Some Ancient Vestry Orders[1] First Entry in Vestry Book of 1674
April Ye 18th, 1674, The Honourable Coll: Danl. Parke, Mr. Rowland Jones, Minister, Mr. John Page, Mr. James Besouth, Mr. Robt. Cobb and Mr. Bray.,—Capt. Chesley, and Mr. Aylett, Church Wardens. Mr. John Owens, Sidesman. There being in the last levie Eight Thousand five hundred pounds of tobacco in Caske, Levyed to the Honourable Thomas Ludwell, Secretary, and Daniel Parke, Esq., 25 pound sterling, due to them upon y^e purchase of y^e Glebe," &c.
The Dedication of the Church of 1683
"November y^e 29th 1683."
"The Parish Church is at length completed, and the Vestry notice the fact by the following: Whereas y^e Brick Church at Middle Plantation is now finished, It is ordered y^t all y^e Inhabitants of y^e said Parish, do for the future repair thither to hear Divine Service, and y^e word of God preached: And that Mr. Rowland Jones, Minister, do dedicate y^e said Church y^e Sixth of January next, being y^e Epiphany. And that Alexander Bonyman, Clerke, sett up notice at y^e Mill, to give notice thereof; And that y^e Ornaments, etc., be removed p^r y^e Church Wardens, and also y^t y^e old Communion Table be removed to y^e minister's house and there remain."
Fees of Clerk and Sexton
The fees of the Clerk at this time were ordered to be: "three pounds of Tobacco for registering every Christening and Burial in y^e Parish, and y^e Sexton to have ten of Tobacco for every grave that he diggs."
- ↑ All of these ancient orders were published in "The Historical Notes of Bruton Parish Church," 1903.
