Churchwardens' Manual, by George Henry

Transcribed from the 1897 Simpkin and Co. edition by David Price, email [email protected]

Winchester:
Printed by Warren & Son, 85, High Street.

Churchwardens’ Manual:
their duties,
powers, rights, and privileges.

by
GEORGE HENRY, D.D.,

Bishop of Guildford and Archdeacon of Winchester.

Third Edition.

London:
Simpkin and Co., Limited.

Winchester:
Warren and Son, Printers and Publishers, High Street.

All rights reserved.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

The fact that a Second Edition of this Manual has been called for within a few months of its first publication, shows, I think, that it has met a want which was previously felt by Clergy and Churchwardens.  The whole of the Manual has been revised, and additions made with special reference to the Burial Laws, the position of District Churches as regards the Mother Church, and the conveyance of land or buildings to trustees for mission or other purposes, which it is hoped will add to its value.

G. H. G.

The Close,
Winchester.

October, 1890.

PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.

Additions have been made to the present Edition, especially with reference to the changes which the Local Government Act, 1894, has made as to the duties of Churchwardens.  It is hoped that these additions may be found useful.  I once more express the hope that this Manual may be found increasingly helpful in the hands of the Churchwardens in the carrying out of their very responsible duties as officers of the Church.

G. H. G.

The Close,
Winchester,
1897.

INDEX.

The Duties of Churchwardens.

I am so constantly asked in the course of my inspection of the Churches in the Archdeaconry of Winchester what are the duties and responsibilities of Churchwardens, that I have thought it might be useful to publish the following remarks, which were in substance delivered in my charge to the Clergy and Churchwardens of the Archdeaconry of Winchester in the Spring of 1889.  Many requests were then made to me that I would publish my charge as a manual for Churchwardens, and it is in consequence of those requests that this publication has been put forth.

Let me first refer to the origin of the office.  The name appears in connection with the ecclesiastical history of the fourth century. 

St. Augustine refers to certain officers in the Church called seniores Ecclesiastici.  These officers were not ordained persons, but yet had some concern in the care of the Church.  They were entrusted with the treasure and management of the outward affairs of the Church.  These persons may be looked upon as the ecclesiastical ancestors of our present race of Churchwardens.