The Anglican Parish of St Chad's Chelsea

OR "The Importance of Keeping Good Minutes "

Extracts from ‘A History of St Chad’s Anglican Church, Chelsea’ by S (Mac) McGrath 1980

An interesting item is produced below regarding life in an English Parish Church in the 18th century, and is extracted from the History of this Church:-

The office of Dogwhipper dates from pre-Reformation days. Masters were in the habit of bringing their dogs to Church, and hence, to regulate the behaviour of the dogs, every Parish possessed its official dogwhipper. It is surprising to find that the remuneration was greater than that of a bellringer. In 1752 we find a sum of 5/- entered “for carrying the whip this half-year,” whilst in 1745, the bellringers were receiving 6/8d each for the whole year. The dogwhipper was also provided with a new uniform; in 1735 the sum of 8/8d is paid for “cloath for Dog Whipr coat.”

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An act of Elizabeth’s reign had thrown upon the Churchwardens the onus of preserving grain and farm produce; the Act provided that they should raise funds to reward persons killing “ravening birds and vermin”. Among other vermin hedgehogs were specified, and it was stipulated the 2d per head should be the reward. In 1735 the sum of 1s.8d. was paid for the destruction of eleven hedgehogs (2d short according to the Act); the heads would be presented to the Churchwarden and burnt in his presence.

The task fell on the Churchwardens of providing recruits for the Army and Navy. A Vestry meeting was held in 1795 to consider the most speedy means of raising 15 men who had to be provided by the Township. For every seventy-one houses, one man had to be found for service in the Navy. There were 811 houses in the Township, so eleven men had to be provided. The Meeting debated the matter inconclusively and then adjourned to the Albion Inn.

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Now that it is almost impossible to buy a whole packet of candles at one time, the Vicar would greatly appreciate gifts of candles to the Church, so that the beauty of our worship may not be affected by the shortage. If a number of people were to give only one or two each, it would be a great help. If you can spare some, would you please leave them at the Church or the Vicarage?

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