Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

This project's aims were to create an electronic version of transcribed materials of Churchwarden's accounts for the Parish of St Peter's in Ipswich. The original document is held at the British Library (Addn MS 25344); a copy of this is also held on film at the Suffolk Record Office, Ipswich JC1/1(4). The accounts are in English and show a gradual and often uncertain transition from the use of Roman to Arabic numerals.


Main Topics:

The accounts give a detailed insight into the life of an urban parish adjusting to the demands of changing religious and civic life from the early part of Queen Elizabeth's reign to the restoration of the monarchy. Phraseology used in the early years of the accounts suggests the residual influence of the old (Roman Catholic) religious beliefs and practices, far removed from the congregational-centred Protestantism evident in later years. In addition to finding the money to provide for a minister and sexton, regular inventories of parish property show the additional obligation of providing items such as books and equipment for the conduct of services and items for maintenance of the church fabric. Expenditure on tools, building materials and the services of local craftsmen is recorded in detail, as are payments for routine jobs such as street cleaning. The management of charitable bequests is recorded and there are occasional disbursements to the poor. The attempts of the parish to recover 56 years of arrears of payments from Viscount Hereford of Christchurch towards the provision of 'an able minister' ended unsuccessfully in court.