Childerditch, Essex Genealogy

England   Essex

Parish History
Childerditch All Saints and St Faith is an Ancient parish in Essex.

In 1574 the vicar, Thomas Reddriche, was presented at Quarter Sessions for refusing to wear a surplice. (fn. 136) A later vicar, Arthur Grave, was presented at the archdeacon's visitation in 1606 for the same offence, and for failing to use the sign of the cross at baptism. (fn. 137) The Protestation of 1641 was signed by 35 parishioners, probably representing most of the households in the parish. (fn. 138) Daniel Duckfield, vicar from 1611 until his death in 1653, was a 'godly and preaching minister'. (fn. 139) His three successors during the Interregnum were all presented by the patron of the living, Sir Thomas Cheeke, who was a zealous Puritan. (fn. 140) The last of them was John Hervey, appointed in 1658, but ejected for nonconformity in 1662. (fn. 141) Puritan influence lingered in the parish for some time after 1662, for in 1685 the archdeacon found it necessary to order that the communion table should be set against the east wall and railed. (fn. 142) Robert Stonehouse, vicar 1667–84, was a king's chaplain who was prosecuted by some of his parishioners for non-residence. (fn. 143) John Groome, vicar 1709–60, published a book on The Dignity and honour of the Clergy. (fn. 144) He seems to have been resident at least until c. 1750. (fn. 145) In the early 19th century the vicar John Newman (d. 1840) was non-resident, and employed a succession of curates. (fn. 146) Later vicars resided until the union of benefices in 1940. John H. Lewis, 1840–64, built the National school as well as the new Vicarage, but in the 1850s he failed to carry through the much needed restoration or rebuilding of the church, through disagreement with William B. Petre, Lord Petre, the Roman Catholic squire, impropriator, and patron, who was legally responsible for the chancel. Edmund S. Tiddeman, vicar 1865–85, came to terms with Petre and rebuilt the church. (fn. 147) The church of ALL SAINTS AND ST. FAITH, Childerditch Lane, stands on the site of its predecessor, which had the same dedication. The first known reference to the old building was in 1387–8, when Coggeshall abbey paid a tiler for tiling the new chancel. (fn. 148) In 1858 the church was a small building comprising nave of flint rubble, thought to date from the 12th century, brick chancel of recent date, timber belfry, and south porch. (fn. 149) It was then ruinous, but the debate as to whether it should be restored or rebuilt was not settled until 1869, when the old church was demolished and replaced by a new one. (fn. 150) The present church was designed by D. Cubitt Nichols and F. Johnstone of London, architects who had for many years worked for Lord Petre. (fn. 151) It is built of Kentish ragstone in the Early English style, and consists of nave and chancel with south porch and west bellcot. (fn. 152) No monuments survive from the old church. There is one bell, probably of the 17th century. (fn. 153) The old church plate was sold in 1889 by the vicar, Joseph Hull. He was, however, forced to recover it, and it was all given back except for a cup, which had been acquired by a church in Scotland. (fn. 154) The surviving pieces include a silver paten and a silver flagon, both of 1743 and given by the vicar, John Groome. The font, which dates from the early 16th century, has a blackletter inscription recording the fact that it was given by John Throsscher (Thresher) and his wife. (fn. 155)

From: 'Parishes: Childerditch', A History of the County of Essex: Volume 8 (1983), pp. 17-24. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=63838&amp;amp;strquery=childerditch Date accessed: 04 February 2011.

Civil Registration
Birth, marriages and deaths were kept by the government, from July 1837 to the present day. The civil registration article tells more about these records. There are several Internet sites with name lists or indexes. A popular site is FreeBMD.

Church records
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Census records
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Probate records
Records of wills, administrations, inventories, indexes, etc. were filed by the court with jurisdiction over this parish. Go to Essex Probate Records to find the name of the court having primary jurisdiction. Scroll down in the article to the section Court Jurisdictions by Parish.

Maps and Gazetteers
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Web sites
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