
1551	John Gray / Raynold Hardyng	John Langdonne
1552	John Marchaunt	John Quarrel
1553	John Quarrel	John Gaylord
1554	John Gaylord	James Gapper
1557	Richard Jacob	Harri Fathers
1558	Harri Fawther	William Longe
1560	Raynold Hardyng
1561	John Langdon	Gyles Hayne
1562	Gyles Hayne	Robert Ryche
1563	Robert Ryche	Edmund Sheppard
1564	Edmund Shepparde	Tristram Brooke
1565	Tristram Brooke	Giles Hacker
1566	Gyles Hacker	John Toker
1567	John Tucker
1568	Richard Bradley	James Everdone
1569	James Everdon	Andrew Ffanstone
1570	Giles Salmon
1572	John Phelpes	William Forde
1573	William Forde	Thomas Phelpes
1575	Thomas Pitman	Richard Lowcocke
1577	John Dyer	William Becke
1578	William Beck	William Jennyngs
1579	John Marchant
1580	John Marchant the Younger	Matthew Hacker
1581	John Crocker	John Tor
1582	Thomas Williams	Edward Harris
1583	Edward Harris	Thomas Clare
1584	Thomas Clare	John Crocker
1586	John Torre	William Jennyngs
1587	William Jennyngs of Henford	Gyles Hayne
1607*	Thomas Marshe	Roger Traske
1638	Thomas Marsh	Bartholomew Jacob
1676	John Old	William Rogers
1693	John Godsall	Edward Boucher (1)
1694	John Godsall	Edward Boucher (1)
1695	John Godsall	Edward Boucher (1)
1696	Samuel Whittock	John Chaffey
1697	William Row	Thomas Wills
1698	John Clarke
1699	John Clarke	William fforbes
1700	John Kitson	William fforbes
1701	John Kitson	William Bosey
1702	William Hambridge	Edward Perry
1703	Edward Mines	Edward Perry
1704	John Jeanes	Edward Perry
1705	John Winsor	John Marks
1706	Ambrose Seward	Christopher Allumbridge
1707	Ambrose Seward	Christopher Allumbridge
1708	Ambrose Seward	Christopher Allumbridge
1709	George Cary	William Glover
1710	George Cary	William Glover
1711	George Cary	William Glover
1712	William Tinney	William Newman
1713	William Tinney	William Newman
1714	John Hodges	John Dyer
1715	John Hodges	John Dyer
1716	John Perry	John Darley
1717	Richard Elett	John Darley
1718	Richard Elliott	John Darley
1719	Richard Elliott	John Darley
1720	John Chant	Thomas Chrismand
1721	Thomas Cheesman	William Avoke
1722	Thomas Cheesman	William Avoke
1723	Onesipherus Penny	William Avoke
1724	Onesipherus Penny	Samuel Sherry
1725	Onesipherus Penny	Samuel Sherry
1726	John Boucher	Henry Penny
1727	John Boucher	Henry Penny
1728	Andrew Everton	George Boucher
1729	Andrew Everton	George Boucher
1730	Andrew Everton	Samuel Kitson
1731	Andrew Everton	Samuel Kitson
1732	Edward Boucher	Samuel Kitson
1733	Edward Boucher	Thomas Williams
1734	Edward Boucher	Thomas Godsall
1735	Edward Boucher	Thomas Godsall
1736	Edward Boucher	Thomas Godsall
1737	William Donne	John Reeks
1738	William Donne	John Reeks
1739	James Cook	John Reeks
1740	Ambrose Seward Jnr	Henry Lewis
1741	John Dyer	Henry Lewis
1742	John Dyer	Thomas Shean
1743	George Peckford Snr	Christopher Hartwell
1744	Onesipherus Penny	Philip Francis
1745	Onesipherus Penny	Philip Francis
1746	Francis Woodrow	George King
1747	Henry Piddle	John Francis
1748	Henry Peddle	John Francis
1749	Boon Penny	Samuel Beauchem
1750	Boon Penny	Samuel Beacham
1751	James French	William Masters
1752	Edward Boucher Jnr	Richard Pitcher
1753	William Reeks	Samuel Sealy (1)
1754	William Reeks	Samuel Sealy (1)
1755	James Foot	Samuel Sealy (1)
1756	James Foot	Andrew Everton
1757	James Foot	Andrew Everton
1758	Ambrose Seward	James Dier
1759	James Fox	John Kitson
1760	James Foot	Henry Donn
1761	Ambrose Seward	James Dyer
1762	Ambrose Seward	James Dyer
1763	Ambrose Seward	James Dyer
1764	Charles Francis	John King
1765	Charles Francis	John King
1766	Thomas Hobbs	George Gast
1767	Thomas Hobbs	George Gast
1768	William Tanner	Samuel Garland
1769	William Tanner	Samuel Garland
1770	Samuel Kitson	William Masters
1771	Samuel Kitson	William Masters
1772	Samuel Beacham	William Peddle
1773	Samuel Beacham	William Peddle
1774	Barri John Forbes	Richard Peddle
1775	Barri John Forbes	Richard Peddle
1776	Henry Penny	John Ryall
1777	Henry Penny	John Ryall
1778	Thomas Andrews	John King
1779	Thomas Andrews	John King
1780	Isaac Shorland	William Winsor
1781	Isaac Shorland	William Winsor
1782	Gabriel Baker	William Edwards
1783	Gabriel Baker	William Edwards
1784	George Shaw	William Rowe
1785	George Shaw	William Rowe
1786	John Mitchell	Thomas Jesty
1787	John Mitchell	Thomas Jesty
1788	Robert Reeks	Thomas Jesty
1789	Robert Reeks	Thomas Jesty
1790	Thomas Rawlings	Thomas Jesty
1791	Thomas Rawlings	John King
1792	Thomas Andrews	John King
1793	Thomas Andrews	John Ryall
1794	John Greenham	Henry Collins
1795	John Greenham	Henry Collins
1796	John Greenham	Henry Collins
1797	William Kitson	Thomas Garland
1798	George Ryall Corry	Henry Whitmarsh
1799	George Ryall Corry	Henry Whitmarsh
1800	Gabriel Baker	John Ashby
1801	Gabriel Baker	John Ashby
1802	William Willmington	George Watts
1803	William Willmington	George Watts
1804	Henry Collins	George Watts
1805	Henry Collins	George Watts
1806	Henry Collins	George Watts
1807	Henry Collins	George Watts
1808	Henry Penny	George Watts
1809	John Newman	George Watts
1810	John Newman	George Watts
1811	John Neal	George Watts
1812	John Neal	George Watts
1813	Thomas Andrews	George Watts / William Edwards
1814	Thomas Andrews	William Edwards
1815	Thomas Andrews	William Edwards
1816	John Neal	Philip Collins
1817	George Mayo	Henry Penny
1818	George Mayo	Henry Penny
1819	George Wellington	John Edwards
1820	George Wellington	John Edwards
1821	John Ryall Mayo	Robert Tucker
1822	John Ryall Mayo	Robert Tucker
1823	Charles Parsons	John T Boucher
1824	Charles Parsons	John T Boucher
1825	John Highmore Snr	William Bide
1826	John Highmore Snr	William Bide
1827	John Highmore Snr	William Bide
1828	Peter Edwards	Edward Granger
1829	Peter Edwards	Edward Granger
1830	Peter Edwards	Edward Granger
1831	Robert Tucker Jnr	Charles Greenham
1832	Robert Tucker Jnr	Charles Greenham
1833	James Curtis	Thomas Cave
1834	James Curtis	Thomas Cave
1835	John Perratt	William Buck
1836	John Perratt	William Buck
1837	John Perratt	William Buck
1838	William Bide	Frederick Greenham
1839	William Bide	Frederick Greenham
1840	George Edward Wellington	Henry Bryant Phelps
1841	George Edward Wellington	Henry Bryant Phelps
1842	Edward Pierce	George Edwards
1843	Edward Pierce	George Edwards
1844	Thomas Cole	George Wadman
1845	Thomas Cole	George Wadman
1846	James Tally Vining	Michael Cumbrawe Davey
1847	William Tomkins Snr	Thomas Pope
1848	William Tomkins Snr	William V Matthews
1849	William Symes	William V Matthews
1850	William Symes	William V Matthews
1851	Henry Bryant Phelps	Richard Vining
1852	Henry Bryant Phelps	Richard Vining
1853	James Tally Vining	Thomas Lyon
1854	James Tally Vining	Thomas Lyon
1855	Thomas Dampier	Thomas Lyon
1856	Thomas Dampier	Thomas Lyon
1857	Thomas Dampier	Henry Marsh Custard
1858	Joseph Brook (Town's)	Henry Marsh Custard (Vicar's)
1859	Joseph Brook (Town's)	Henry Marsh Custard (Vicar's)
1860	Joseph Brook (Town's)	Daniel Vickery (Vicar's)
1861	Richard Vining (Town's)	Thomas Manning (Vicar's)
1862	Richard Vining (Town's)	Thomas Manning Jnr (Vicar's)
1863	James Curtis Jnr (Town's)	John Dampney (Vicar's)
1864	James Curtis Jnr (Town's)	John Dampney (Vicar's)
1865	Thomas Manning Jnr (Town's)	John Glyde (Vicar's)
1866	Henry Bown (Town's)	William Neale (Vicar's)
1867	Henry Bown (Town's)	William Neale (Vicar's)
1868	Henry Bown (Town's)	William Neale (Vicar's)
1869	Henry Bowen (Town's)	William Neale (Vicar's)
1870	Joseph Brutton (Town's)	William Raymond (Vicar's)
1871	Joseph Brutton (Town's)	William Raymond (Vicar's)
1872	Joseph Brutton (Town's)	William Raymond (Vicar's)
1873	Joseph Brutton (Town's)	William Raymond (Vicar's)
1874	John Hill (Town's)	William Marsh (Vicar's)
1875	William Raymond (Town's)	William Marsh (Vicar's)

Note - 1607*
"Articles against Thomas Marsh and Roger Traske wardens at Yevel" recorded "Some of the disorders at our Church ale at Yeavell this year 1607. It was an usual thing upon the saboth day to have minstrelsie and dauncinge and carrying men upon a cavell stafe, the wardinges themselves Thomas Marshes and Roger Traske wear willingly so caried to the church." "Witness: Thomas Braine, Thomas Jarves, etc."
Quarter Session records see 'Riding the Stang'

Yeovil's Virtual Museum

by Bob Osborn

Churchwardens

Churchwardens

From 1457 to 1875

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