Winslow History | Vestry, 1885

Vestry, 1885

Bucks Herald, 28 March 1885

PARISH VESTRY.- The annual vestry for the reception of the Surveyors’ and Charity Trustees’ accounts, the appointment of surveyors and overseers, &c., was held on Friday, March 20th, the Rev. H. A. Douglas Hamilton, vicar, presiding. The Surveyors produced their accounts, which were passed, and Messrs. H. Monk, James King, and C. Colgrove were reappointed surveyors for the ensuing year. The Shipton surveyors also produced their accounts, which were passed, and Messrs. C. Colgrove and Thomas Ridgway were appointed surveyors. Messrs G. Lee, J. Keys, M. Fulks, G. C. Bennett, J. C. Hawley, and Thomas Ridgway (Shipton) were nominated for appointment as overseers, and Messrs. H. Monk and J. King, guardians.- Mr. J. Grace, as secretary, produced the charity accounts, and it was proposed and carried unanimously that the Vicar and Churchwardens be authorised to sign a bond for £88:14:9 to the Charity Commissioners for that amount to be advanced by them for the expenditure on the repairs of the Church, the parish to be responsible for the repayment of the same.- Mr. Hillyer proposed, Mr. Elley seconded, and it was carried, “That the surveyors of Winslow be directed to cleanse the ditch at Hollow Furrow as often as they consider necessary.” From the report of Messrs. Monk and King it was not considered necessary to inclose any sewage ditches. Messrs. H. Monk and J. Grace were appointed assessors of property and Income-tax, inhabited house duty, and land-tax

Buckingham Advertiser, 18 April 1885

VESTRY MEETING.- A Vestry was held at the Church on Friday, April, 10th, when the Vicar presided. The notice convening the meeting, and the minutes of the last vestry and of the previous Easter Vestry were read. The Church accounts were then produced by Mr. G. George, and the Vicar stated he thought they were very good under the circumstances, for of course while the Church was being restored they were restricted for room and accommodation and the offertories were naturally less, but during the past three months they had been at the rate of £137, besides a collection of £8 18s for the S.P.G. Mr. T. P. Willis enquired if the offertory on behalf of the infirmary had been paid in, and the Vicar explained that the subscriptions held good for twelve months from the date of payment, and that as the 1883 collection did not expire till the end of 1884, he was waiting until there was a case, when he would at once send a cheque.- Mr. H. Monk proposed that the accounts be passed, which was seconded by Mr. J. Hathaway.

The Vicar then proposed a vote of thanks to the churchwardens and sidesmen, for the very efficient way in which they had carried on the work. It would be a memorable year in their lives; there had been a great deal to do and the balance of 13s 8d. in hand was very satisfactory. The Vicar next said he had great pleasure in asking Mr. C. Colgrove to be his churchwarden.- Mr. Monk proposed Mr. Geo. George as parish warden.- Messrs. M. S. Lowndes and H. Bullock were next nominated as sidesmen by the Vicar, and Mr. Colgrove proposed Mr. G. Ingram and Mr. Sare proposed Mr. Clare.-

Mr. Hillyer, one of the overseers, then handed in a letter from the Burials Department of the Home Office stating that Dr. Hoffman would inspect the state of the Churchyard on April 13th, at one o’clock. The Vicar stated he had a similar notice, and also a form with a number of questions for him to answer.- Mr. Monk said expenses were very heavy and if they could defer it for a year or two it would be better, though a cemetery must come.- The Vicar said a cemetery was wanted bad enough, but if it could be deferred for a time they would be better able to meet the expense.- Mr. Cowley inquired if some iron hurdles could not be put up to keep the cattle away from the monuments.- The Vicar said he was not aware that cattle did get in.- Mr. T. P. Willis that they were often in and created a nuisance on the footpaths.- Mr. G. Lee asked if the fence could not be done away with, and some gates put up, before somebody was killed, for he often saw children hanging on the fence.- A. discussion then ensued as to whether the fence could be sold and gates placed at the approaches to the churchyard.- Mr. Russel thought the fence could be sold for about £15, and suggested that Messrs. Roberts, of Deanshanger, would buy it, as they would not have far to remove it.- The Vicar said they had been asked, but would only do so on the condition that they had the supplying of the new one.- Mr. Lee proposed that the fence be removed. It was useless as a fence, and certainly was no ornament.- Mr. J. Sear asked who would be responsible for the monuments being kept from the cattle.- The Vicar thought Mr. Sear misunderstood the question. The Churchwardens would make the approaches secure, and Mr. Lee’s proposition was simply to take away the broken pieces of fence.- Mr. Lee said he wanted to do away with it wholly.- Mr. Cowley suggested that estimates should be obtained for the gates.- The Vicar said he had plenty of estimates for gates and fencing, but who was going to pay the expence!- Messrs. Curtis and Cowley both thought the old iron would pay for the work.- The Vicar suggested that little passenger gates could be obtained for 25s.- Mr. Willis said if they had little gates and kept the big ones locked that would save the wear and tear; the one against Russel’s was a swing gate.- Mr. Lee withdrew his proposition on the understanding that the matter should be left in the churchwardens’ hands.- Mr. F. Roads said that years ago there was no fence at all along the side of the road.- The Vicar said Egerton Hubbard Esq., offered to plant an ornamental shrub fence, but the parish thought it would not keep out the cattle.- Mr. Hillyer said the less money they expended until they knew what was going to be done about closing the churchyard the better.- Mr. Willis said he knew that Mr. Henley, the Poor Law Commissioner, had made up his mind that it wanted closing, some time ago, and he was sure that it would come, though perhaps Mr. Hamilton might get it deferred for a while.- A vote of thanks was given to the Vicar for presiding, and the meeting closed.