Christopher Swainson, B.A., incumbent of Copp, died in 1775; Anthony Swainson, M.A., vicar of St. Michael's-on-Wyre, died 1784, aged 42; and Christopher Swainson, M.A., prebendary of Hereford, and vicar of Clun, Salop, died in 1854. The burial ground surrounding the church presents nothing of much interest to the antiquarian beyond an old sun-dial, and the Crombleholme grave lying under the shadow of the east wall. The living is a discharged vicarage.
The following extracts from the ancient vestry books will doubtless be interesting to our readers, although not of much importance as parish records:—
"April, 1683: To Ann Raby for washing surplice, 4s.; to John Fisher for work
for clock and bells, 8s. 6d.
"Ordered this 21st of June, 1683, that no person or persons for the future be admitted to bury any dead corpse in the church unless he or they, at whose instance such corpse shall be buried, do in hand pay to the sexton of the parish for the same, being 12 pence for the use of the parish, or sufficiently secure the same to him, the corpses of women dying in childbed only excepted, which are hereby intended to be free, as is usual in other parishes.—Thos. Robinson, vicar; Rich. Longworth, Thos. White, gents.; Jas, Raby, Rich. B. Hornby, Rich. Wilding, George Bennet, churchwardens."
"May 18, 1688: It is ordered that the two former orders made, the one ffor destroying Magpie and Sparrow heads, and the other for allowing the church-*wardens to pay * * * * * out of the parish money, be for the future suspended."
"July 4, 1729: To ring one Bell at 7.0; to ring 2 Bells at 8.0; to ring and chime for Service in summer from half an hour past 10 o'clock, and in winter from Ten till half an hour after."
"Aug. 25, 1736: It was ordered by ye Vicar and gentlemen of ye parish that another church lay after ye rate of 12d. in £1, besides ye 3 church lays before mentioned, be forthwith collected and gathered for repairing ye church. N.B: This church lay is collected for laying a new beam and erecting a new pair of principals between ye church and ye chancel at the joint charges of ye parish and Allen Johnson, esq., owner of ye chancel."
May 5, 1745: Be it known that John Lewtas has cleared up ye difficulties about ye quakers' taxes for Rawcliffe.
"1746: Ringers' salary, 15s.; for 5th of November, 6s.; for sanding church-*yard, 1s.
"November 6, 1780: Agreed by the Vicar and gentlemen of the Vestry of St. Michael's, that each Ringer attending the church shall be allowed two tankards of ale, and each singer one tankard, together with each one their dinner."
"November 6, 1792: It was determined by a majority of the gentlemen of the Vestry to raise the dues for opening a grave in the inside of the church to 6s. 8d.
