This collection of essays raises the profile of churchwardens' accounts, much beloved by many local historians, yet not as well-known as the parish registers and poor law material that also comprised the contents of the celebrated 'parish chest'. Churchwardens' accounts survive for only a minority of parishes of England, Wales and Ireland, meaning they are 'treasure trove' where they do exist. They afford an invaluable source for information about the maintenance of church fabric, furnishings, liturgy, music, and the nature of parish worship and community life in general. We are fortunate to...

This series bridges the gap between the standard textbook and specialized monograph, providing AS, A Level and undergraduate students with coverage of major themes in British and European history, from the medieval period to the 20th century. This book focuses on the Church of England.